The Fires of My Heart

Continuing onward....

Chapter 11
Welcome Home

Kagome started from the warmth of Sesshomaru’s arms as the hasty bang of the front door’s closing announced the arrival of the Southern Rulers. Her hands flew to her belly in light defense as her mate tensed beside her. Judging by the wild look in her comrades’ eyes, they too had felt the heavy aura that seemed to blanket the city in a nameless anxiety. It was only after a flash of lightening did she realize all eyes were on her; Sesshomaru’s being the most potent. She missed the flash of relief in his gaze when she had recovered her senses to her surroundings; her tears now spent and dry against her pale cheeks.

“You felt it also.” Sesshomaru’s voice was flat and his gaze hardened with a nod from the Southern Lord and Lady. His grip on his wife’s hip tightened as he fought to collect his thoughts.

“Whatever it is, it’s strong and it’s close.” Kouga murmured seemingly to himself. Ellie's own hands flew to her own flat belly, eyes clouding in reassurance of her kit's safety.

“It feels so familiar. Can’t you feel it?” Kagome whispered, as if afraid the very walls would betray them. Her hands rubbed her stomach slowly as she lightly chewed her bottom lip. She half turned to find her mate’s eyes had closed, his mind searching but what for he couldn’t say. “Sess?”

“It’s very old...” He began, but the frown deepened momentarily before disappearing. “And yet very young.” Kagome’s brow came down in a frown of her own but vanished as her mind began to collect itself once more.

“We need the others.” The Western Lady’s eyes darted to each companion in turn, their nods confirming her need. “The children...they can’t be left alone like this, and the others may need to be reawakened if possible. We need to go to the shrine now!” Lightening struck feebly through the dark sky as she chewed her lip again.

“Indeed. We shall go at once.” Sesshomaru’s deep voice soothed her nerves, giving her peace enough to sigh heavily.

Without further pause, Sesshomaru dismissed the other couple to prepare the car while he and his mate could dress properly. Driving out into the storm with her in nothing but his work shirt, and him in a loose pair of sleeping pants would not be acceptable. He insisted she continue to wear the work shirt but with a pair sleeping pants as well. Kagome accepted the offered clothes with a light blush and giggle, realizing what a sight the pair of them made. Grunting in agitation, the Daiyoukai quickly pulled out one of his lighter t-shirts used for sparring and pulled it over his head in haste.

A light knock on the door signaled that Ellie and Kouga were ready to leave. Pulling their jackets around themselves, the four made their way to the garage and out into the night. Kagome stared on into the dark as they wound through the streets, the fingers of one hand tightly laced with Sesshomaru’s as his free hand guided the car onward.

**The Shrine**

Shippo’s ear twitched lightly, once again stirring him into the world of the waking. Huffing lightly, he rubbed his eyes and sat up to better understand what had woken him this time. Besides the usual bellow of Uncle InuYasha’s snoring, nothing seemed unusual. Until the distant slamming of a car door instantly called to him, sending him from the low bed to wake his sister instantly.

“Rin! Rin!” The small boy continued to pull at the polka dotted pajamas of his sibling in growing annoyance. “Rin, get up!! Someone’s here!” He growled lowly but was finally rewarded with an unlady-like grunt from the small lump in front of him.

“Shhhippoooo....” Rin rolled over roughly, squinting into the darkness. “What is it?” Her brother hushed her as the sounds of hurried footsteps echoed around them. Rin’s eyes widened considerably as she allowed him to help her from bed and down the stairs to the living room. At the bottom, they sat and waited to see whether the visitation was indeed their mother, or a reason to go shrieking to Uncle InuYasha.

The girl was about to complain about the manner in which she had been woken, but was silenced with a ‘Shhh!’ as the front doorknob turned. Moonlight flooded the dark house as four figures glided into the living room. Rin turned to whisper something to her brother but found that he was no longer at her side. Wide-eyed and frightened, she could only hold back a whimper as she saw his small, shadowed form slink across the floor towards the light-switch. She shook her head violently, hoping he would somehow hear her plea.

The Four figures had frozen and spoke in hushed voices, but stopped upon hearing a small thud. Shippo had inadvertantly bumped a picture frame next to the lights, it’s metal casing thumping the carpet as it bounced and settled. Rin held her breath as she turned and found that only three shadows remained. Shutting her eyes tightly, she whimpered lightly before slowly breathing out and opening them again. The scream died in her throat as the shorter of the shadows now loomed before her, its arms reaching out for her. It was in that instant, Shippo had enough sense to flip the lights on.

“Rin?! Shippo?!”

Rin’s lip quivered as she launched herself into her mother’s waiting arms, barely registering her brother’s arms wrapping around the both of them.

“What are you two doing out of bed?” Kagome whispered, happy to see that they were still as safe as she had left them. She ran her hands over Rin’s back, soothing the small girl from her nervous hiccups and sniffs.

“I heard a door close outside, so I woke up Rin.” Shippo offered, his eyes slowly drifting towards the three strangers behind his mother. One of them, in particular, was catching his eye.

“We thought you might be bad people!” Rin squeaked but sniffled and seemed to straighten herself, her own interest beginning to turn to the strangers.

Kagome noticed their gaze and slowly turned to allow them a better view. Sadness tugged at her as she saw the unveiled relief, joy, and sorrowed pain in her mate’s eyes. Sesshomaru dropped to one knee wordlessly, his mouth grim and his eyes dark. Rin stood behind Shippo as they made their way across the room to stand four feet from Sesshomaru. Shippo held a hand to his chin thoughtfully, as if trying to find the right words. A small frown marred his brow, mirrored only by his sister. Sesshomaru remained still, ignoring all his senses to snatch up the pair and assure himself that they were indeed real. A small voice sent his mind reeling as he sat and waited.

“Sesshomaru-sama...” Rin whispered from behind the kitsune. “Papa.” The girl’s eyes were half-lidded and glassy from unshed tears. She moved from behind Shippo to stand in front of Sesshomaru; his usually stoic mask replaced by shock as a small hand reached out to touch his face. His own hand rose up to sweep his thumb across the rosy, tear-stained cheek of his adopted daughter.

“Rin.” Sesshomaru’s voice was deep, but Kagome caught the slight waver in it as her daughter threw herself into her mate’s arms.

“Father? Is that really you?” Shippo had snuck up beside them and eyed Sesshomaru uneasily. He sniffed lightly at the man and seemed to become more unsettled as the demon holding his sister turned his gaze on him. Rin snuggled into one arm as Sesshomaru lowered the other, his eyes locking with the kitsune’s.

“Your nose does not lie to you, Shippo.” A small chuckled slipped through the Western Lord’s lips as his son shifted his feet again. He lifted his free hand out, his eyes warm. “Come here.”

“Father!” Shippo launched himself at the demon, laughing as the arm came around him in a tight hug. Kagome smiled brightly while the other two demons laughed at the ecstatic sight the Kit and girl made. It was only at the creaking of a stair, and a hushed gasp did the group realize that they were not alone any longer.

Kagome spun around to find the remainder of the household on the stairs, their eyes both wide and confused as they fought to find the words. The women held onto their husbands and Kagome’s mother came down to stand before her daughter. Her head shook while her mouth opened and closed without sound. InuYasha, however, felt he would be the one to break the ice.

“This must be a nightmare.” InuYasha growled out, a strange light coming to his eyes as he rubbed them. “Kikyo isn’t naked, and my bastard of a brother is in our living room.” A small smirk tugged at his lips as his wife smacked his shoulder.

“Indeed.” Sesshomaru rose, Rin and Shippo standing at his side giggling as he eyed Kikyo’s rounded belly. “And the fact that you’re breeding has only confirmed my fears that this may indeed be a bad dream. Shame..” A true smile graced his lips as his brother came to stand in front of him, his eyes dropping momentarily to gaze at his children and mate. “...it started out so well.” The room suddenly became deathly quiet as InuYasha grunted in annoyance.

“Feh.” The man shrugged and stuck his hand out, the hand open in expectancy. The smile on the Daiyoukai died away as an elegant eyebrow rose. Slowly, but steadily his own hand came out, slender fingers closing around the other man’s wrist. InuYasha’s own fingers closed around his as their gazes met and held. “Bout time you showed up.”

“Isn’t this cozy? And here I thought you hated him, Sesshomaru. How very sweet.”

All eyes swept across the room from the brothers to the slim female frame that lazily stood against the front doorframe; sunflower eyes dancing with amusement as the oldest of the brother stepped forward, and to everyone’s astonishment bowed his head lightly.

“Hello, Mother.”


To Be continued.....