InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter ThirtyFive ( Chapter 35 )

Chapter ThirtyFive

 

 

Yawning, Inuyasha rolled over on his back and looked at the sky. The sun was bright overhead; he must have dozed off for a couple hours. Kagome was a warm lump against his side and he raised himself on his elbow to look at her.

 

The girl was sleeping, curled up warm and trusting under his arm. One of her hands cradled her cheek, the other rested lightly on his chest. Her hair fluttered across her face as her breath stirred it and he watched, fascinated by the way the glossy black strands moved over her skin. A low sigh escaped his chest before he knew it and Inuyasha wondered for probably the hundredth time that day how the hell he was this lucky.

 

Slowly, not wanting to wake her, he leaned over and pressed his lips against her forehead in the lightest of kisses. She barely stirred, only smiled slightly in her sleep as her hand on his chest twitched, fingers flexing unconsciously in his red haori.

 

"You two are so cute I think I'm going to be sick," a low voice rumbled.

 

His eyes flicked up to look at the older demon that was lounging against the trunk of a tree. Jano was stretched out at his ease, ankles crossed and arms folded over his chest. Curled up on the inuyoukai's shoulder was a sleeping fire-cat and a kitsune pup was snuggled in his lap.

 

Inuyasha grinned, raising an eyebrow. "You're one to talk about cute, Jano. I think Shippou and Kirara are going to adopt you or something."

 

"Or something," the bodyguard replied humorously. He sat up a bit, not dislodging either of his sleeping guests. "I confess I'd be a bit embarrassed if any of the household guard saw me like this."

 

Inuyasha snorted, pulling himself up into a sitting position and gently moving Kagome so her head rested against his leg. "Afraid you'd ruin your reputation?" he asked, unable to keep from taunting Jano. He still didn't quite trust him, couldn't, not with him being one of Sesshomaru's closest allies.

 

"My reputation suffers enough as it is," Jano grinned.

 

The hanyou almost smiled back at him before turning to scan the forest, ears twitching. "How long did we sleep? Shouldn't Sango and Miroku be back by now?"

 

Jano shrugged. "Couple hours, I'd guess. They're probably okay."

 

Eyes narrowed, the half-breed gave him a suspicious look. "I thought my brother told you to keep an eye on her."

 

The demon regarded him soberly. "Sango is hardly helpless. In fact, I've never seen a human female so well adapted to taking care of herself."

 

Inuyasha would normally agree with that statement, especially lately with Sango having an overdeveloped interest in mayhem. "Aren't you going to be in for some hell about that? She almost got killed and I can't see Sesshomaru being particularly forgiving if he really sent you out her to protect her."

 

The accusation was implicit and both dog demons knew what Inuyasha was saying. If Jano wasn't here to protect her, wasn't he most likely here to kill Sango for defying his lord?

 

Ignoring the barb behind Inuyasha's comment, Jano just leaned back and studied the sky. "She healed pretty fast," he said at last, his voice open and noncommittal.

 

"But she still got badly injured," Inuyasha sniped. "You weren't here, pretty shitty job of bodyguarding, Jano. Tell me, does Sesshomaru usually kill his people for failing like that or will he let you off easy with a severe beating?"

 

Jano yawned to hide his annoyance. If the half-breed wanted to ask him about Sesshomaru, why didn't he just come out with what he wanted to say? "If I'd died every time Sessh threatened me with something heinous I never would have made it past my fifth summer. Your concern for my welfare is touching, if not unexpected."

 

Inuyasha just grunted and then moved quickly, dislodging a startled Kagome.

 

"Hey," she protested, pushing herself up off the ground.

 

Jano had also gotten to his feet, barely a second behind Inuyasha. Kirara didn't so much as twitch on his shoulder, possessing the feline ability to balance her body weight so perfectly that not even a sudden shift would wake her. A sleepy Shippou was draped over his arm though, rubbing his eyes with tiny fists.

 

"Whus the matter?" the kitsune mumbled.

 

They all stared as Miroku stumbled out of the forest, seeming barely able to stay on his feet. The monk's face was pale as death, stark in contrast to the livid bruise around his throat.

 

"Miroku!" Kagome cried, running to him. "What happened to you? Are you all right?"

 

"I'm alive," he husked, his voice sounding sore. Miroku suddenly fell to his knees, sinking back as Kagome grabbed his arm. He looked in pain. "I'm not sure why I'm still alive, but I am."

 

"Where's Sango?" Inuyasha asked, a bit confused by Miroku's unusual injuries. "Don't tell me she attacked you?"

 

The monk shook his head, feeling his neck gingerly. Kagome hissed in sympathy and went for her medical supplies. She didn't know what could cause bruising like that but she did have an analgesic cream that might help the pain.

 

"Sango wouldn't do this," the girl murmured.

 

"She would if he grabbed her butt," Inuyasha countered. "You didn't grope her did you, dumbass?"

 

Miroku glared at him. "I did not. We were just talking."

 

"Then who belted you around?"

 

Looking slightly abashed, the monk stared at the ground. "Her husband."

 

Inuyasha shot a glare over at Jano, who shrugged and looked innocent. "You knew he was here," the hanyou accused.

 

"I might have smelled something earlier, I couldn't be sure."

 

Inuyasha was furious. "And you didn't bother to mention that little fact? Gods, you're an asshole, Jano. Just like him in every single..."

 

Kagome burst in before Inuyasha could continue his tirade against his brother. "I don't believe that even Sesshomaru would attack you for no reason other than you were talking to Sango." The girl smeared cream onto the battered monk's throat. "How about telling us the truth?"

 

Miroku's voice was quiet, yet unrepentant. "I might have been kissing her at the time he saw us, I'm not sure. I remember her screaming at him to put me down before I passed out. I woke up alone, but at least I woke."

 

"You kissed her?" Jano asked, grinning widely. "You suicidal bastard."

 

"It was just a kiss," Miroku snapped, pushing Kagome's hands away. "How was I to know he'd show up right then?"

 

Jano laughed at his expression. "Looks like you got off easy, houshi-sama. Sesshomaru must have been in a mellow mood."

 

The bodyguard looked startled when Inuyasha grabbed his arm with a hard, unforgiving grip. "Mellow, eh? Miroku doesn't look like he thought it was mellow."

 

Jano's gaze went dark as he slowly reached up to pry the half-demon's fingers off him. "Mellow for your brother," he answered quietly.

 

"And what about Sango?" Inuyasha asked in a dangerous tone. "Is he also going to be mellow with her? Or should we start looking for her body?"

 

"He won't hurt her," Jano snapped back, his eyes glittering.

 

Inuyasha's expression was cold, making him sharply remember his older half brother. "Why should I believe a fucking word you say?"

 

"Because it's the truth, it would be dishonorable for him to harm Sango when she carries his child."

 

Inuyasha spat on the ground. "Like that son of a bitch gives a damn about honor!"

 

Silence filled the small glade as Jano and Inuyasha stared at each other. Finally, Jano took a deep breath and closed his eyes as if for the first time hanyou had truly tested his patience.

 

"You should not speak of what you don't understand."

 

"I understand all I need to," Inuyasha said coldly. "I understand that my brother is more than capable of hurting anyone he damn well pleases. Don't you stand there and tell me that Sesshomaru would even think twice about destroying her because Sango is pregnant with his half-breed brat."

 

"He won't," Jano said, gritting his teeth. Kagome and Miroku sat silently quite caught up in the strange confrontation. Inuyasha seemed genuinely worried and angry for Sango's safety. Jano didn't seem to be interested in defending Sesshomaru's intentions as much as he was stating a fact, like Sesshomaru would be unable to force himself to harm her or found himself bound in some way.

 

Softly, so softly that Kagome had to strain to hear his words, Inuyasha spoke what was on his mind. He watched Jano carefully. "You've known Sesshomaru your whole life, isn't that what you said? In that case, you know exactly what he thinks about human women, especially human women who have half-demon children. You know what he thinks of me. How can you stand there and lie to me when you tell me that Sesshomaru would ever consider anyone less than pure youkai to be worthy of living?"

 

Jano faced him resolutely. "I don't make apologies or excuses for what your brother believes. Many youkai, most actually, share his beliefs as I am sure you know. I do not, as your father did not, even years before he ever met your mother."

 

Inuyasha wasn't about to be distracted. "We aren't talking about my father or you either, Jano. I don't care what you think about me and I sure don't give a flying fuck about what Sesshomaru thinks about me. We're talking about Sango now. And whatever has been going on between them, I know how his mind works. I know Sesshomaru."

 

The demon didn't flinch, just met the angry golden gaze with his own dark one. "I know him better than you."

 

Inuyasha made a small hissing sound, like a pot of water come to a boil and ready to spill over the side onto hot coals. "Maybe you've known him longer, but not better. I'm going after Sango. You say he wouldn't hurt her, but I know better, I've seen what he's capable of."

 

The hanyou turned and started to stride away into the forest without so much as a backward glance but Jano was suddenly right in front of him, having moved so fast that neither Kagome nor Miroku saw so much as a blur. "You're wrong, Inuyasha," Jano said in a tense voice. "You're wrong about a lot of things; you let your hatred blind you. You're every bit as bad as Sessh when it comes to holding a grudge."

 

"Like I don't have a reason to hate his fucking guts?" Inuyasha shouted, suddenly exploding in fury. "How many times has that son of a bitch tried to kill me over Tessaiga?"

 

Jano smiled grimly. "Like I said, I don't make excuses for him. He's got his own issues over your father's sword. For that you can blame Inutaisho and no one else."

 

Laughing harshly, Inuyasha pushed his way past Jano. "Yeah, I'm sure he's got issues about it, and I don't give a damn about the old man's reasons either. If Sesshomaru was such a perfect son, tell me why he abandoned me after my mother died? Didn't want my dirty human blood in his precious fortress, didn't give a damn how I survived. That's the brother I know, that's how I know he'll abandon Sango and her child, damn him anyway."

 

He was ready to finish this conversation; nothing Jano had to say could make a difference to what he knew in his heart to be the truth. Inuyasha shoved Jano out of his way to go after his brother. His bitterness had become a part of him, a shell, and a coat of armor worn as easily as firerat fur and nearly as indestructible. He did not expect what the bodyguard did next.

 

Quick as a flash, Jano grabbed Inuyasha by the hair at the back of his neck, digging his claws hard into the hanyou as he yanked him sharply back, shook him once, and threw him hard enough to send him sprawling.

 

Kagome blinked, raised her hand to her mouth. Miroku's eyes were wide. Somehow, what Jano had just done resembled nothing so much as an older canine disciplining a disobedient pup. Inuyasha flipped over on his back, but Jano was already crouching over him and grabbed hold of an ear with a vice like grip. The half-breed inuyoukai stared at him, suddenly finding himself in a completely submissive position.

 

Not that he couldn't fight his way out of it; Jano's actions were intended to drive home a purely psychological point. Everything about his body language said listen up, pay attention and without meaning to, Inuyasha gave him his full attention.

 

"You do not understand why he left you there," Jano said harshly. "I don't know how you lived as long as you did, being this damn dumb. You don't know what it was like after Inutaisho died. All the clans were in rebellion; the Western alliance was completely shattered when your father sacrificed his life to save you and your mother. It wasn't the fact that he had a hanyou child with a human woman; it was the fact that he turned his back on those who trusted him and needed him the most.”

 

Inuyasha scowled, but Jano pinched his ear even tighter before continuing. “He left that mess behind for his son to clean up, cope with. You think you've seen suffering, you think you've seen battle? You've never seen an inuyoukai civil war. Maybe the one thing that could have made a difference, could have made it easier for Sesshomaru to pull his father's divided people together was for him to have had Tessaiga. That tangible piece of himself that your father could have left behind as a symbol for his son and his people. And that, you selfish, pitiful excuse for a hanyou, was the one thing that Inutaisho denied him."

 

Jano stood up, staring down at Inuyasha with contempt. "And as for abandoning you to live with humans, Sesshomaru did it to save your life. You wouldn't have lived past childhood if you'd been raised in the fortress where every member of the Daimyo's court was plotting and betraying each other in a struggle for position. You would have been poisoned, or stabbed, or most likely just torn to pieces by someone's claws the first time you were left unguarded. I remember exactly what it was like, I was there."

 

Inuyasha stared at the older demon, just stared at him in disbelief. He couldn't quite swallow what he was being told, too many years of rejection, too many years of nursing old hatred burned in his soul. He didn't want to give up his understanding that he was the one who had been betrayed, he was the one who had been abandoned. Somehow the idea of seeing Sesshomaru put in that same position, by his own father no less, shook him to his core.

 

He swallowed hard, meeting Jano's gaze head on. "Why should I believe you?" he whispered. "There's no one else that can back that up, I don't know if it's truth when you've got every reason to lie to me."

 

Jano sighed, his shoulders sagging and suddenly looked very tired. "Maybe there is one person who would tell you I'm not lying to you, Inuyasha. But I don't even know where I'd look for him right now."

 

Kagome gasped, jumping to her feet. Maybe it was intuition; maybe it was just dumb luck. Maybe it was just that after all this time she was finally starting to understand Inuyasha, really understand him. And through that, understand other inuyoukai, even Sesshomaru. Visions of war filled her mind, horrendous slaughters that left no one alive or unmaimed. Whole clans decimated and countless human lives sacrificed as they were caught in the crossfire of youkai warfare that left nothing behind but scarred earth, famine and death.

 

"I know who could tell you, Inuyasha. I know who Jano is talking about, because he was there with both Sesshomaru and Jano at the time."

 

Jano looked startled. "And how would you know that, priestess? Who do you think I'm talking about?"

 

Kagome smiled happily, remembering a kind faced man; a dislocated shoulder and a helpless grin that just couldn't stop.

 

"You're talking about Naota."

 

oOo

 

Naota didn't know what he'd done to deserve this and silently cursed Barou's worthless demon hide for putting him in this position. He didn't like youkai, didn't like them was probably way too mild for the way he felt about it. He knew youkai, he knew inuyoukai specifically, and from where he was standing wolf demons weren't any better, just like dogs in his opinion. They were all blustery, smelly, and belligerent as all hell.

 

Growing up as an orphaned hanyou nephew to a powerful Daimyo had given Naota a unique insight to the way that demons thought. He'd lived many, many years as a human, no trace of his youkai ancestry in his appearance although his mother had been a full blue-blooded youkai noble and his father had been the Daimyo's own half-breed brother.

 

His human heritage came from his father's mother, an unknown woman whose own story he had never learned. To be truthful, he hadn't asked either, although he'd seen a shadow or two in his uncle's eyes at the mere mention of him and his brother's sire and gathered that it was probably a good idea not to ask questions.

 

All he knew was that his grandfather, Sesshomaru's grandfather, had been a monster that would put all other dog demons to shame. A true nightstalking demon lord, pure evil incarnate and a healthy dose of absolute insanity. He grinned suddenly, thinking of that. Craziness definitely ran in his family.

 

"Hey, wimpy human! You keeping up with us or not?"

 

Naota's grin faded into a scowl that would rival his half-breed cousin's. The arrogant wolf demon had stopped a few dozen yards ahead of him and was giving him the kind of challenging smirk that put his nerves on edge. For the most part, Naota considered himself to be calm, easy going and circumspect. But demons brought out the worst in him, it was one of the many, excellent reasons he stayed away.

 

These western territories were his homeland; there was a fortress not far from here where he'd grown up, even a few childhood acquaintances that he wouldn't mind claiming. Like Barou, who had stuck him with the wolf demon in the first place. He didn't like Kouga or his assertion that Naota wasn't more than capable of keeping up with him and his two rather flustered followers. Ginta and Hakkaku were taking advantage of the pause to catch their breath.

 

"Don't worry about me, wolf," he said coldly. "I can keep up with you idiots just fine." And he could, the demon was fast but Naota wasn't an ordinary human like he thought. He'd decided to stay with the wolves because they were set on finding the same monster that had destroyed that village. According to Kouga it wasn't the first, although Naota's fists had clenched angrily at the wolf's breezy disregard for the peasants that had been so creatively slaughtered.

 

He didn't expect youkai to care that humans had been killed, not really, but even rude wolf demons should have been horrified at the precise and vicious nature of the deaths. Couldn't he tell when humans had been slaughtered for just fun, for just pure pleasure and then their bodies torn apart with a sickeningly obvious bloodlust?

 

What had destroyed that village hadn't just killed the inhabitants, it had fed upon them. Not so much out of physical hunger, but a frighteningly perverse desire for suffering. It fed on pain, not just blood. This was a killer that preferred his victims alive and screaming for the maximum amount of time.

 

He doubted if Kouga had really thought about it and hadn't mentioned it himself. Naota knew death. His own family had been slaughtered when he was a baby, he'd seen battles, and he'd seen the chaos that ruled the west after his uncle's death. It had made him sick; sick enough to turn his back on everything he'd known in his life, sick enough to turn his back on his cousin when he needed him the most.

 

He wasn't proud of that, but at the time he'd known that if he'd stayed much longer among inuyoukai, he might lose that very sense of compassion that set him apart from them. That compassion that his uncle had worked so hard to preserve in him, finding it lacking in his own son.

 

Angrily, he shook himself and stopped thinking about the past. Useless anyway, what did it matter now? The wolves had taken off and Naota started to run, falling into an easy, swift pace that could match even wolf demons. He would find whatever was killing humans with such wanton pleasure. No matter what Barou said, he didn't believe for a minute that Sesshomaru gave a damn about a few villages that weren't even his problem. It was up to him to make sure this ended and for once, Naota didn't mind being among demons if it accomplished that goal.

 

oOo

 

Sango stretched lazily, coming out of a doze that had left her entire body deliciously relaxed. For a moment, she was confused, looking around her and seeing forest, clothing scattered in a wide circle around her. Then a familiar hand wandered over her hip and she felt him kiss the back of her neck. Sesshomaru.

 

Sitting up, she suddenly felt exposed. "What happened to me?" she wondered aloud. All should could remember was a mindless anger, a desire to hurt him, tear at him, and punish him. Then an equally mindless lust had consumed her body and she would have killed anyone who tried to stop her from having him.

 

She blushed like fire and drew her knees to her chest in shame. What was she becoming? He had nearly murdered Miroku and cast her aside like a used toy and then she had given herself to him like some kind of wanton whore. Where was Sango, where was the strong, resolute woman that she'd spent so many years trying to become?

 

She was gone, burned to ash and scattered on the wind by the youkai's touch.

 

Sesshomaru felt her humiliation and smelled the beginning of tears. Quietly, he also sat up and didn't touch her again. It was time for an explanation. Of everything.

 

"I do not know how humans think or how they feel," he began in a soft, inflectionless voice. "And for most of my life, I have believed I'd never have reason to care."

 

Her shoulders tightened and he could tell that she was biting back what she wanted to say to him. "My father was always of the opinion that it was best that youkai and humans do not mix, the less contact between them, the better off for us all. He didn't want to waste his time on them, so he said.”

 

Sesshomaru paused, uncertain how to continue. “To a certain extent he didn't have a choice as humans have long inhabited this territory. Within his territory meant that they were under his protection, but he didn't like it very much. He did not allow humans to be hunted or toyed with by demons. It was not out of compassion, more like his desire to not be bothered by the affairs of mortals. Overall, he found them to be somewhat of an annoyance, dirty, uneducated, uncivilized creatures.

 

"Understanding that, you can imagine my surprise when he told me about the impending birth of my brother."

 

Sango turned around, wondering why he was telling her this. "He hated humans?" she murmured, a quizzical frown appearing on her forehead.

 

"No," Sesshomaru answered. "I meant that he didn't care one way or another about them. His father was brutal, hunted humans and other youkai for sport, for pleasure. It was out of hatred for his father that ever Inutaisho protected humans in the first place. Not because he cared for them."

 

"What about Inuyasha's mother?" Sango asked, curious in spite of herself. She wondered what Inuyasha would say, if he'd listen to his brother's words on the subject or just dismiss

 

Sesshomaru snorted. "Honestly, I do not know. He died to save her and my brother; he could have easily let them die. It would have been the right thing to do, a very great many people died because of his decision that night. I considered trying to stop him, he was badly injured at the time and I might have succeeded. In the end, I did nothing. I could already see that he had made up his mind to die."

 

"Why are you telling me about this?" Sango asked. She didn't see how the story of Sesshomaru's father's death had anything to do with her.

 

Sesshomaru sighed lightly. "Right now, you hate yourself for something you have no control over. As the child within you grows, Sango, you will begin to feel less like a human woman and more like a youkai. You may have already noticed that your senses are changing, sharpening. Your temperament is changing too. You have become more aggressive."

 

Annoyed, she shifted so she faced him directly. Sesshomaru sat before her calmly, legs folded elegantly and his chin resting on his fist as he regarded her with his unreadable golden eyes. "I know about this," Sango snapped, letting her anger show now. "Jano told me all about it, so nice to hear such personal details of what my body is going through from him instead of the man who should have told me, the man who caused it in the first place."

 

"You're still angry," he said placidly.

 

"You're damned right I'm angry," she shouted, her hands digging into her knees as she faced him. It would have looked almost comical to an outsider, they sat face to face, both completely naked and Sango couldn't restrain herself. "Do you know what I've been going through for the past few days?" she raged. "I thought I was losing my mind!"

 

Sesshomaru didn't react to her words; his expression remained smooth as glass. "You might have. The youki in your child's blood is very strong; it could drive you to insanity, even death. It is a dangerous thing for a human to carry a daiyoukai's offspring. If I am not near, the youki might become out of control and kill both you and the unborn baby."

 

"And you threw me out knowing that?" Sango demanded. Her eyes were glittering again, the youki was rising. In spite of her anger, the sight of it made him strangely proud. That was an extremely strong child he had fathered for it to assert such dominance over its mother. Sango was barely two weeks into her pregnancy and already she was affected. He was definitely proud.

 

"Yes," he said, his voice cold again. "You wanted to leave. Would you have stayed if I had explained as such?"

 

"It's not that simple," she said, grumbling a bit. "You knew what I would face in having this child and you still didn't think enough of me to even ask first. You just went ahead like I had nothing to say. Can't you even begin to comprehend how that makes me feel, or is it just that you don't care."

 

"You were willing," he said softly. "I seem to recall you were completely in favor of our union and you did not know at the time that I could control whether or not you became with child. If it had happened by pure accident, would you have felt differently? It was only when you realized that your pregnancy was deliberate on your part that you started to speak of your choice in the matter."

 

Sango flushed. "I was angry because you didn't ask me. If you had, I would have told you that I needed to finish our quest to destroy Naraku first. After that, I would have been pleased to have your child. I would have thought you understood that."

 

He had, but without the qualification. "So," he said quietly, watching her face. "It was really only a matter of timing that distressed you? That is why it disturbed you that I had not consulted you first, not that you did not wish to become my mate and have our young?"

 

She studied her fingers, folded tensely in her lap and let her hair hide her eyes. "Yes, that's part of it. I would not have left you for any other reason."

 

It pleased him more than he wanted to admit to hear her say it. "Very well," he said, calm and resolute. "I will do as you wish." His hand stretched out towards her, his fingers glowing slightly. It would only take the barest flick of power to dislodge the fetus and cause a miscarriage. He would regret it, but it was one way of showing Sango that he meant what he said and was now willing to wait until her vengeance against Naraku had been completed.

 

Sango sensed the power coming from him and scrambled away from him, both arms wrapped protectively around her midsection. "Are you insane?" she screamed, realizing exactly what he meant to do. "Get away from me, you bastard!"

 

He stayed his hand. "It is what you wish," he said, watching her face. By the gods themselves, he did not understand her. "Is this not what you want? I thought you just said you wanted to finish your quest before bearing children. I am willing to allow this, if it is what you truly desire. You will feel no pain, there is nothing to fear."

 

Sango just looked horrified. "What kind of monster would do something like that?" she asked, breathing hard, her eyes wide with fear. "You can't just make all the decisions about this; you can't just erase it like it never happened!"

 

"Actually, yes, I can."

 

She shook her head. "No, you can't. You can't do things like that, Sesshomaru. I want this baby, don't you understand? I'm not going to let you take it away from me, not now and not when it's born. The timing isn't right, but this is my baby!"

 

She confused him, she challenged him and she annoyed him. At least with a youkai woman he might have been able to guess at the way her mind worked. Guess at least, but now he was at a loss. Dropping his hand to his lap, he looked at her impassively.

 

"What do you want from me, Sango?"

 

Shivering, she realized once again that the man she loved was no human, didn't think like a human and never would. She rubbed her bare arms, looking desperately into the forest as if answers would appear.

 

"I don't know," she confessed. "I want to have this baby, but I don't want to go insane either."

 

"You won't," Sesshomaru answered. "I will not allow it. You are my mate, Sango." When she didn't answer, he frowned. "Are you not my mate then?"

 

"I need some time to think," she muttered. Right now, she couldn't think, it was all too much. She loved him, didn't she? She wanted Sesshomaru, hadn't she thought about him as she thought she was dying? Didn't she wish for another chance to see him, talk to him? Slowly, she raised her head and looked at him.

 

"I love you," she said, her voice breaking slightly. "I just can't trust you. I don't want you to hurt me again and I won't let you hurt our baby."

 

He reached for her, wanting to comfort away that mistrust and pain, but she recoiled in fear. He had caused this, he had done this to himself and silently, Sesshomaru cursed his actions. The woman he wanted as his mate was now in fear of him, mistrustful of his intentions. A barrier had formed between them and now only youki-induced delirium could make her tolerate his touch.

 

And yet, he would have to touch her, have to be with her or that youki might indeed claim her life. He did not have the option of giving her time and space; he did not have the luxury of trying to rebuild her trust slowly. Even now, he sensed her emotional unrest, the demon energy of his child spiking in return. If she had stayed in the fortress, as a mate should have, they might never have come to this.

 

He stood swiftly and reached down his hand, asking her to take it. Sango hesitated and squared her jaw and accepted his help. She didn't know what he was going to do, was he going to just leave her, let her find her own way through this curse of a hanyou pregnancy. Would he grieve is she died of it?

 

Sango gasped suddenly as he caught her hand when she rose, finding herself suddenly tossed over his shoulder as easily if she had been a bundle of leaves. His hand clamped over her thighs, keeping her in place as he turned and walked away from the small clearing.

 

Angry, Sango slammed her fist into his shoulder. "What are you doing?"

 

"What is necessary," he answered coolly. Sango kept twisting to see where they were going; trying to figure out what the hell Sesshomaru thought he was doing now.

 

"Put me down!" she demanded,

 

"In time," he answered. She started to struggle against him then, not so much out of fear but pure stubbornness. She resented being tossed around like a bundle, like an object that had no will of her own. She fought against his hold and suddenly he relaxed his grip and slapped her rear hard with his palm.

 

"Stop that."

 

Surprised, she stopped fighting him. Something inside her responded to the authority in his tone and she hesitated. Was it truly the child that was making her so aggressive or was it her own stubbornness at the moment. The tiny hint of instinct that resided inside her was delighting in Sesshomaru's presence, his touch, even his firm hold of her. Still, she couldn't lie quietly, turning to twist over his shoulder and gasped when she realized where he was heading.

 

"Sesshomaru!"

 

The water splashed around him as he stepped into the pool. A swift running stream echoed in his ears, rushed energetically over a small set of boulders that had formed a dam of sorts, causing the water to collect away from the current. It wasn't particularly large, merely a few yards wide. But it would suit his purposes just the same.

 

"My dear wife," he said, hiding a smile. "You need to bathe. I can still smell the blood of all the demons you've battled in your hair and I fear it is quite revolting."

 

She was insulted. "I washed my hair," she said angrily. It was true; she didn't like the smell of blood either and had done everything possible to clean the sticky mess off her. Kagome had helped her, tending her wounds, but without a hot spring they'd just done the best they could with water heated over a fire. She'd even used Kagome's shampoo and said so.

 

"I do not care for the smell," he answered as he waded into the deepest part of the water. "It covers your scent unpleasantly. You will wash now."

 

"This isn't a hot spring," she cried, fighting him again. "That water is ice cold!"

 

He sighed and reached out his hand, making Sango clutch at him to keep from being dumped into the cold pool. A pulse of energy flowed from his fingers into the water and steam began to rise from its surface. Sango gasped as she felt the warmth rising up from it and pleasantly tickling her feet.

 

"You need to stop thinking in such a limited human fashion," he said, sounding rather smug and superior. "Youkai are no more fond of ice cold baths than humans. If you were using your mind, you would have realized that."

 

Annoyed at his condescension, she struggled and this time he let her slide down. She caught her breath as she moved down his chest, very much aware of their nakedness, as her nipples became hard points that rubbed down his body. Sango saw the hint of smile in his eyes as he eased her into the deliciously warm water. Her feet found the ground and the water came to just under her breasts.

 

It was almost intensely hot and she wondered if she should be concerned for her pregnancy but cool water was still feeding into the pool from the stream. She tipped her head up, looking at the random drops of water that sparkled on his skin. She wanted to lick them away and found her breathing getting faster.

 

Sango moved closer, her hands touching his skin. "Sesshomaru," she whispered, wanting him to embrace her.

 

Too late, she saw a gleam of mischief enter his eyes and his hand came down on her head and he ducked her into the water. She came up sputtering and swearing at him only to see Sesshomaru lazily float away from her, diving into the clear pool like a magnificent sea creature. He surfaced, his hair fanning out around him like silver seaweed.

 

Sango snorted water out of her nose and tried to glare at him. "I suppose you think that was funny."

 

"I am vastly amused," he said in his dry, emotionless voice. Sango found herself grinning, realizing that those words were as close to an acknowledgment of his hurtful statement when he'd tossed her out of his fortress.

 

"I amuse you now?" she taunted. He didn't smile and simply slipped under the surface again. Just as she was wondering how long Sesshomaru could hold his breath, she felt a clawed hand on her ankle and found her feet were being yanked out from under her. Burbling helplessly, she stared at him through the clear water, his eyes glowing golden and a wicked little smirk on his lips. She struggled away and stood up; backing away as he also surfaced and kept floating closer to her.

 

She'd seen him angry and aloof; she'd seen him furious and filled with wrath. She'd seen him turn cold and cruel and also knew him as a tender, gentle lover who read her body with such skill it left her breathless. Sango had never seen him playful before and found it to be the most unsettling experience she'd had yet. She kept backing away from him as he approached.

 

"Are you trying to drown me?" she demanded. He hesitated, floating near her, his pale skin glowing in the water.

 

"It is not my intention," he said at last. "But if I should accidentally do so, rest assured I will revive you with Tenseiga."

 

"What?" she yelled, taking the bait like a fish too hungry to use good sense. "Of all the..."

 

He dove again and she braced herself but this time he didn't yank her under. He came up behind her instead, his arm wrapping around her waist. He held her tightly against him and she felt his arousal growing and realized that Sesshomaru was quite done with playing. Her spine melted and she tipped her head back against him, agreeing to his desire for her.

 

"This doesn't change anything," she whispered as want flooded her body again.

 

"I know," he answered, nibbling on her shoulder. His tongue slipped into her ear and Sango whined. "It changes nothing," he hissed softly as his hand caressed her. "I don't know how to make you understand me, not any more than I can understand you."

 

"Tell me how to trust you," she panted, his hand had slipped between her legs and found her, probing harder as her legs floated freely up.

 

"I cannot," he said, his tone was quiet and contemplative, as if his actions weren't making her helpless with pleasure and need. Sango cried out, both hands coming up with clutch at his hair as he bent over her shoulder. "I cannot make you trust me again. I only ask that you trust yourself."

 

oOo

 

From the shadows, he watched them and thought that it was best that the youkai was so distracted. If he caught even a hint of his scent, the demon lord would leave his mate and pursue with deadly intent. For once, he had not sent a puppet; he wanted to know for himself if the rumors were true. Watching the couple in the water, he rather thought it true. The exterminator and the youkai lord were indeed mates.

 

Pitiless crimson eyes watched as Sango pressed her hands against a boulder when her lover entered her, bracing herself against the silky smooth strokes. Her white breasts bobbed out of the steaming water, dark nipples stiffened with her arousal. He smiled as he watched the young woman moved in time to the demon's thrusts, her body arching against his and her feet floating freely in the water.

 

Sesshomaru's face was unguarded, his eyes half closed as he enjoyed the woman, driving against her with insistent, demanding youkai lust. It amused him to see the arrogant lord made helpless by his desire for a mortal woman. The exterminator who put aside her duty and her training for the pleasure of being used for a demon's sexual needs. Such irony that these two would join to copulate.

 

Naraku no longer needed to concern himself with desires for flesh. He desired Kikyou once, or at least Onigumo had. Naraku still desired the priestess too, he desired her destruction, wanted to be the one to wring the last throes of pain from her borrowed body. That shell of a form might not answer to torment, but the soul trapped within surely would.

 

As Sango gasped and cried and wailed when the youkai lord made her come, screaming his name like a brazen whore, Naraku slipped away. He would use this information, this would be fun.

 

So the demon took a woman, at least enough to spill his seed inside her and sire a child. Naraku had heard that rumor as well; all denizens of the forest had ears and most responded to painful questioning with truth. He had spies in every dark, corrupted hole, every bit of decaying flesh.

 

That was how he'd heard about Sango and Sesshomaru. He didn't know if the demon loved her, but he could tell, yes, he could tell how Sango felt. Her body was easy to read, her actions and the willingness of her surrender.

Once a foolish priestess had fallen in love with a remarkably stupid hanyou. It had been a pure pleasure to destroy that love, let it corrupt them both into betrayal and anger. Nothing else in over fifty years had given him that kind of satisfaction. Even though Kikyou had found a way to deny him the jewel in her death, he did not forget to relish the pure agony it must have cost her to slay the one she loved so dearly.

 

If Naraku had anything to say about it, Sango would also experience that beauty, that sheer torment of betrayal, loss, and terror. It made his mouth water, thinking of her devastation when she realized that her lover had betrayed her and her ultimate pain in turning her exterminator skills on the one who fathered her child.

 

Laughing harshly, Naraku moved to put his plan into action. They really made it all to easy for him sometimes.