InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ No Such Thing As Fate ❯ I want a Divorce! ( Chapter 17 )

It took me a long time to get through this chapter. Editing sucks but I'm pretty proud of myself for doing it without any help. This is really just a weird confidence boosting ritual (don't ask) and for my beta and those helping, apologies but I must improve my writing somehow.

This chapter is full of angst, blood, gore, character death, and I'm sure there is some other random things I just forgot to mention. Please remember I put this story in the DRAMA category for a very good reason. I'm sorry for all the people who are going to be highly disappointed and disgusted with this chapter because I do some foul stuff with the characters.

This is the end of another arc so expect things to get wild and a little strange.

For all those people who don't read authors notes:

WARNING: This chapter is filled with horrible things such as angst, blood, gore, character death, insanity (however mild), oh and fighting... lots of fighting.

This chapter has not been edited by anyone other than me so point out anything you see wrong and of course review.

Chapter 17:Married Life: I want a Divorce!

Aww man, I didn't do a disclaimer.

Disclaimer: Does anyone have a brainwashing machine to use on Taishi before this chapter begins? No? Damn, if you didn't see his picture he's pretty hot. Links on my profile page, drop Wolfie-chan a Thank you.

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Shippou wrung his hands nervously and stared at the piece of paper covered with scribbles.

Almost four hours ago, the servants had shoved him from his mother's room. Another servant had dragged Shippou down to his own quarters and left him with art supplies to entertain himself.

He had realized that it was common for males to be kept from the birthing room, and so, to stay out of everyone's way he had silently agreed to the distraction. He'd drawn one picture and tried to start a second before he'd given up and settled for staring into space waiting anxiously for news on his mother and new sibling.

The servants would come in and rush about to distract him from the chaos gripping the castle. He mostly ignored them as they begged for pictures and tried to get the kit to pay attention to something else other than his mother's screams of pain they knew he could hear, however faintly. Their job was to keep an eye on him. Shippou snorted, women who any other day would do everything in their power to ignore him were fawning over him, trying to keep him entertained, and failing horribly.

The servant's had realized an hour ago he had no love for them and was pointedly ignoring them. Still they insisted on talking to him and bustling around. Shippou sighed, stared blankly at his lap, and twiddled his thumbs. This day was really starting to suck…but then he would get a new brother or sister and it would be great.

He glanced up warily when the door opened again and he found himself staring at a guard. That was very strange; guards usually didn't come near him. Being a demon he made them uncomfortable. Being a child, they couldn't glare and harass him because they felt bad and Kagome would badly hurt someone if she ever caught them. To remedy all of this, they simply ignored him.

Shippou opened his mouth to ask if something was wrong when the guard moved aside slightly.

“Go.”

A boy, shuffled into the room wearing only a grey horai top and shorts.

He looked horribly frightened and Shippou blinked owlishly at him.

Were the servants so desperate to entertain him they would bring him a boy who hadn't been a servant half a day yet?

The door closed and Shippou rolled his eyes.

“They obviously are,” He sighed aloud.

The boy sat at the door and looked around wide-eyed.

Shippou shook his head.

This kid didn't have a clue. They hadn't even given him a crash course on how to be a servant.

Finally, the boy seemed to spot him and his body snapped forward into bow and his forehead met the floor with a loud crack.

Shippou closed his eyes sympathetically.

So, they had tried to make the boy half competent to servant behavior…

When he opened his eyes again, the servant was still in the same position. There was a long silent pause before the he gave a loud sob.

He pulled his hands close to his face and curled tightly into a ball. Now tucked into an awkward and unbalanced ball, he rolled over onto his side and lay there sobbing.

“Why are you crying, does it really hurt that badly?”

The boy continued to sob a long moment and began to hiccup as he tried to prepare himself to respond.

“I'm afraid to die!” the boy whimpered.

Shippou nodded in understanding, “Kaa-san won't let you be killed. Taishi-bastard gave you in her care. I don't think he's stupid enough to have you killed after all the trouble he's caused.”

The boy looked up with shocked brown eyes, craning his neck awkwardly to look at Shippou.

He opened his mouth to respond but immediately closed his mouth again. The tears had stopped and when he opened his mouth again, his voice coming out as a whisper.

“You're a youkai?”

Shippou snorted, “Yeah.”

The boy stared, “Mistress is human,” he pointed out uncertainly.

“Yeah” Shippou acknowledged silently debating if he should warn the boy about titles when dealing with Kagome.

They sat in silence a good 15 minutes.

“I'm supposed to play with you.” The boy said finally, as if stunned by the revelation.

“Right” Shippou acknowledged eyeing his picture with disinterest.

“You won't eat me will you?”

Shippou didn't dignify the question with a response.

“What did you do to end up in prison?”

The boy paled but much to his credit didn't even try to lie.

“I stole a sack of rice from the dealer. The samurai caught me.”

Shippou's gaze shined with amusement.

“Of course you tried to run right?”

The boy didn't answer.

“You took too much to run quickly didn't you?”

The servant boy finally glanced up in mild surprise.

Shippou grinned amused as the boy's expression became sour.

“What do you know?”

`None of a servant's self preservation skills,' Shippou mused.

“I used to steal too.” The boy's mouth fell open in shock.

“I had to feed myself between the time papa died and Kaa-san found me. I picked up a few things.”

The boy opened his mouth to fire off questions, Shippou grinned and pointed at him. “You're an idiot, any street rat knows that you don't take what you can't easily carry, especially if you're slow.”

A blush spread across the boys face and he curled into a ball to sulk.

Shippou ignored him, feeling little sympathy.

“Can I play with you?”

Shippou blinked but didn't respond. The boy obviously didn't know better because he stood and moved shyly toward Shippou.

The most offensive smell Shippou had ever encountered smacked him in the face. Shippou scrambled back holding his nose. The boy paused and didn't move a confused look on his face.

Shippou gasped loudly his face tinged green and spoke in a nasal voice.

“You stink!”

The boy tilted his head in confusion, “I got a bath and they scrubbed me really good.”

Shippou noted the pink tinge to the boy's skin and nodded in acknowledgement.

“You still stink.”

He eyed the boy from head to toe and for some reason his gaze focused on the boys hair.

Noticing the direction of Shippou's stare, the boy ran a hand through the short fuzz on top of his head, he smiled sheepishly.

“They said I had lice,” He admitted.

“Lice?” Shippou repeated as if offended.

A nod, “They scrubbed my head with medicine.”

Shippou stared at the boy in disbelief.

“The servants are stupid”

“Wh-”

“Get out.”

The two boys stared at each other.

“They scrubbed my hair earlier; they said I should be okay. It was the first thing they did and they wasted medicine on me.”

Shippou shook his head “I'm sure it's not wasted, but I'm not willing to get Lice just to play with you. Kaa-san would be so angry.”

Shippou pointed to the door.

“Out!” he growled pinching his nose that was beginning to turn red from the pressure applied by his fingers.

The boy scampered for the door not willing to have Shippou call the guards.

Shippou followed him to the door. He was mildly surprised to see the guard standing outside the door patiently. He was probably there more to keep Shippou in the room than for the servant boy.

“What's your name?”Shippou asked.

The servant boy blinked and scratched his head, Shippou flinched and eyed him warily.

“Dai.”

Shippou nodded, “You can come back and play in a few days when the doctor says you don't have anything else weird.”

Dai opened his mouth to respond but was cut off when there was the sound of a door being slid open. Shippou glanced over his shoulder and was surprised to see the doctor having entered from the porch. She stood on the other side of the room and closed the door behind her. Her face was set in stern expression and her brown eyes heavy with exhaustion.

“I need to speak to you Shippou-sama”

Shippou opened his mouth to speak but the doctor cut him off.

“It's about your mother.”

Shippou stared at the woman in silence a long moment. Finally, he looked back to Dai. His eyes examined the boys face as if to remember him before he stepped out of the doorway back into the room. He turned and looked to the doctor listening as the door slid closed behind him.

“Come kit, we have much to talk about.” She murmured soothingly.

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Sesshomaru blinked quickly his eyes lidded to fight off the strong light from the sun. It was hot, he had a human lord to kill…or maybe a few if the need decided to strike him, and he had meetings with clans to get too. He was not in an ideal situation and his temper was short, so much so he was ready to ream someone in a violent and bloody manner.

Sesshomaru flexed his claws experimentally and watched the skin stretch and shift with the movements off long thin fingers.

Everything felt strange, enhanced. His senses were sharp, more so than usual and wouldn't be calmed or controlled by his whims. He blamed his beast and that was that. He considered sealing the damnable creature into the very depths of his mind but he couldn't stop the sensations if he didn't know why he was reacting this way. Maybe his other half needed to be released. It was an ideal way to let out pent up energy and stress he caused himself.

He simply didn't have the time to use that method. Passing control to his beast was the usual manner to deal with such issues. The problem lay in wrestling back control to get important tasks finished such as kicking the snot out of worthless hanyou brother's or fighting a war…yes, he couldn't forget that now could he. It would be a long and tedious affair seeing as his beast seemed ready to go on a rampage. It wouldn't do to let his beast destroy his lands in a mindless rage right at the moment either.

His body tensed of its own accord. Heat rushed through his every inch and nerve of his being as if he were hovering over lava instead of standing on the balcony of his study enjoying the breeze.

Sesshomaru felt a sweat break out on his brow and a pleasant breeze quickly dried it, battling the fluctuating temperatures of his body with ease.

His beast paced in the back of his mind, irritable, unstable, waiting for a time when Sesshomaru's impeccable control wavered. Sesshomaru had never been wary of his beast, but then it had never paced in the back of his mind as if it would rip him apart at the first inclination of freedom.

He had never felt this before but his beast seemed to know what was happening. It was more a being of instinct unlike Sesshomaru who was a being of cold hard logic. The problem was it wouldn't speak to him, reduced to a snarling spitting animal, unable calm itself enough to make coherent thoughts for its other half to make sense of.

Sesshomaru bared his teeth in frustration but didn't growl. He was expecting guests and it wouldn't do for them to walk in and find their lord seemingly angry, confused, and snarling at random birds. Trust and confidence was key right now, having his generals wary of him was not the way to win the war on the horizon.

He let his hand drop to his side and blinked out over the courtyard of his expansive castle. Red mist drifted into his vision but he blinked the haze away. Sesshomaru momentarily considered going to see the healer. He considered that perhaps he was falling ill and his inner beast simply wanted to go and chew on herbs and grass like mortal dogs before the illness got worse. He quickly turned down that idea, illness wasn't likely, he didn't feel weak or sick in any way, just overwhelmed, and foreign in his own skin. He had never harbored the urge to go chew on grass like some common flea monger anyhow.

Besides, he had things to attend too.

He closed his eyes and silently willed another burst of wind to come combat his rising and falling temperature. The feeling was fading but it left him winded and confused.

“My lord?”

Sesshomaru's eyes shot open and he glanced to the side to see Rin standing by his side. She smiled at him brightly and stared a moment taking in his form with critical eyes that shouldn't belong to a child of eight.

His ward always knew when something was out of sorts and at some point had started directing servants what to do with him depending on what she felt was wrong. It varied from getting him certain teas to having the servants fetch a doctor if she felt it necessary.

He had never questioned her when she got that way, only sat and observed in amusement and surprise. The girl was getting very good at her silent classification of what ailed her lord and he briefly wondered if he should have her tutored in the ways of a healer.

Whatever she saw of him, she was obviously satisfied with it. He was sorely disappointed hoping the girl had some strange gift. She looked into the study the balcony was attached too. Sesshomaru followed her gaze and found his study full of his generals and their trusted and close subordinates, just as he had ordered.

He stared at them blankly then looked back to Rin. The girl wasn't stupid, seeing so many youkai in his study should have warned her that a meeting was about to take place. She usually steered clear so -

His gaze darted to the few solders present who shifted nervously, refusing to look in his direction. His generals, he only kept four generals at his side not at all caring that other lords preferred more, either stood waiting for the meeting to begin or sat wherever the fancy struck them.

It was obvious by the sudden summons and the request of subordinates this was going to be a touch and go meeting, only meant to give out assignments. They seemed silently amused with something making the lesser soldiers squirm uncomfortably as they all waited for one of the four generals to comment.

Sesshomaru nearly snorted.

Cowards!

Using a child, his ward, to avoid getting their own heads sliced off for disturbing their lord's train of thought. Rin turned and skipped away.

“Bye My lord!” She chirped happily before vanishing out of the door.

Sesshomaru looked to the door before stepping into the study.

“You called for us Milord?”

Sesshomaru nodded not bothering to search out the source of the voice.

“There are meetings with clan heads to be taken care of. Generals you each have a village to get to and you know your missions. If there are any issues, send word and it will be handled,” there were nods but Sesshomaru continued undeterred.

“We have need of a few soldiers to take care of a nuisance?”

The Generals gave signals to their own subordinates. Moments later, the soldiers were bowed before Sesshomaru eagerly awaiting orders.

“The human lord Sagisoto, this Sesshomaru expects to hear word of his corpse left to rot in the ruins of his encampment, soon.”

“Yes milord.”

“Expect a challenge and youkai will help Sagisoto, take help if you feel it is necessary.”

“My lord the human will be taken care of, we will return with his head.”

That also meant they probably wouldn't ask for help.

They were so young, energetic, proud, confident…

Stupid.

Sesshomaru stared at them a long moment.

Soldiers like these who didn't think things through, consider the fact that Sesshomaru was offering them reinforcements and men to command, were useless.

They were likely to be killed, sparing maybe one or two. Those two would learn and he would get his information. He wanted to know if Naraku was working with this human or if the human simply had the support of youkai who liked the slaughter left in his wake.

If he lost a few men, at least he got his information and those men who returned would learn from their mistakes and be useful later on. Despite his thoughts about his soldiers, he wouldn't send in soldiers any less than these ones to deal with a human lord who obviously had the means to fight and kill youkai.

His gaze flickered to the generals who stood around the room. They knew exactly what he was thinking and it showed on their faces. Sesshomaru saw the faces of exactly three soldiers fall at the silent inquiry to the generals. He knew then whose faces he would see again and whose families he would be sending letters of condolences to within the month.

A few wet behind the ears soldiers jumping for the chance to impress him or jump a rank or two were only a distraction.

“You are all dismissed,”

There was a pause and they all bowed before him. Moments later, he was standing in his empty study, a strong breeze sweeping the room.

The breeze snatched a loose sheet of parchment off his desk. He plucked the sheet of paper from the air as it swept past and strode toward his desk. A note sized piece of paper flapped wildly in the breeze, held down by a paperweight a large black stone smoothed and shined, a gift from Rin.

He lifted the stone intending to stuff the runaway sheet under the rock and leave. Sesshomaru paused when he realized he hadn't left the note under the rock. He switched the sheet of paper out for the note and eyed the writing.

He nodded to himself, it was things like this that kept his confidence in his men's abilities despite bouts of stupidity.

“So, Lord Katsutoshi's men have breached the border again?”

Sesshomaru read the specifics of the note and nodded to himself. Moments later the note melted away in his claws and Sesshomaru moved to leave the study. As he stepped out of the room, he was met by a servant bowed in the hall, a cup of steaming tea on her serving tray.

“A bath has been prepared for milord. Lady Rin also instructed us to prepare milord's travel clothes and armor. Would milord like anything else?”

Sesshomaru stared at the servant a long moment before taking the offered beverage.

“No, that will be all,” He murmured. The servant bowed again and scampered off.

Sesshomaru eyed the steamy liquid thoughtfully, enjoying the scent of strong mint tea with trace amounts of honey.

He nodded to himself as he started down the hall. His ward needed to be convinced to take up healing; it would make her more desirable to her mate when she was old enough for such things.

He took a sip of his tea.

If she couldn't be convinced maybe she could take it up as a hobby.

Healing would do the girl good.

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Shippou moved down the hall eager to reach his Kaa-san but also wanting to flee and hide. The doctor walked behind him and so he couldn't make a run for it unless he wanted the old woman to know she had scared the shit out of him with her little `talk'.

The hall was empty except for the patrolling guards they would encounter every few minutes. Two servant's stood at his mother's door talking quietly. When they spotted him, they paused and stared. He felt a scowl making its way onto his face.

The doctor placed a hand on his head and looked ready to say something to the two women. Suddenly the door snapped open.

The servants squeaked and scampered away as they were nearly bowled over. Taishi stepped out of the room and Shippou blinked at the older man's expression. He had never seen Taishi look that way before and Shippou found he lacked the words to explain his expression efficiently. If he were dead pressed to give a description he would say Taishi wore an expression of agony and barely controlled rage.

The human lord strode past and Shippou felt the doctor grab his arm and pull him to the side. Taishi passed, his steps quick and his robes swirling as he moved. Shippou blinked a few times watching as Taishi vanished down the hall. The doctor put a hand to his back and pushed him toward the door before he could fully register what had happened.

Moments later, he found himself in the doorway of the dark room.

“Remember what I told you,” she whispered gently before pushing him inside and closing the door. Shippou glanced around the room, somehow surprised to find it empty.

His gaze drifted to the form on the bed and his frown deepened. He saw his mother perfectly in the dark room. She was nearly curled into a ball on her side, a new bed in laid out to replace the one stained in the childbirth. He could see the bright colors of her kimono draped across her like a sheet, an actual pair of sheets draped over the kimono and her.

Moving forward he stepped onto the large bed. Shippou moved in close and stopped to stare. She was curled around a bundle of sheets her head resting on her arm awkwardly and her other arm draped protectively around the bundle. Shippou was close enough to make out the tear tracks across her face and the flush on her cheeks. A cloth was draped awkwardly across her forehead making her hair stick to her already sweaty face. They had obviously tried to make her lay on her back but she had refused, opting to protect her baby instead and had passed out in her attempt.

He crept closer and turned the cloth over on her head hoping the side exposed to more air would help combat her fever. He brushed hair from her face but she didn't budge.

“Kaa-san,” he whispered.

The room was unnaturally silent and Shippou suddenly became aware a soft rasping, the sound one's breathing made when they were trying to sleep with a bad cold.

Shippou stared at the wheat yellow kimono tucked into Kagome's arms. He looked to his mother then to the bundle. Finally, he reached forward and pulled the kimono aside. Shippou licked his lips nervously and closed the tiny bit of space between him and his mother completely.

He stared in disbelief at the little blob wrapped in the blankets.

It was a faded pink color and wrinkled, not something one imagined when speaking of a baby, but it was still cute in some strange unreasonable way. Thin wisps of pitch black hair stuck out in strange directions. Large eyes were hidden behind tightly closed lids. The face was all Kagome from what he could see at this point, after all, the baby was only a few hours old.

Shippou suddenly understood the talk about not upsetting his mother, being careful what he said, and how not to hurt the baby…who was already hurting.

There was something wrong. It hurt the baby, him, to breath. There was something wrong with his lungs and all they could do was make him comfortable.

Shippou sat a moment digesting this information. He didn't know what to think as he stared at this pink blob of a creature that was so tiny and smelled like Kagome, like his brother. Finally, overwhelmed, baffled, and unable to decide what to do or how to help, he brought his arm to his face and cried.

He put both hands on the ground when he thought he would fall over and continued to sob. It took a moment until he could calm down enough to not nearly topple over with each breath.

The rasping sounded louder in his ears. Shippou paused and blinked rapidly down at the child. His tears were shining in the dim light against the babies face. He quickly wiped his face on his sleeve. Gently, he used a corner of his dry sleeve to wipe away the tears that had fallen on the child's face.

The baby was still, his breathing the only sound in the room. Shippou paused and frowned down at the tiny infant even as the last bits of evidence from his crying fit slid down his cheeks and vanished into the wheat yellow fabric of the Yukata.

“Are you awake?” he whispered.

The baby turned his head letting a perfectly curved ear emerge from the fabric.

Shippou watched as the child pause again and waited, just listening. His eyes widened and he glanced around frantically wishing there was someone to get the baby. He hadn't meant to wake him up, really!

The doctor had told him not to, wasn't the baby, his brother, going through enough already. Shippou felt horrible but he was afraid to move…didn't want to move.

Swallowing he finished wiping the wet streaks away. He paused seeing white crust around the infant's eyes. Thinking himself the cause, Shippou tried to wipe it away. After a few tries and no success, the child squirmed uncomfortably and whimpered.

“I'm sorry!” he whispered frantically freezing a long moment. When the child didn't burst into tears, Shippou took it as the go ahead to remove uncomfortable crust from the boys' eyes.

“Let me see,” he tried to rub the curst away with a thumb, getting nowhere, he tried to pry the child's eyes open as gently as he could and found he couldn't. Shippou blinked owlishly and tried again, the boys' eyelids didn't budge.

Shippou immediately stopped trying when the baby took a sharp breath that rattled loudly in the room. Kagome was oblivious, still unconscious and Shippou realized she probably wouldn't be waking up for a long while.

The baby nuzzled himself into Kagome's chest and Shippou could only watch numbly. He stared at the infant a long moment before leaning forward again.

“Hi otouto” he paused, “I'll stay with you until Kaa-san wakes up.”

He lifted Kagome's arm just as the sound of the door opening reached him.

“Shippou-sama don't-”

“Leave me alone, I'm staying with my otouto and Kaa-san. They need me.” He scowled back at the woman. She paused uncertainly then seeming to come to a decision, she closed the door, and didn't try again. Shippou crawled into Kagome's arms and snuggled into his brother's side.

“You should go back to sleep” he whispered. Shippou smelled breath sour with the scent of milk.

There was another whimper and squirming. “I said I'd stay with you, don't wake up Kaa-san,” he murmured tucking the kimono tightly around the child and closing his own eyes.

“I thought of another story for you…” Shippou finally murmured after a long while.

Kagome shifted in her sleep, sniffled, and sighed something quietly.

Shippou peeked up at her and smiled to himself. He nuzzled his face into the infant's cheek earning another grunt and more rasping.

“…Hitomu.”

Shippou murmured the name a few times, testing it, and buried his face in the yukata. He paused and moved his head away as Hitomu whimpered quietly.

He stared at the infant a moment and took another sniff, “You smell funny.” He murmured quietly. Shippou pressed his nose into Hitomu's chest just to make sure the scent was coming from him.

“You smell really funny, I know that scent.”

Hitomu chose then to cough a bit. Shippou pet his stomach awkwardly unsure of how to help. He stared at the infant baffled. The answer he was searching for hit him suddenly and Shippou gasped aloud.

“That scent it the same scent Inu-baka has, B-But your human how do you-” Something shifted in the room and Shippou paused wide-eyed. He hadn't heard anything but the air in the room literally seemed to shift and freeze.

For reasons he didn't understand his gaze drifted up and locked with shocking blue eyes. Kagome was awake and staring at him with the most intense stare he had ever seen. Shippou didn't realize he had stopped breathing until Kagome's hand reached out and touched him, shocking him from his daze. He stared at her, his thoughts racing.

“Kaa-san” Kagome put two fingers to Shippou's lips and the kit paused in surprise. Kagome's eyes drooped tiredly and she glanced to the door. He followed her gaze and found himself unreasonably relieved that the door was still closed. When he turned back to her, he met her gaze again.

She moved her hand from Shippou's face to run her fingers through Hitomu's fine black hair.

“Kaa-san, do I want to know?”

Kagome seemed to pause a moment then she shook her head.

Shippou looked back to the door then to her again.

“Taishi?”

“He doesn't know?” Her voice was low and seemed far away.

“Then who is-”

“Go to sleep Shippou, Hitomu likes you.” She whispered. Shippou watched her eyes slide closed and he nodded and lay down on his stomach.

Licking his lips nervously he stretched out on the bed beside Hitomu. “Kaa-san said sleep but I didn't tell you a bed time story yet…”

He peeked up at Kagome who didn't budge. Shippou looked back to Hitomu who was already drifting back to sleep.

“Well on my travels with kaa-san, I met a dragon. He was mean and ugly but he was no match for me…”

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Shippou yawned widely and plucked another flower from the grass. He stood a moment rearranging the flowers he held to his liking then continued to roam the field for more colorful blossoms. He eyed the area before wandering over to a bright yellow flower. He bent down to exam it closely before he plucked the little flower and added it to his bouquet. Shippou stood correctly, glanced around again, and couldn't help but sigh.

He was going to have to move to another section of the castle grounds. He was running out of flowers he considered worthy of his bouquet. If there was one thing Rin taught him in the short time they had traveled together, it was that if you're going to pick flowers for someone, make them worth looking at or they usually end up on the ground somewhere. Rin's master was perfect example of this simple rule. Rin picked him flowers and when he didn't think they were interesting they were more likely to vanish when Rin looked away. On the other hand, when they were colorful and smelled really nice they tended to be found on her masters form when she looked hard enough.

After she had started taking flower arrangement at the castle, the flowers had tended to stick with her master longer or they would pop up in random decorations around the castle. Rin never said anything but she was delighted her master liked her work even if he would rather die than say it aloud.

At least that was what Rin told him, still the girl liked to over exaggerate a little so Shippou felt he needed to see this for himself. In the meantime, the rule had stuck with him.

Tired and ready to give up on his flower hunt for the day he sat heavily on the ground and glanced around. He spotted the gate guards talking quietly as they leaned on the wall waiting for a time when they would be needed.

Shippou eyed them silently wondering what he would need to do to sneak past the guards and go into a village to get his Kaa-san a gift. She needed something to make her smile, or even better laugh because she certainly hadn't been smiling or laughing lately.

Shippou felt a growl rise up in his throat and rumble through his form. He knew he wouldn't be escaping without trouble. He willed his fox fire into existence and then let it morph into the ring of fire people he had practiced creating with Jiji.

The guards seemed to notice him and they stood at attention waiting anxiously for his next move. The little fire people danced around him happily and Shippou eyed the distance between him and the guards. Finally, he let the fire people vanish knowing that his power didn't have the distance necessary to reach them. The guards seemed to slump in relief and Shippou pouted. He was sure that would have made an awesome prank to liven up the boring and miserable castle.

Heaving another sigh, he started toward the stairway that led to his mother's room. The stairs creaked under his weight but held strong. Shippou snorted and made a silent note to tell a servant about the stairs. As much as he disliked the fact that he hadn't grown an inch since he had met his mother, he knew that he didn't weigh nearly enough to make the supposedly strong stairs creak. It needed to be looked at before they collapsed and killed someone, Shippou would be damned if it were himself or his mother.

He reached the top of the stairs and walked at a leisurely pace to his Kagome's door. He found it closed and so he knocked lightly on the wooden frame. There was no response.

Surprised, Shippou slid the door open and looked around. Everything was as it had been that morning when he had come to eat breakfast with her. The only difference was that Kagome was gone. He stepped in and eyed every inch of the room suspiciously.

Seeing nothing that should alarm him, he continued into the room. Shippou slid the door closed behind him and made his way over to the wooden crib. He paused and stared at it as if it were some daunting beast to be overcome.

“This is always the hard part.”

He leapt onto a nearby trunk then scampered to the foot end of the crib. Grabbing the end of the crib, he hefted himself up and over the wooden frame. He landed on the bedding of the crib with a grunt.

Shippou quickly checked his flowers and found them in good shape though not as good as before he'd thrown himself into the crib. Standing up he took in the crib's items. A familiar yellow yukata folded neatly in a corner along with a blanket and a rather large green…thing stuffed with an old blanket. Shippou thought the bright green color offensive, especially considering it was a toy for his little brother.

Shippou nodded to himself seeing everything was as he'd expected. He plucked a loose string from his top and used it to bind his flowers. He took a moment to admire his work before laying it down on the bed. An amused smirk found its way onto Shippou's face. Before, he had always brought a flower for Hitomu and a story to tell. He had stopped bringing flowers the onetime Hitomu had tried to eat it because it had tickled his nose.

Hitomu had stayed with them for four days and Shippou had thought it was a good idea to start the tradition again since the week old babe had obviously loved his brother's attentions. Shippou's chest puffed in pride, Hitomu had been strange even at barely a four days old but he had loved flowers and made an effort to smell them even if he didn't have a clue what he was smelling.

Now two weeks later Shippou still would hide away sometimes and cry for his brother…and his mother, but he was happy he had gotten to spend time with Hitomu. It had certainly been interesting.

Kagome, on the other hand, had been devastated.

She had stayed with Hitomu every waking moment unless she had no other choice but to leave him, even then, the maximum amount of time she'd been separated from the child had been five minutes tops, and that was pushing it.

After Hitomu had left them, she had refused to do anything but lie in bed and moan in pain. A few days ago, she had gotten up and moved around the castle, trying to move past the pain and Shippou had been immensely proud of her.

Still there was this pain in his chest and his Kaa-san had promised him that one day it would lessen but it wouldn't fade and Shippou had been satisfied because that meant he would remember Hitomu. He wondered if she had to deal with a similar pain and after some contemplation, Shippou decided that she did, and it was a hundred times worse than his own.

With a grunt, Shippou grabbed hold of the crib side and hefted himself up to balance on the rail. He paused hearing voices, familiar ones that made his stomach drop in dread.

“Why would you do that!”

That one was definitely Taishi, his voice was low, a hissed whisper as if he were trying not to attract attention.

“Fuck off Taishi!”

That was Kagome and her voice sounded horrible as if she were recovering from a cold.

“No I won't!”

The voices hushed and seemed to be arguing in whispers. Shippou couldn't make out what they were saying despite his good ears. When he could hear, he suddenly wished he couldn't.

“It's your fault, our son was possessed by a demon and you refused to let the monk exorcise the area and the child!”

“You have got to be kidding. There hasn't been a demon in this area in months. You're talking bullshit and I think I would sense something sinister living in my body trying to kill my child!” Kagome sneered.

“How do you explain his death.”

Shippou could almost hear Kagome's breath catch in her throat to hide the agony.

Taishi continued.

“He's dead. If you were such a powerful Miko you should have known something was wrong and he could have been helped.”

“And what could have been done!”

“Anything!” he roared angrily. Shippou briefly wondered if Taishi would have still argued with Kagome like this, had he known the baby wasn't his.

Shippou decided Taishi would have denied it with every breath.

“Taishi.”

Kagome's voice was low and tight in pain, “That doesn't make sense and you know it. There was something wrong with his lungs. Let's not forget he was premature, that's a lot of strain on an infant.”

“Are you trying to say it's my fault-”

“This isn't about you!” Kagome howled her voice shattering the air.

Shippou toppled over into the crib and lay there stunned, waiting for his ears to stop ringing.

“Why are you doing this now, is it because I'm weak and mourning. My baby is dead Taishi, give me some time before you want to fight about stupid crap!”She snapped her voice at a more normal level and gaining strength.

The door opened and Kagome moved to step in but Taishi caught her arm.

“You're going to listen you witch,” he gave a fierce snarl that left Kagome blinking in surprise. She actually stopped and stared at him in shock.

“My son is dead because you didn't do your job and protect him. That's why I married you, to bear me children who could fight demons and to have a woman who could do the same. You do live here after all. As much as you dislike me, you won't let some demon destroy your home. But you- you… Is your hatred for me so great that you would let my child die!”

Kagome opened her mouth to speak but nothing came, she could only stare at him in horror.

“This time you're going to listen to me. You put me through so much shit during your pregnancy and now there is nothing to show for it. I should put you in the lineup for execution.”

“Taishi!”

“How could you be so stupid, my heir! You, why would you do that, I don't understand! Are you so petty!”

Kagome snatched away from him but he stumbled after her as she tried to move away. He caught her arms and held them to her sides to stop her from striking out at him. Shippou had seen Taishi mad plenty of times but he had never seen such unholy rage in the man's eyes. He was obviously restraining himself from hitting her, as grateful as Shippou was that he didn't hit Kagome, the kit was rather confused as to why he didn't act on his whim like he usually did.

“We'll just try again, this time I won't tolerate your foolishness. You'll stay with guards and you'll do as I order. You are my wife and its time you started acting your station!”

Shippou looked at Taishi not quite as shocked as he was horrified by what he had just heard. Kagome's eyes were wide and filled with pain.

He opened his mouth to speak again but Kagome had obviously had enough. She screamed and wretched her arms free. With all the rage and pain she felt at that moment, she raised a hand swung it at Taishi.

He fell back like a sack of bricks. Taishi quickly scrambled up, dazed, bleeding, his eyes alight with shock and flickering with fear.

“How dare you! How dare you say such things to me after all the crap I put up with dealing with you! How dare you come to me spouting utter bullshit to me right after I lost my baby!” There were tears streaming down her cheeks and her eyes were pink, proof of the rage bubbling just under the surface.

For the first time since she had come to the castle, Shippou saw her power hanging in the air around her, whipping about violently. He gasped and huddled into a corner of the crib.

The gasp drew Kagome's attention and her gaze snapped to him. The pink faded from her eyes almost instantly leaving tear filled electric blue orbs boring into him.

“Demon.”

Kagome's gaze snapped to Taishi. He hadn't bothered to wipe away the blood running from his nose and lip; he simply sat staring at her in horror.

“You're not Kagome, you're a demon and you killed my son.”

Kagome jerked as if struck but instead of looking hurt, a smile curled on her lips. She grinned at him and Shippou found himself stunned into silence at the sublime picture she made. Her hair hadn't been combed in at least a week, her eyes carried dark circles and her face was streaked with both fresh and old tear trails, and drained of color. With her extravagant kimono and unkempt appearance, she looked like someone strait out of a ghost story.

Her head made a strange motion as if she were forcing herself to swallow.

“Your son?”

Taishi paused seeming to notice how quiet everything had gotten.

The silence before the storm.

“My baby, my Hitomu, was not your son and was in no way related to you.”

Shippou swallowed watching the emotions fly across Taishi's face. He went through a full range of emotions and all of them negative, confusion, anger, hurt, disbelief, and then strait to rage. He was on his feet and in her face within moments.

“I know you were a lowly bitch but to lie like that. How could you say something like that! You would rather be a whore than admit that he was my child. What kind of- are you stupid? I'm suddenly glad the child didn't survive, I already have a stupid whore to take care of, I'd hate my son to have inherited his mother's insanity. It would have been a struggle to beat it out of him.”

Kagome froze up and suddenly sobbed. Taishi paused obviously having expected her to yell back or ignore him. She sobbed long and hard, Shippou sat there watching them. Guards and servants began to appear in both doors, a hand grabbed him and Shippou found himself plucked from the bed by a servant that was trying to get him out of the room.

Kagome stopped to take a breath and Shippou thought she would collapse when she didn't breathe again for a long moment. When she responded to anything again, it was fast, sudden and violent.

She gave an animalistic howl and lunged at Taishi.

They both went flying into the guards, toppling them over. Taishi and Kagome were a tangle of frantic limbs and Kagome's enraged screams echoed through the castle. The servants cried out in horror and rushed over to pull the lord and lady of the castle apart from the free for all.

Shippou highly doubted it was a free for all for Taishi, all he saw were Taishi's arms flailing and him kicking wildly trying to get Kagome off. There was a snap and Taishi cried out in pain and fought against her harder. The servants were useless against Kagome. The guards had a little more luck and were able to drag her off her husband.

Kagome struggled wildly clawing for Taishi. Taishi was bloody and bruised but alive lying stunned and in pain on the floor. Kagome went limp and sobbed while the guards held her up. She was drooling blood, tears streamed down her face. Kagome had gone from grieving but bearing it to hysterical and mental in less than five minutes.

Taishi rolled over with help from his guards. He clutched at his side in nearly blinding pain and looked to her with nothing short of fear in his eyes.

His face had been spared a good clawing when the guards had tried to pull her off and she had only been able to reach his chest and anything else that got in her way like his arms. He did have a few blooming bruises on his face but then again so did Kagome. The way he squirmed and gasped in pain told Shippou he had probably broken or badly fractured something.

“I hate you,” she gasped between sobs.

“If there was ever a human I wouldn't feel bad killing it would be you, I would gladly become a demon just to kill you.” She sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and was able to force herself to calm down.

Anger gave both humans and demons amazing resilience, Taishi was a perfect example of this rule as he forced himself to stand, his face twisted into the most vicious expression Shippou had ever lay eyes on.

Taishi came closer and Shippou snarled lurching free from the servant and hoping in between them.

“Stay away from my Kaa-san you bastard. Haven't you hurt her enough, leave her alone or I swear I'll burn you alive.” The look in Taishi's eyes was murderous and he clearly planned to kick the kit out of the way, however, Shippou wasn't bluffing. He gave his best fox fire, a blue flame that leapt up to tower of Taishi. Taishi stumbled away and fled.

The flame vanished and Shippou ran to Kagome as the guards let her sink to her knees.

She scooped him up and held him tightly. Shippou hugged her in return not caring that his clothes were soaked with tears. The servants crowded around her to offer some sort of comfort as Kagome whimpered into Shippou's shirt.

Hours later Shippou found himself resting his head on Kagome's stomach dozing lightly while Kagome ran her fingers through his hair. She stared at the ceiling mapping out every grove and line with her gaze. Shippou sighed and rubbed his cheek against her stomach as he watched the shadows shift and dance under the candle light. Servants were in the room moving about quietly and Shippou could see their forms moving just outside of the very thin silken canopy around the bed.

Kagome had collapsed with fever earlier and of course, her bout of insanity had everyone watching her closely.

There was a light tap at the door but in the silence of the room, everyone heard it. The tap had come from the porch door. The servants sat against the far wall squirming uncomfortably watching the door warily.

Finally, one of the servants that had been walking the room went to the door and cracked it open slightly. Kagome turned her head and used a hand to move the screen aside to peek out. The door closed again and the servant came closer to the bed and bowed holding out something. Kagome reached through the screen and took the item. Shippou blinked in surprise when he saw a small piece of paper folded neatly.

Kagome cracked the paper open and before Shippou could crawl closer to get a good look at the note she closed it. She let her hand fall to her chest and she turned her gaze back on the ceiling.

“Kaa-san?”

Kagome didn't answer and Shippou frowned. She hadn't fallen back into her depressed state where she didn't want to answer anything or even see anyone, her gaze was sharp and her eyes glowed eerily in the dim light provided by candles. She was more awake than she had been in days.

After a long moment of silence, she lifted her hand again and peered at the note. She closed it again and held it between two fingers. Shippou watched in fascination as the paper burst into yellow flames. The servants gave soft gasps as the paper vanished. Kagome's head turned and she blinked owlishly at the dark shapes of servants sitting against her wall.

“Leave me.” Her voice was quiet but the servants heard her loud and clear. In moments, the room was empty.

Kagome turned her gaze on him, “What was on the note Kaa-san?”

Kagome's lips moved and he realized she was chewing on her lip in thought. Finally, she sat up and Shippou moved aside to allow her more room.

Her hair fell over her shoulders in black waves but was kept from her face by two flower clips.

She sighed rubbing tense shoulders. To Shippou's relief and immense happiness, she shot him a small smile.

“Thank you for taking such good care of me Shippou, I know I caused you a lot of trouble.” He huffed and waved a hand. “You're my Kaa-san” he said as if that explained everything. Kagome hummed in thought and put a hand to his cheek.

Shippou paused and stared at her in confusion, “Kaa-san what's wrong?”

She stared at him a moment “Taishi has ordered that I be killed.”

Shippou stared at her before a grin of disbelief found its way onto his face, “What?”

“He wants me dead Shippou”

Shippou huffed his eyes darting frantically “B-but”

Kagome smiled at him calmly, “Why, he's the one who-”

“It doesn't matter what he did, he's afraid of me and humans tend to kill whatever they are scared of. Taishi is no exception to the rule, neither am I.”

Shippou's mouth hung open in shock.

“So he sent you a letter to tell you this. How cocky can you get?” He growled.

“He didn't send the letter, it was a warning so I can get away.”

“Oh,” Shippou breathed, “So, we're going to run right?”

Kagome was silent and Shippou felt dread twisting knots in his stomach.

“Kaa-san you're not going to stay here and let him do what he wants right?” Shippou squeaked.

Kagome smiled, “Of course not kit. I think I've grown too much of an ego to just run though, at least I think my pride only rears its ugly head when Taishi is involved.” She rubbed her chin in thought, “What he's done to us doesn't help his case.”

Shippou swallowed nervously, “So should we be expecting guards to come and drag us away to the dungeons. I can fight them and we can run away.”

Kagome shook her head, “Guards? No, we don't have to worry about guards. Taishi would look bad if he had me dragged away to be executed. He would have me assassinated.” Shippou gasped.

“Kaa-san we have to get away. I'm not letting them kill you. He's such a baka, I hate him, I hate him worse than Inuyasha!” Kagome looked surprised at Shippou's wail. He took a few deep breaths looking at her grimly.

“Nothing is going to happen tonight Shippou. It's too soon and his assassin would need time to prepare.”

Kagome glanced away and Shippou bowed his head.

“So what are we supposed to do?” he whispered.

“Well,” Kagome scratched the back of her head, “You are going to sleep. I have some things to take care of.”

Shippou's mouth dropped open in shock.

Before he could respond, she put a hand over his mouth.

“Kit, listen to your kaa-san.” He scowled but nodded. However, she didn't remove her hand.

“You are going to sleep, if anybody comes and tries to give you anything to drink or eat don't take it. That's about the extent of attacks we should expect for right now.” He nodded again and she removed her hand.

Shippou scowled at her, “Kaa-san this sucks. I hope you know what you're doing.” He growled.

Kagome smiled, “Of course I don't know what I'm doing.”

“That's great now w-w-what?” He squeaked

Shippou blinked at her. He been expecting some type reassurance and that was the farthest thing from it.

“But I'm doing it anyway.”

Shippou shrunk in on himself and eyed her warily.

“Kaa-san, are you a crazy person now?” He asked timidly.

“I've been crazy for a long time now Shippou. You're just now noticing?” Shippou felt his eye twitch.

“Go to sleep you can stay in here.”

He opened his mouth to respond but the look in her eyes made him reconsider. Obediently, he laid down on her futon. Kagome took her sheet and draped it over Shippou before she stood with a quiet groan.

Shippou watched as the screen swayed closed after her. He watched her form move around the room quietly, the way her hand lingered on the crib as she passed, the way she hummed a quiet tune as she moved about. She opened the chest beside the crib and dug through it a moment. Finally, she pulled something from it. Quietly, with cat like grace Shippou had only seen from youkai, she made her way around the room putting out the candles. She left one candle on before making her way to the door.

“Go to sleep Shippou,” She called calmly before vanishing into the dark halls.

Shippou whimpered and chewed on his lip in worry. It was obvious she had snapped and this temporary insanity was effecting how she would usually deal with certain situations.

“Jiji, what should I do, Kaa-san is hurting so bad,” He whispered. He thought about it a moment then grumbled and rolled onto his back. Maybe she had the right idea, trying to make sane and civil decisions while dealing with Taishi seemed to make the situation worse. …

He scowled at the single candle left, “I wish I was stronger than that baka-Taishi, and then he wouldn't have hurt her so badly.” He sighed closing his eyes.

“I don't know how she expects me to sleep when people want to kill her.” He grumbled.

He rolled his eyes and gathered the sheets around himself, “What am I saying, there have been people trying to kill Kaa-san long before I met her.”

He curled himself tightly in the sheets.

A half an hour passed and the last candle died with a flourish leaving Shippou in the dark, “This is so messed up,” he moaned letting his eyes slide closed.

Shippou's eyes shot open and he stiffened in the bed as he looked at the figure standing over him. A pale hand pulled away from his shoulder and Shippou blinked owlishly trying to calm his racing heart.

“Kaa-san, didn't you just leave?”

“I've been gone two hours,” She explained calmly.

“Wha?” he gave a wide yawn.

Kagome leaned forward and gave Shippou a gentle smile as he scrambled forward and hugged her. She murmured to him quietly and squeezed him tightly.

“Did you get a good rest?” she murmured into the quiet of the room.

“Yeah,” he blinked rapidly trying to shake off the heaviness of his eyes.

“It's still dark out.” he muttered around a wide yawn.

He eyed her as he was set on the bed. Her aura was calm, collected, and very frightening.

“I know, but it's time to go”

He blinked and nodded slowly, “Yes Kaa-san.”

She passed a bag to the kit, it was light and only full of two sets of clothes.

He eyed her short outfit in wonder. He could vaguely recall her old short outfits being burned by none other than Taishi.

“Kaa-san where did you get that?”

She only smiled and Shippou wasn't so sure he wanted to know anymore.

“Milady,” Shippou jumped at the quiet hiss from the door.

There were two shadows at the porch door and a third shadow seemingly crouched in a bow.

“I'm here Kazuki-san,” She answered.

She parted the canopy and stepped toward the door. It slid open without much noise and Shippou saw the head Samurai guard knelt at the door. He made a signal with his hand and the two other samurai hurried off in different directions. Kagome stepped aside and he quickly stepped in and closed the door.

“Lady Kagome, I expected you to make haste, you must flee or you'll be killed.” He whispered harshly.

Kagome met his gaze with calm confidence, “Thank you Kazuki but because of your warning I made plans of my own,” He paused and blinked rapidly at her.

“Milady-”

Kagome turned away and picked up a bag, her old courier bag. She passed it to Kazuki who stared at her baffled. “Take Shippou and get him out of the castle and far into the forest. Shippou can take care of himself for 10 minutes and then I will follow him out. You can return to the castle and no one will have to know about this.”

Shippou opened his mouth to protest but Kazuki's stern gaze made him pause. The head guard looked at both of them and knowing there was no convincing Kagome to change her mind, he nodded.

He gathered Shippou into his arms and slung the bag over his shoulder. Kagome sauntered to the door as if she had all the time in the world. “Milady, why are you telling us to flee when you are staying?”

Kagome glanced back, already halfway out the door.

“At least answer me that milady. I am your loyal Samurai,” He pleaded.

Kagome didn't smile and her eyes were suddenly dark and haunted.

“My husband…I warned him, I told him keeping demons was a bad idea…” She trailed off vanishing into the dark halls leaving her frightened son and guard.

Shippou's mouth hung open and he looked to Kazuki who had gone pale as a ghost. Kazuki suddenly lunged for the door she had vanished out of and it snapped closed, it wouldn't do for a servant to come peeking in just yet.

“I think it's time to go,” he whispered rushing back for the porch door. Shippou nodded in total agreement and let himself be carried out the porch door.

XXXXXXXXX

It was frighteningly easy to slip past patrolling guards and into the dungeons. Kagome wasn't sure who was working with Kazuki and she wasn't willing to take the chance. There weren't guards outside the door to the dungeons but they were inside the dungeons tunnels standing guard. Kagome glanced around in the darkness. She could make out everything with startling clarity and was silently thanking Jiji.

One guard was to the right leaned against the wall. Another was a little further in, pacing across the walkway. He was obviously nervous after being forced into the dark with so many demons and the only reassurance of them being restrained were little words etched in metal.

Kagome closed her eyes when the guard finally turned and looked in her direction. Stepping back slowly, careful not to jar the bell on her ankle, she hid herself behind a stonewall that jutted out in the path. She had an idea why the wall was there in the first place, protection against youkai attacks should the prisoners escape, but it was currently to her advantage, not theirs.

Petting her pouch like sleeves, she dug into them and pulled out a set of feathers. Pressing her back against the stonewall she examined the feather thoughtfully. Closing her eyes again, she crouched low to the ground and moved closer to the guard against the wall. If she could reach him before he saw her, she could just knock him out and not kill him. She hadn't wanted to kill them. Most guards were only following orders. They were trying to make a living, protect their families.

Of course, things never go as planned.

The guard opened his eyes and noticed something moving in the darkness. Considering the manner of prisoners they guarded he had every right to expect the worst.

“Demon!”

Kagome's powers flared and the feather shimmered yellow just before she flung it at the nearest guard. He gargled incoherently in the darkness collapsing onto his back. Kagome squinted mildly surprised she had thrown the feather with such precision. Caution thrown to the wind the other guard ran toward where he had last seen his partner. Kagome looked to the guard and he immediately saw where she was, her glowing eyes were a dead giveaway.

She rushed toward him as he drew his sword. He was skilled but she was fast, though not as fast as before her pregnancy. Kagome didn't have time to ponder who would win their confrontation as she closed in on him. He was afraid, but he kept his cool and that ultimately helped him. The samurai swung at her with perfect arcs, sharp jabs meant to kill, and succeeded in keeping her at bay.

Kagome could only leap around his blows hoping he would slip up at some point. He swung attempting to slice her head off. Her foot caught a groove in the stone floor; she lost her balance and fell back. Months of intense training kicked in and she let herself fall curling to absorb the impact. She rolled snatching her demonic staff from around her neck. He was charging her long before she stood back up to fight back.

Kagome hissed when cold steel bit into her side. The staff popped into her hand as another hand flew to her side in an attempt to seal the sword wound with swirling pink and white energy. He swung again a simple downward stroke. Kagome brought her staff up to block the attack.

This time she could feel the cool metal of her staff slide across her arm, searching for its power source but like before, she didn't feel the pinch as the metal slid into the veins in her hands and the skin bulged to accommodate the intrusion. She jumped back and charged again moving much faster and efficiently after the warm up. The skill of the battle quickly jumped to the next level as her opponent slowly became more confident when he saw he stood a chance. She pressured him more with enhanced speed, strength and reflexes honed from vicious battles with warrior monks.

Their weapons met in quick precession. His sword came to close too her shoulder for comfort and she pushed him back and kicked him in the stomach. He stumbled and that was all the time she needed to race in and hit him hard with her staff. He flew back into the wall and Kagome glanced at her staff to find the scythe had retracted leaving her with a pretty handy two-by-four.

She didn't have time to ponder why her weapon was behaving strangely. The guard was scrambling to get up. Kagome snorted and kicked him viciously in the stomach. His body was lifted off the ground from the force of the blow. He spit up bile on the floor before collapsing in a heap at her feet.

“At least you get to live,” she commented grimly.

Kagome paused as if frozen and seconds later, she turned and puked across the floor. When she was finished, she glanced at the first guards' body hidden in the shadows. Blinking in confusion at her sudden illness, she turned to the still living guard. Staggering to the unconscious guard, Kagome confiscated his swords in case he recovered before she finished her mission in the dungeons. Retrieving her feather from the dead body, making sure to glimpse what was necessary so she wouldn't waiver in her mission, she continued further into the caves and into the dungeons.

It went eerily quiet when she entered.

Kagome put the staff away, tossed the confiscated items aside, and pulled out the feathers. Glancing around she found all those who could see her were staring intensely as if she were some beast come to eat them. Movement in the cells beneath her caught her attention immediately. Kagome stood silently taking in the sight of youkai trapped in cages. She nodded to herself as if coming to a final decision and took a deep breath.

“Now I want to let you all free, give me an incentive,” She called to the youkai around her.

There was a long pause as if the demons' were digesting the offer. Finally, there was the murmur of voices, quiet at first but they quickly grew in volume.

The demons' underneath her reached up and the cell reacted violently as the room lit with the holy energy instilled in the prisons. They were all calling to her, pleading, offering money, power, immortality, whatever they could think of. Kagome couldn't make out half of what they were saying. The things she could hear she didn't care for.

Power…she didn't want power, she had a lot of power in her already and she couldn't control half of it.

Money…it was fun traveling around and earning a living, it made her feel useful. What good was money when you didn't know what to do with it. If she wanted money, it was simple enough to take it from Taishi.

Immortality…she highly doubted any of them could give her immortality without some really big catch.

Therefore, instead of answering any of their offerings, she raised a hand.

“Show me the locks and swear not to kill me or Shippou. I promise to get you out if you can keep your word.”

There was a confused silence before everyone began to point to the locks of their own cells.

She made short work of the first cell and the freed youkai helped her with other cells. Kagome was surprised to find the youkai willing to work together for their cause but not so much that she was stunned into inaction. They went through the cells with startling quickness. Once everyone was free, Kagome paused to eye the mini army of demons, from humanoid to just plain strange looking. She briefly wondered how Taishi caught all these demons then she remembered Taishi could be a determined bastard when he really wanted something. He also harbored a bitter hatred for youkai and so Kagome shrugged the question off as something to ponder at a later time and eyed the group of youkai thoughtfully.

“We'll,” She smiled brightly at the group and they returned her gaze with wary stares. “We need to get out of the castle. All of you are weak right now from being down here so long. I don't care what kind of youkai you are, if enough samurai get to you, your dead,” she explained.

A sudden movement made Kagome glance alarmed at a weasel youkai. It was foaming at the mouth, Kagome's eyes narrowed and her smile faded, she could already see a problem. As expected, the weasel leapt at her and she pulled out a sutra from seemingly nowhere and flung it at the weasel's forehead.

The other youkai stepped back as the weasel erupted into blue flames. Kagome snorted as the charred remains of the demon hit the ground. She stretched lazily feeling better than she had in a while. Kagome turned on the other youkai with an unnerving quickness. They stared at her apprehensively.

“Anybody else wanna try, I'll eat you,” she warned in a sickeningly chipper voice.

There was no answer.

Kagome turned and walked back toward the exit. The demons followed her without much prompting and she didn't blame any of them for taking the easy route to safety. One of the demons rushed forward seeing one corpse and another live guard. Kagome paused as if seeing the wolf for the first time and stared at him. Seeing her spared opponent about to be devoured she picked a rock up and popped the wolf in its head.

“Don't eat him” she ordered.

The wolf looked as if he would argue with her but she continued in a no nonsense tone.

“I know you're hungry but I've been the cause of people dying tonight and he was spared, leave him be.” She explained.

There were frustrated growls.

“Can we eat the corpse?”

She seemed to debate the pros and cons before nodding her consent.

“Hurry up and if you eat the live guard you'll be in a world of pain” she warned as those not staying for a meal continued on. Stepping out into the hall many of her companions breathed sighs of relief.

Kagome paused to glance around.

Rough fur brushed against her arm before she found said arm resting on the snout of the wolf. He was chewing on an arm and Kagome cringed hearing the crunch of bones in its jaws. Kagome turned away before she could stop herself and frowned. The wolf didn't seem to care; she had freed him and fed him, as far as he was concerned she was his new friend.

“Kagome youkai are beast, we aren't human and we don't see things the same as humans, if you plan to raise this kit properly you need to learn to see things a bit differently, you need to see things from both points of view because honestly you're stuck in both worlds.”

Kagome cringed as Jiji's words echoed in her head `I'm trying Jiji, I'm beginning to understand'.

She wanted nothing more than to run to Jiji and hide in his arms, safe from the world, just for a little bit until the pain was gone. Kagome shook her head; this wasn't the time for daydreams. She had a horde of youkai to get out of a castle of humans before they decided to go wild.

She steeled her mind and stomach before petting the wolf's muzzle. He purred his delight and leaned in a little closer rubbing a rather large fang against her side. She didn't have the slightest clue what kept her from collapsing in horror after what she had done, what kept her from puking across the floor in disgust after allowing the demons to eat the guards corpse but she was thankful for this sudden steeliness of mind. Kagome sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

She had one more task to complete.

“Taishi,” she growled her eyes snapping open as she located the human lord's aura. She took off down the hall, intent on finding the cause of her and Shippou's suffering. Taishi was very unaware of what had been set loose in his home and was making his way down the hall when she caught up with him.

Kagome paused, the bell on her ankle chiming loudly in the empty halls. Taishi held a candle in his hand, the only way he was able to make out Kagome's form in the darkness. The two samurai guards walking with their lord paused at the noise. They were drawing swords long before they saw her.

“Kagome!?” Taishi's voice was deep with pain. Kagome smiled in mild amusement when Taishi stepped back to allow his guards to protect him. It was obvious now that Taishi had broken a rib, he was after all, clutching his bandaged side.

She briefly wondered why a man in so much pain, would be wondering the halls with guards at such an ungodly hour. Then she spotted the few precious scrolls in his arms and she frowned in disapproval and unexplainable amusement. He was obviously trying to move around before the doctor woke up and forced him to rest.

“My lord, please stay back, this she demon is dangerous.”

Kagome's eyes narrowed and she felt her eye jump in irritation. “Demon? I can show you demons,” she sneered.

Before Kagome could even move to pull out a weapon blurs shot forward and the Samurai were screaming as their blood was sprayed across the walls. Kagome's eyes widened and she shuddered standing silently a moment to digest what she had just seen.

Taishi screamed, the armful of scrolls he held dropping to the ground. He gasped fearfully and Kagome looked to him then back to the youkai who were devouring the Samurai with gusto. One of the demons, Shippou's caretaker for the time he had been locked in the dungeons, grinned savagely, all his energy from stifled rage and hatred focused on ripping the dead guards limb from limb. He licked blood from his arms, hands, and face, with an expression of glee on his features.

Taishi scrambled for a wayward sword that had been lost in the initial slaughter of his guards. He held it tightly falling into a stance but Kagome paid him no mind as she glanced back at youkai hovering behind her.

“I-” She scratched the back of her head, an expression of complete confusion on her face, “I totally forgot about you all that fast.” Taishi paled watching her strange interaction with the demons.

He waited for his chance to attack as Kagome walked toward him slowly backed by a group of very angry youkai. She stopped when she was just out of range of a quick lunge attack and eyed him loathingly.

“Your mate?” A deep voice purred in her ear.

Kagome stared at Taishi a long moment as if considering the benefits of telling the truth or lying.

Finally she responded, “Yeah, he's my husband,” She paused and looked to the demon who eyed her with a large red eye, “but I never planned on stopping you from taking your revenge…well I did at one point before things got really bad but now,” Kagome put a hand to her heart.

“It hurts” she finally admitted.

She glared at the frozen lord, “You took Shippou from me a while ago and put him in a cell to rot, you then forced me to marry you,” she said slowly, simply stating the facts.

Suddenly he lunged and Kagome ducked the sword swing, the youkai by her side easily stepped out of the attack range. Taishi twisted and rushed her, his face dark with pain and anger. Kagome leapt over his swing with a grin, delighted her body could still do many things it had before her pregnancy. She still needed a lot of training but for the moment her bodies abilities fulfilled her purpose.

She landed and Taishi brought his sword down with a howl. Kagome spun and her foot met his arm. He was wide open and Kagome took full advantage. Her fist connected with his bandaged side. Taishi gagged up blood and his body crumbled under the assault. Before he could fully hit the ground, Kagome grabbed a fistful of his top and shoved him into the nearest wall. Taishi gasped in pain dropping his sword to try to ease his hurt side and pry her fingers free from his top.

Kagome smiled sadly, “I don't blame you for my son's death Taishi” she explained calmly as if he hadn't just attempted to skewer her.

“Kagome, why” he asked through gritted teeth, his voice cracking in pain.

“Because no matter what you said or did, I was always a trophy to you, even when Ranam told you there was something wrong with me, and I'm sure he warned you. You wanted a powerful woman that, one day when you `tamed' me, would become obedient. I'm not an animal to be trained Taishi.”

She stared him in the eyes.

“I don't know why you wanted a baby with spiritual powers but you won't ever get it from me.”

Taishi's gaze darted to the youkai hovering over her patiently.

“I said I didn't blame you, I understand my fault but what you said to me right after I had lost him, that hurt. Never in my life has anyone hurt me so bad, not even my first love,” she paused a moment to gather her thoughts then continued.

“I will never forgive you for the suffering you caused my kit, the pain you caused me.” She glanced at him, her gaze dark with regret and pain.

“Dinner and entertainment?” Kagome paused in thought and looked back to the bloody humanoid youkai who had been trapped with Shippou.

“Isn't it dinner and a movie or dinner and a show?”

He rolled his eyes to the ceiling in thought then shrugged, drumming long claws against his own cheek as he lounged on the floor near clinically cleaned femur bone.

“I suppose. What's a movie?”

Kagome made a face, “Never mind.”

Taishi cried out, screaming for guards and trying to struggle free. Kagome only pressed him harder to the wall, making sure to dig her elbow into his wounded side.

His voice cracked and Kagome thought he would cry.

“Demon!”

Kagome's face fell and she stared up at Taishi.

He looked as if he would spit on her if he could gather up the necessary breath.

“You demon whore!” He cried.

“Whore?” She stared him in the eyes.

“Yes, we have already established he was not your baby. In fact he was a demon, a hanyou.”

Taishi's eyes widened and he turned the most fascinating shade of purple, a scream of anguish on his lips but unable to come to full fruition for fear of passing out.

“Demon!” He choked. While Taishi refused to sob in agony and rage, his breaths came out harsh and quick making every word sound whined.

Kagome looked away, her free hand traveling to the Shikon Jewel on her chest. She peered down into her top awkwardly and stared at the swirling white pinkish orb, no hint of any other color, taint, anywhere. She fingered the jewel a moment in thought.

Finally, she looked up and her face twisted into a tired, hurt, and resigned smile.

“Demon, that's right Taishi, I'm a demon in everything but blood and nothing will ever make me right again but,” There were tears in her eyes now, “I'm better for it and I understand a tiny bit more about myself and the world around me. Not many people can say that, you certainly can't.”

That said she let the human lord crumble in a quivering heap on the floor.

Kagome stepped aside and addressed the youkai, “You guys want him?”

Maniacal grins were all the answer she needed. Kagome turned and walked away as Taishi began to scream. Somewhere in the castle, she heard more screams as evidence of her escape were discovered.

Taishi's scream was wet and gagged. A crunch and there was blissful silence.

Kagome put a hand on her stomach to calm the feeling of regret and sickness threatening to overtake her.

“You regret killing them?”

Kagome glanced at the rabid looking deep blue dog that was standing by her side. The rancid breath combined with its youki made bile rise in her throat. Noticing her reaction, the demon grinned at her with yellow teeth.

“You kill demons right Miko, why does killing humans bother you so much?”

She paused and thought about it a long moment but didn't respond.

“No answer little demon,” The dog mused.

Kagome turned away with a huff and the dog chuckled.

She began walking, “The guards noticed you guys are free, it's time to get out of here.”

The wolf demon from earlier walked up behind her. Kagome squeaked in shock when he pressed a wet nose into her behind. He moved back momentarily and before she could spin around he shoved his muzzle between her legs. With a cry, she toppled back onto him. A tail grabbed hold of her wrist and dragged her up the length of the beasts head. She found herself straddling the scruff of his neck moments later.

“Human's slow” he barked gruffly.

She instinctively grabbed hold of whatever fur she could reach and her ride took that as his signal to go tearing down the hall. Kagome held on tightly for fear of falling off. She was fast but not this fast.

The groups of demons were outside in moments. Her ride stomped on a few samurai trying to stop them. Kagome caught a glimpse of Kazuki on his knees in shock as he gapped up at her just before the wolf was jumping the wall and racing off into the forest.

The strange group stopped in a field a few miles from the castle. Many of them only stopped long enough to memorize her face before taking off. Kagome sat down on the ground and glanced around searching for her kits familiar aura. She could sense him making his way to the group so all she had to do is wait.

“Why did you help us human?”

Kagome glanced at the remaining demons in a bored manner and shrugged. She wasn't being mean or rude; she honestly didn't know why she had helped them.

“I was in there for almost ten years.” Kagome looked startled at the demon who had made the announcement, the youkai who had shared a cell with Shippou stepped forward as he continued to speak. “I can put aside my pride and thank you for freeing me…I thank you Miko.”

Kagome nodded dumbfounded.

He yanked a tooth from his mouth and everyone watched him startled as he offered the tooth to Kagome.

She knew what was expected of her now and so she stood and moved to take it.

Just as she closed her hand around the tooth, a hand shot out and smacked her arm. Kagome cried out in pain. She quickly covered the red welt on her arm and glared at her attacker.

A young demoness glared intensely at Kagome then turned to the demon that had offered her the fang.

“She's a human, have you no pride!”

“Pride wasn't helping me get out of that cage” he replied bitingly, pressing the bloody fang into Kagome's hand.

He turned away from them.

“Call for Isamu when you need assistance,” he growled before seeming to melt into the ground. Kagome watched him go in interest before she turned a glare back on the demoness. They were alone now, the other demons having wandered off.

“I didn't need your help to get free, my escape plan was almost complete,” the demoness snarled.

“Sure you didn't need help” Kagome sneered sarcastically

“Kaa-san!”

Kagome turned to see Shippou racing toward her, dragging her courier bag, and she opened her arms to the kit. He obeyed the invitation with a flying leap. Safe in her arms he began babbling happily.

“See I can take care of myself, though Kazuki showed me an old hole to hide in.”

She pet his head and stood cuddling him close.

“Let's get far away from here I'll find a way to get more clothes for you, we kind of left our things.”

She ignored the fuming demoness and turned to walk away.

“Girl!”

Kagome glanced back warily at the demoness following her and she rolled her eyes.

“My name is Kagome, stop following us,” she called back.

“I don't care what your name is; you are but a lowly human, now listen-”

Kagome stopped and glared at the demoness.

“Lowly…listen you're really pissing me off, I am NOT in the mood for this shit,” Shippou would have commented on her impressive growl had they not been in such a strange situation.

The demoness grabbed her arm and Kagome quickly realized this female was not in her right mind. What youkai with common sense would touch a Miko, not just any Miko but a very powerful and obviously pissed Miko.

“Don't think you're special because that fool gave you a-”

Kagome snatched free and kept moving at an even quicker pace.

“Get back here you Miko slut!”

Kagome stopped and Shippou looked over Kagome's shoulder at the demoness with wide eyes. Sitting Shippou down with all the gentleness in the world, she turned to the demoness with angrily flashing eyes.

“Want to say that again bitch!” Kagome sneered.

Shippou bagged up from the two irate women slowly.

“I let you free. You can't just be thankful and leave me alone? You want to go and start calling names. I have issues with name calling so…” she trailed off cracking her knuckles.

“I am a demon, I can do as I like, your just a filthy, lowly-” Kagome felt something in her snap for the second time that night.

A blue flame came to life in Kagome's hand. She flung it at the demoness who only had enough time to dodge the attack before Kagome was rushing toward her intent on punching her face in. The demoness caught Kagome's fist and shrieked when her skin was burned. Kagome kicked her in the side sending the demoness reeling but she stayed upright.

Stumbling into a tree, the demoness looked to see Kagome coming at her again. She dodged as Kagome's fist connected with the warped wood.

Something hard connected with Kagome's side and she found herself flat on her back. A hand flew to her reopened wound from the battle in the tunnels and she hissed. The demoness lunged and Kagome gave a shout of surprise.

Red youki and electric blue Miko's energy met between the two women. There was a loud clap like thunder and the demoness screamed as she was sent flying through the air. She hit the ground unconscious. Shippou rushed to Kagome's side and groaned finding her also unconscious from the close proximity of the explosion.

There were yells in the distance.

Shippou looked at the two women a long moment before smacking his face in disbelief

“Aww man!”

He eyed his mother before nodding to himself and beginning to pet her cheek frantically, they needed to get away and her unconscious in a clearing was in no way conducive to the completion of their escape.

“Kaa-san, please, we have to go. Wake up.” Kagome groaned and her head rolled to the side in exhaustion. Shippou tugged at her earrings and she scowled in her sleep.

“Wake up!” he hissed under his breath.

He could hear the yells and make out what they were saying now.

Kagome's eyes fluttered open and he tugged at her shirt until she rolled over.

“Kaa-san we have to hide,” he whispered frantically.

Kagome grunted now a little more alert. She rolled to her knees and let Shippou tug her into a bush. Not a minute later, samurai rushed into the clearing and spotted the demoness.

Both Kagome and Shippou shook their heads in disbelief as the demoness was dragged back to the castle and they were left safe. Kagome allowed herself to collapse and Shippou looked at her startled. They stayed hidden in the bushes for almost an hour before Kagome had gathered the strength to stand. She wiped the dirt from her cheek and took her bag from Shippou. As she slung it over her shoulder, Shippou watched her carefully.

Kagome smile weakly her skin appearing a muted white in the moonlight.

“Stop worrying so much kit, you'll have grey hair before I do,” he grunted but didn't respond.

“Let me worry about our problems and you be a kit.” She murmured quietly as she picked him up in her arms.

“Now go back to sleep, we need to travel the rest of the night if we want to get away.” Shippou nodded warily and curled in her arms.

“Night Kaa-san”

Kagome stared straight ahead her face set in grim determination.

“Goodnight Shippou.”

XXXXXXXXX

Writing this chapter made me sad, thus it took me a lot longer than normal to finish it. I felt bad but I'm not changing it.

Bye-Bye peoples…I'll update when I stop grieving my characters. (should be soon.)