InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Youkai and the Exterminator ❯ Chapter FortySeven ( Chapter 47 )

Chapter FortySeven

 

 

Shivering, Sango stepped into the steaming water and wondered what it would be like to drown herself. Of course, it was only a passing thought; she had no intention of giving up so soon. But still, death might be a better option when the time came and she couldn't keep that thing away from her any longer.

 

Sesshomaru, she thought to herself, sinking down into the warmth. The undead youkai's smell clung to her, sickened her, and the only thing that could comfort her now was the thought of her husband. He was looking for her; she knew it from the pit of her womb to the soles of her feet. She knew it down to the marrow of her bones where there could be no doubt at all. Possessive, arrogant, sometimes cruel, her husband wouldn't give up on her.

 

So she'd damned well better not give up on him.

 

She sighed, leaning back gingerly and tried to will her body to relax. The past few days had been one horror after another, but he'd kept his word and not forced himself upon her. Grimly, she looked up at the clear sky and stifled the tears that wanted to spill from beneath her eyelids. She missed him; she missed Sesshomaru so badly that it hurt. She was terrified for Kohaku and Kagome as well, since her captor had left her with no illusions about their safety.

 

He had freed them, but he would not protect them and had seemed amused at the idea they wouldn't survive on their own for long. That left her with a burning anger in her belly. The bastard didn't know Kagome, didn't know Kohaku, together between the two of them, they had to have a chance.

 

Inuyasha would be looking for Kagome, sure as Sesshomaru would be searching for her. She had nothing but faith in the hanyou's tenacity, he wouldn't let go easily and there was no way in hell he wouldn't find Kagome. Sango closed her eyes and let her head slip under the surface of the water. Not to drown, but to think as clearly as she could while she had the time.

 

Kagome would not let Kohaku be killed, she was sure of it. Inuyasha would not stop searching for them until he found them alive. Her hands clenched into fists, opening her eyes and looking through the clear water as if she could will it to carry her away to safety. Damn him, damn him why did he want her?

 

She sat up, gasping a bit as the cool air hit her face and wiped her gritty hair out of her eyes. Right now she was longing for some of Kagome's shampoo as well, anything to get that foul smell out of her hair and off her body…

 

“Were you trying to kill yourself?” a cool voice asked. “That breaks our bargain, woman.”

 

Sango choked, turning around in the water to face him. He crouched on the far side of the stream, arms crossed over his knees like he'd been waiting to see if she still lived. It suddenly occurred to her that he would have let her do it and she shivered at the thought. Maybe he wasn't as concerned for her life or her baby's as she'd thought.

 

That did change everything.

 

“I wasn't trying to drown myself,” she murmured, caught up again in the blackness of his gaze. “I was just thinking.”

 

“About escape?” he hissed softly. “Don't be foolish. If you kill yourself, I will hunt down that brother of yours and have him take your place. As well as that young priestess, do you think that they would be able to satisfy my anger?”

 

“No,” she whispered, crouching low in the water. No, she was far from suicide. Let him think he'd won, let him think that his threats held power over her. As long as it bought them time, bought Sesshomaru time to find her, she didn't mind letting him think that she was terrified.

 

It was true. She was already quite terrified.

 

He smiled at her, a gentler expression than usual, seeming pleased with her submission. Sango's eyes sparkled with anger, but she knew she didn't have to bother to hide her revulsion. When she had been too exhausted to follow, he'd thrown her over his shoulder and carried her. When she'd passed out from fear or simple human weakness, she'd awoken in his arms.

 

He didn't need to rest; he had nothing better to do with his time than just look at her. It made her more nervous, knowing that even when she slipped into unconsciousness, he'd be there to invade her dreams.

 

“Go away,” she said in a tiny voice. He tilted his head to the side and looked at her expressionlessly. “You said I could bathe, remember?”

 

Silently, he reached behind him and drew forth a bundle. Sango looked at it with some apprehension as he slowly untied it and started to place items on the bank. Her brow furrowed in confusion and without thinking, she leaned forward to reach for them.

 

Clothes? Her hand curled around a small container and she dipped her fingers inside. Soap? A comb? Where did he…

 

Horrified, she pulled her hand back as though she'd been burned. “No,” she whispered, sinking to her knees. “Please…you didn't go into a village, did you?”

 

His smile was positively vile, lighting his face with sullen enjoyment. “And if I did?” he asked, his tone gentle. “Would that disturb you, my love?”

 

“Of course!” she screamed, hating him with a sudden ferocity that shocked her. She wanted to leap from the water and tear him to pieces with her bare hands, she wanted to sink her teeth into his undead flesh and tear out the black center of what was not a heart.

 

“Go ahead and kill me!” she shrieked, snatching up the soap and hurling it into his ravaged face. He didn't move when it cracked against his forehead, falling to the ground and rolling to the side. “I can't take it anymore, I won't do it! I'm not going to sit by and let you murder people!”

 

He sat quietly, watching as her skin was flushed from the heat of the water and her anger combined. To face him without fear, to stand against him…she was simply magnificent. He could definitely grow to love her, he decided fondly, and it was only a matter of time until she felt the same.

 

“I murdered no one,” he said quietly, not caring if she believed his words or not. Slowly, he reached for the soap container and gave it a wary sniff. Harsh, but with purpose, one day she'd have finer things. He was already having visions of how he'd dress his Sango in rich silk, fine jewels. The plunder of a thousand kingdoms would be hers for the taking.

 

And she would be his.

 

Sango realized she was trembling, exposed and naked before him. She folded her arms over her breasts, as if to hide them like he didn't already know her body. Her skin crawled with the touch of his eyes. She saw his hand twitch like he wanted to do more than just look and knelt until the water came up over her shoulders. Her sudden fury had faded and left her feeling like ice and shame covered with human skin.

 

“I do not lie,” he said, moving closer to the water and pinning her like a fish in a trap with just the power of his gaze. “For you, lovely Sango, I killed no one for these things. I ran them away from the village and they were not foolish enough to try to stop me. Can you accept my gifts now?”

 

She wasn't going to easily believe him, he knew, but he saw the hopeful glitter in her eyes. Very well, this was exactly what he wanted from her. “As long as you are obedient, no one has to die. Not your brother, not a single human. I put them in your hands, woman.”

 

He stood slowly and started to remove his tattered clothing. Some of it was so stiff with rotted blood it crumbled in his hands, but he didn't stop, didn't take his eyes from her as he cast off the disgusting garments. He had been a mindless beast; of course she wouldn't want him touching her like this. It was time for him to resume the appearance of power and he wouldn't do that looking like a mad, bloodstained beggar.

 

Sango flinched away from the sight of him, trying not to look. Dead white flesh, scarred in so many places she couldn't count. It seemed as if he'd been dismembered at some point, each joint of his body bore a terrible scar. Without meaning to, she suddenly felt pity at any creature that might have endured such a death. She wondered if he'd been alive when they'd started hacking him apart.

 

“Dead,” he said, his tone quiet and conversational, like it was nothing. “I am certain I was dead before I was dismembered.”

She kept to the far side of the spring; it wasn't wide enough for her at the moment. Hungrily, she eyed the bundle of clothing and wondered if he'd let her get away from him so that she could dress. One glance into those burning eyes and she knew better than to ask.

 

“Attend me.”

 

Sango stopped breathing for a moment, she was certain that her heart stopped as well. Revulsion filled her throat at the thought of touching him, bathing him and her whole body cringed. Both of her hands went to her belly, unconsciously protecting her baby from the very idea of touching this monster. Her breath seemed short; she couldn't get enough air into her lungs.

 

Sesshomaru, she thought, feeling the tears coming near again. I can't do this, I'm so sorry. I'm not strong enough; I will never be strong enough…

 

Then it happened, so sudden and absolute it left her breathless. She felt warmth inside her cold body, shining golden warmth, like new sunshine. Sango's lips trembled, realizing that deep inside her body, her baby…Sesshomaru's baby…was reaching out to comfort her. Her…its helpless, anguished mother…but it was still Sesshomaru's child and that power and love reached out to her as if the daiyoukai had been standing behind her, wrapping a loving arm around her waist.

 

She could endure this; she could do anything if he was with her.

 

Resolutely, she pushed her wet hair back over shoulders and went to the dark youkai who smelled of blood and terror.

 

oOo

 

Kagome stumbled; she was exhausted and didn't know how much longer she could keep going. Forever, it seemed she'd have to. Stopping meant death and it meant losing everything she'd worked so hard for. Somehow, she and Kohaku had made it through the first night, crouching like terrified animals on the forest floor, running for their lives when need be.

 

It might have been easier to stay as Naraku's prisoners. She set her jaw, her fingers tightening on Kohaku's as he pulled her to her feet. No, it wouldn't have been any easier. They just needed to keep moving, stay alive, so that Inuyasha would find them. She couldn't imagine what he'd do if all he could find was her ravaged corpse.

 

She couldn't let Naraku win so easily!

 

“Let's go,” she muttered, keeping her hand in Kohaku's. “It's the only way to stay alive.”

 

The young exterminator took a step forward, and then froze. His entire body tensed, his eyes gleaming strangely as he stared into the shadows of the forest. The sun was barely in the sky, the shadows gathered like foul doom around the bases of the trees. Suddenly everything seemed foreboding and Kagome's heart gave sick thump when she felt Kohaku start to tremble with fear.

 

“We're too late,” he whispered. “They've found us.”

 

Afraid to look up, she forced herself to do so. The brightening sky was suddenly blocked out as a mass of seething monsters appeared over them. She swallowed hard as the aura of them hit her, feeling their rage, their joy, their hunger for the soft, defenseless flesh of their prey.

 

“Stay back,” Kohaku whispered, moving to stand in front of her. “When they attack, you just run. I'm an exterminator, I can try to fight…”

 

“With what?” Kagome answered, a shrill note of panic seeping into her voice. “Your bare hands? You don't have a weapon, Kohaku!”

 

She wished hard for her bow, anything, a rock to throw at them. As they gathered, darkening the sky with their malice as much as their numbers, she thought wildly of all the times that she'd come close to death. Always Inuyasha had been there, or Miroku, or Sango…or herself. She'd saved herself many times, but she'd always had at least an arrow to fight with.

 

“Oh no,” she whispered, pressing her back against a tree. Kohaku stood in front of her, his slim shoulders straight and square, a look of defiant anger in his thin face. The boy was determined to meet his face, but meet it on his feet, neither flinching away nor crouching in fear. Strangely, she felt as proud as if he were her own younger brother, as if she were his sister and standing in Sango's place.

 

If Kohaku would be brave, so would she. They might not be able to fight, but they could stand beside each other until the last moment. And neither of them would die alone.

 

The youkai surged, gathering with an angry shriek and fell upon them. She could feel the heat of their combined bodies, the rank stench of them heavy in her nostrils. For all her thoughts of bravery, she couldn't stand to watch and closed her eyes, holding Kohaku tight against her and waiting for the moment when…

 

A furious sound cut the air, a horrifying shriek of anger. Kagome gasped and grabbed Kohaku, dragging them both to the ground and sending them tumbling down a low hill. With the boy grasped in her arms, Kagome stared at what was happening right over their heads. A monster…

 

A form of black and silver swept over them with flaming hooves, it's body massive enough to blot out everything else. She could barely keep her eyes on it as it cried out a challenge to the swarming youkai before flashing forward. Power rolled off the beast, sleek muscles under a jet-black hide. She caught a glimpse of glowing silver eyes as it passed over them and fangs longer than her hand.

 

Is that a…horse?

 

As in answer to her question, it neighed loudly, making the forest tremble with its cry. The sharp hooves flashed as the swarm attacked and disgusting blood rained down over them. Kagome ducked her head, pushing Kohaku into the dirt.

 

“Stay still,” she whispered. “Maybe it won't see us.”

 

Sounds of carnage echoed in the forest, Kagome couldn't watch, keeping her eyes tightly closed. Just go away, she thought desperately. Just finish killing them and go away…

 

A hot wind blew across her back, almost singeing her. She raised her head and found herself staring into a pair of glowing eyes like molten silver. Kagome had a wild moment to consider how beautiful he was, an illusion that was spoiled for her when the demon bared long, tusk-like fangs that were stained dark with blood.

 

“Don't look,” she whispered to Kohaku, sure that they were about to be devoured.

 

“Nashi-chan, are you finished playing yet?” a woman's voice called out.

 

Kagome stared as the massive horse whinnied and practically pranced where he stood. The forest was very still, all she could hear was her own rasping breaths as a figure appeared beside the beast and laid one slim hand on his neck.

 

“Oh, humans,” the woman said, sounding disappointed as she looked at them crouching in the dirt. “Don't eat them, Nashi-chan. You won't like the taste.”

 

The horse pawed the ground with extremely sharp looking hooves, his fetid breath wafting down over them. Kagome sat up and brushed the dirt out of her hair, wondering. The woman was tiny, almost delicate and when she turned to the side to whisper in the beast's ear, Kagome saw that she was also very pregnant.

 

“Excuse me,” Kagome called out, thinking it best to be polite. “Thank you for saving us.”

 

The youkai gazed down at her with bright black eyes, her hair like a dark cloud around her face. “I didn't save you, human,” she said, a wry twist to her lips. “Nashi-chan was just showing off.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, looking them over.

 

“Come up out of there,” she ordered as if she expected instant obedience.

 

Kagome stood up and hissed suddenly, a shooting pain in her left ankle. She must have twisted it when they'd fallen, but she had been too frightened to feel the pain until now.

 

“Kagome?” Kohaku murmured, reaching for her arm. “Are you hurt?”

 

“Just my ankle,” she winced, grateful as the boy let her lean on him.

 

“Now, humans.”

 

They climbed up with Kohaku supporting her and stood nervously in front of the woman. Kagome was trying not to stare at the pregnant youkai, but her exotic appearance made it difficult to look away. Her skin was dusky, long hair hanging loose over her shoulders and nearly brushing the ground. Her small face was delicate and sharp featured, and her pointed ears were pierced with many small rings that jingled softly as she turned her head.

 

In fact, the longer Kagome looked at the woman, the less sure she became of her. It was as if something was pushing at her, coaxing her into looking past the obvious…

 

“You're only children,” the youkai murmured, glancing back over her shoulder as if she expected someone to be watching. “What are you doing here, alone and unprotected?”

 

“Trying to stay alive,” Kagome said wearily.

 

The woman nodded slowly, preoccupied. Then she glanced up, catching Kagome's eyes with her own brilliant gaze. “I suppose I will allow you to accompany me,” she said, as if they'd begged for her favor. “If I leave you here, you will still be in danger. That was not the first host of monsters I've seen in this forest.”

 

“Can I ask your name, please?” Kagome said as the woman turned to go back the way she'd come. The horse followed her as docilely as a great puppy, whiffing interestedly at leaves and brush even as his footfalls nearly shook the ground.

 

“My name?” The woman seemed mysteriously amused by the simple question. “For now, human child, you may call me Shi.”

 

oOo

 

The old man's eyes were bulging even more than they did naturally and his face was an unsettling shade of blue. Inuyasha glanced to his side and took in his brother's stoic expression before dragging his eyes back to Naota. It seemed as if his easygoing cousin was about to strangle Toutousai until the old youkai's head exploded.

 

And he couldn't let that happen, not while they still had questions. “Naota,” Inuyasha ground out, his claws twitching. “Don't kill him, we still gotta find out…”

 

“What the hell are you trying to say?” Naota shouted, his hands tightening even more around Toutousai's throat. “You're telling me that my uncle faked his own death and left his land to civil war deliberately?”

 

Toutousai gurgled something incomprehensible, but it seemed to enrage Naota even more. He shook the old man hard, dragging the ancient sword smith around the small clearing. “He wouldn't do that, not the Inutaisho I remember! He wouldn't pretend to be dead, he wouldn't abandon his family, not his own infant son!”

 

“Unless his own reasons were more important to him,” Sesshomaru said icily. Naota glared at him, but Sesshomaru met his fury with cold indifference. “I, for one, would like to know what reasons they were.”

 

Stepping forward, Sesshomaru reached out to rest his fingertips on Naota's arm. “Not yet, cousin,” he said, an unpleasant look in his cool eyes. “I have no difficulty in believing that my father's dear friend would lie to us, but if you kill him now it would serve no purpose.”

 

Naota relaxed and let the old man drop from his grasp. “So you don't believe him either?”

 

“I believe that he's not telling us the entirety of the truth.” Sesshomaru's fangs glittered as he smiled ever so slightly. “I am more concerned with what he might know about my wife's disappearance.”

 

Toutousai coughed and spat, rubbing his neck. “Your father is alive, Sesshomaru,” the elderly youkai said, his voice suddenly tired and weak. “At least he was when I saw him last…some forty years ago.”

 

Inuyasha growled low in his throat. “And you never thought it was important enough to tell me?” he asked sarcastically.

 

“Eh?” The old man grinned up at him. “You again?”

 

Disgusted, Inuyasha turned away. “Senile bastard.”

 

“Old man,” Sesshomaru said, his fingertips starting to glow. “I will not ask you again.”

 

Chuckling, Toutousai got to his feet. “I knew you wouldn't kill me, little Naota,” he said wickedly as he shuffled back to his ox. “Ain't got it in ya!”

 

Glowering to the point that he strongly resembled his hanyou cousin, Naota snorted. “Want to bet on that?”

 

Toutousai shot him a piercing look, suddenly no longer old or tired. “If so, you're not the man your uncle wanted you to be,” the elderly smith said with contempt. His eyes slid to Sesshomaru. “And you wouldn't be his first disappointment in that respect!”

Sesshomaru stiffened, his eyes flashing crimson within gold. “You miserable…”

 

Pointing one gnarled finger at the furious youkai, Toutousai seemed to have no fear of his wrath. “You know better than most, boy, what your father hated in himself. You know how long he fought that darkness, fearful of passing it on to you! When it overcame him…”

 

Toutousai paused and Inuyasha was startled to see what he thought might be tears in the old man's eyes. “When it overcame him,” the old man continued, “when he knew he was losing his will to fight, that's when he left you. So that you wouldn't be standing in his place, faced with killing your own father to prevent him from becoming the same kind of monster that took away your woman.”

 

“Took my…” Sesshomaru breathed softly. It wasn't possible. Of all the horrors that Naraku could have raised from death…this one…

 

“Who?” Inuyasha demanded, fed up with the way everyone was talking around him. Hell, he didn't know his father, he didn't give a damn either. “Will someone tell me what the fuck is going on? Who took Sango and Kagome?”

 

Naota's hand clamped down on his shoulder, forcing the hanyou to turn and look at him. The human who was no human, not with that blood in his veins, looked sickened…and scared when he finally whispered the answer.

 

“Our grandfather.”

 

oOo

 

“Ah, I thought I'd find her here!”

 

Jano snorted and moved a fluffy tail out of his eyes. “It's not my fault if the damn cat likes to sleep on my head,” he grumbled. Kirara purred softly and dug her claws into his scalp when he tried to remove her. “Damn it!”

 

Miroku chuckled, shaking his head in amusement. “Once Kirara decides that she likes someone, she lets her affections be known,” the monk said mildly. “You look much improved, Jano-san.”

 

“I should be,” the inuyoukai muttered. “Makiko has threatened to re-disembowel me if I try to get out of bed.”

 

“Perhaps I should let her know that there's a rival for your attentions,” Miroku answered with a smile. He reached out to scratch one of Kirara's ears and smiled down at the wounded demon. “Ladies can be very jealous.”

 

Jano sighed and finally managed to pull the protesting kitten from his hair. He glanced up at the smiling monk as he managed to persuade the small cat that his lap would be just as comfortable as the top of his head. “So, have you come to rescue me from boredom, houshi-sama? I can't take much more of being coddled like this.”

 

Raising an eyebrow, Miroku knelt next to Jano's futon. “You were almost killed,” he answered. “Don't you think that you should take it easy?”

 

It had been a full day and night since they'd brought Jano, poisoned and nearly dead, to the fortress. Miroku's eyes were drawn the bandages around the youkai's midsection and sighed. “I would be happy to relieve your boredom, but I really just came to collect Kirara. I don't think I'll have much chance of catching up with Inuyasha and Naota without her.”

 

Jano gave him a piercing look. “You're leaving?”

 

The monk nodded. He'd known that he couldn't keep pace with them and Kirara had been the only means of saving Jano's life, but he couldn't just continue to sit while Kagome and Sango were missing, perhaps in great danger. “I would love to spend more time here,” he said quietly. “But I can't stay here in safety while Sango and Kagome might be…” He stopped himself, refusing to voice his fears.

 

“Sesshomaru left before dawn,” Jano answered soberly. “If anyone can find them, he can.”

 

“I believe that,” the monk said, somewhat harshly. The inuyoukai gave him an appraising look, seeing the tension in the young monk's face, the stark worry that he was trying to hide behind his easy grin.

 

“So that's it,” Jano said, leaning back against a pile of cushions. “Are you sure this isn't about something else? Like the fact that if she needs to be rescued, you want to be the one to do it?”

 

Miroku glared at him. “Is there something wrong with that?”

 

“Not at all,” Jano grinned, watching the monk start to get angry. “However, it has been my experience that chasing after another man's wife can be dangerous. In your case, it might be fatal. Haven't you realized yet that their feelings are strong and completely mutual?”

 

Miroku glanced away from him. “Yes. I no longer have any doubts about their feelings for each other. I realize now that Sesshomaru was only trying to protect Sango by making her stay here, and that he was angry when she rejected that protection.”

 

“So?” Jano prompted when the monk fell silent.

 

“Maybe I'm just a damned fool for caring so much about a woman I will never have.”

 

Grimacing, Jano reached behind him to grab a cushion and flung it at Miroku. The human looked startled, but managed to catch it and glared at Jano. “I didn't say you were a fool, Miroku. But you aren't inuyoukai and I also don't expect you to understand what's going on under your nose.”

 

“What's that supposed to mean?”

 

“I take it your feelings for Sango haven't prevented you from spending time with Aiko.”

 

“Aiko?” Miroku frowned and scratched the back of his head. “What does Aiko have to do with it?”

 

He sighed. If she hadn't told him…perhaps he shouldn't interfere. As a youkai, Aiko might not be all that concerned with what a human lover thought about her pregnancy. Makiko had certainly been concerned with what he thought and had taken it out on him for good measure. Maybe he should just keep his mouth shut and let them work it out for themselves.

 

“I'm sure you haven't been told,” Jano found himself saying, “but it seems as if I'm going to be a father. Makiko informs me that she is pregnant and to hell with me if I'm not happy about it.”

 

“Not happy about it?” Miroku stared at him, folding his arms and peering into Jano's face with a look of intense interest. “Why wouldn't you be happy? Aiko told me that you two have been at odds for years, only because you're both too stubborn to admit that you cared for each other.”

 

“That's true,” the inuyoukai admitted. “I've been pursuing that woman since before you were born, but now…” He let his voice trail off thoughtfully, pretending to stare at the ceiling while he watched the monk's face from the corner of his vision. “Still, I hadn't expected this. Are you aware that inuyoukai females usually encounter difficulty when trying to conceive? It is a bit of a shock.”

 

“Shock or not, you have a responsibility to your offspring,” Miroku said, a scolding note in his voice. “Have you told Makiko how you feel?”

 

Jano shrugged. “What does it matter? So she's with child, that's not my problem. After all, we were just enjoying each other, I see no reason why it should lead to anything more. As Makiko is a resident of this fortress, it's not like I will have to provide for her or have anything to do with the baby if I don't wish to.”

 

“You selfish bastard,” Miroku snapped. “How can you have so little interest in your own child?”

 

Smiling a little at the outrage in Miroku's voice, Jano regarded him with some amusement. “Is that how humans are?” he asked archly, watching the monk's face darken. “If you were in a similar situation, especially being in love with another man's wife, would you be willing to tie yourself down to a single woman?”

 

“That's not the point! I would still expect to be a part of my son or daughter's life, regardless of how I felt about the child's mother. Is it common for inuyoukai fathers to abandon their children?”

 

“Who's abandoning anyone?” Jano answered mildly. “If you're asking if Sesshomaru would do something like that, my answer is no. He's always been wary of showing affection to anyone, the fact that he feels so strongly about your Sango is a sign of his commitment. However, he also expected for her to bear his child and intended it. As I mentioned, inuyoukai females do not conceive easily…with inuyoukai. When human blood is involved it is far more likely that a baby will be the result of an even casual liaison.”

 

Miroku snorted. “I didn't think we were talking about Sango,” he said grumpily.

 

“Maybe we aren't,” Jano shot back. “Thick-headed monk, I asked you about Aiko and then I mentioned that humans and inuyoukai are more likely conceive and you still think I'm just talking about Sango and Sessh?”

 

The monk paled, leaning away from him. “What are you saying? Aiko and I…she's pregnant??

 

“He finally gets it,” Jano muttered. “It's not my place to say, but I definitely think you should ask her. Before you leave to go after your friends.”

 

Miroku looked abashed, staring down at his fingers as he nervously worked at the beads on his left hand. “If she is,” he said quietly. “Why hasn't she told me?”

 

Sighing, Jano settled himself a little more comfortably. “Who knows? What about you? How do you feel about fathering a half-demon? Are you willing to take responsibility?”

 

“I would never abandon my own child,” the monk said tightly. “You're a fool, Jano, if you would reject Makiko's baby or try to pretend that it has nothing to do with you. Only a bastard would…”

 

Jano's laugh rang out. “Oh that,” he said easily, grinning up at the monk with mischief in his eyes. “I would never consider it, I'm happy, in fact. Only way to get that idiot woman to admit she wants me in the first place.”

 

“So I'm an idiot, is that right?”

 

Makiko's voice made both males jump as she entered the room, a forbidding expression on her usually smooth face. Her dark eyes were snapping with irritation as she looked first at Miroku and then at her lover. “Isn't it impolite to discuss a lady's condition between yourselves?”

 

“Makiko,” Jano began nervously, but she waved her hand to quiet him.

 

“Always a meddler,” she said darkly. “I told you to let it alone, let Aiko tell him in her own way. If you weren't already injured…”

 

“He's feeling much better,” Miroku said bluntly, realizing that Jano had been goading him into admitting that he wanted to be part of the baby's life. It wasn't fair of the inuyoukai to put him on the spot like this when Aiko hadn't told him anything.

 

“Is he really?” Makiko said sweetly, her eyes still glittering. “Perhaps I should be the judge of how well he's healed. Please excuse us, houshi-sama, I need to examine this patient and find out if his injury might have affected his mind.”

 

The monk was only too happy to leave, catching a glimpse of Jano's desperate expression. He smirked to himself, sure that Jano was in for a rough time and fully deserving of it. It bothered him though, that Aiko hadn't told him. If she wanted to keep it secret, he supposed he had to respect that. It would be difficult for her, he knew too well that most youkai regarded half-breeds with scorn.

 

Although, in this fortress, with this particular youkai lord and his human wife…yes, he admitted to himself, wife was the correct word to use…Aiko's baby wouldn't necessarily bear such burden as Inuyasha had. For that alone he could be grateful, but to not be allowed a part in his own child's life…that would be hard to accept.

 

“Miroku?”

 

He turned at her soft voice, seeing Aiko looking at him nervously from the shadows in the corridor. He swallowed hard, she was such a lovely girl and he had to admit he had very much enjoyed her company. To think that it was now complicated, that their pleasure in each other now had unexpected consequences that might bring her pain, he regretted that.

 

“Why didn't you tell me?” he asked softly.

 

Aiko blushed, glancing away from him before looking back to meet his eyes. “I wasn't sure how you'd feel,” she answered at last. “I already know how you feel about Sango-sama, she's a beautiful woman and you are very right to be in love with her.”

 

“That's so,” he agreed, seeing the hesitant way she met his eyes. “We've been through a lot together, it has been hard for me to accept that she doesn't return my feelings. You and I…we barely know each other, Aiko.”

 

Aiko straightened her shoulders proudly. “I am not my sister,” she informed him. “Makiko has always been the strong one, but I am not weak either. I don't want for you to think I'd force you to stay with me, or care about this baby.”

 

“What kind of a man do you think I am?” Miroku exploded, startling her. He advanced on the girl slowly, a tender expression replacing the anger in his eyes. “Do you think so little of humans? I have dreamed of the day when a woman would have my child.”

 

Then he glanced down at his hand, his fingers tightening around the beads that bound the wind tunnel that was his curse. “But there's things you don't know about me, Aiko. This hand of mine…”

 

“I know of your curse,” she said, sadness in her eyes as she reached tenderly for his cheek. “You already have so many burdens to bear, how could I add to them?”

 

“A child is not a burden,” Miroku said, his voice very soft.

 

She smiled shyly. “Is it too much for me to hope, that you might someday grow to care for me too?” she asked, her wistful tone touching his heart. “I know…I am youkai and you are a human, but perhaps…”

 

Miroku grinned, pulling her against him so he could hold her and soothe away her doubts. “Silly girl,” he murmured into her hair. She'd been so fierce before, overwhelming really, in a way he'd never experienced with human lovers. He could tell now that her boldness was cover for her sensitive heart. Just like any human girl, she was nervous and afraid of rejection.

 

“I think you're very special,” he said softly, stroking her cheek with gentle fingers. “I already care about you, I just never expected that you would feel the same.” It was true, although he understood now that he would never stop loving Sango, probably never really get over it, but he wasn't as much of a fool as Jano had taken him for.

 

Aiko's eyes were bright as she tilted her head back to look at his face. “I know you have to go after her and the priestess, you won't abandon them either. But when you do leave, please remember that I will be waiting for you to return.”

 

“I will,” Miroku whispered, bending to brush his lips against hers. Aiko's arms tightened around him, holding him to the promise of return. And he would, he swore, knowing the danger of what he faced, what they all faced. Against his will, he was forced to let Sango go to another, one who loved her just as much with all of a daiyoukai's pride and power.

 

He was going to be a father.