In His Arms

All previous disclaimers apply.


“How is he, my lady?” Miyuki asked quietly as the Lady of the Western Lands opened the door to the room that had been given to her young kitsune son for the first time in hours. She had been waiting there for what felt like hours all the while listening to her lady singing gentle lullabies to her child and comforting him with quiet words when he began to sob all over again. Miyuki could hear the pain in her voice every time she tried to comfort her young son and could see it now as she finally left the room. She had been crying, Miyuki notices, and could see the tears in her eyes still that she would not let fall in front of anyone but her children or her mate. Miyuki took her arm gently when she swayed a little before straightening herself. Her lady was exhausted, and more than a little heart-sick Miyuki could tell, as she closed the door quietly behind her and motioned for Miyuki to come with her further down the hall before she began speaking.

“He’s finally sleeping,” she answered when they were a little distanced from the room, “He’s exhausted.” A single tear slipped from her eye before being roughly brushed away. Kagome crossed her arms and gripped her elbows as if trying to keep herself together. All Miyuki wanted to do was take her in her arms and reassure the young woman that everything would be alright, even if it didn’t seem like it at the moment. She couldn’t imagine how heartbreaking it would be to see your child, whom you loved more than life, in such a terrified, traumatized state.

“You seem just as exhausted, my lady. Perhaps you should go lie down?”

“I can’t,” Kagome continued walking toward her mate’s study and the war room of the Western lands, “There’s no time.”

She stopped at the ladies chamber and opened the door briefly, “Hoshiko?”

“Yes, love?”

“My son… he will have nightmares. Please, will you sit with him and come get me if he needs me?”

“Yes, of course,” Hoshiko briefly set a hand to her cheek before moving down the hall toward the young kit’s room. It made Kagome breathe a little easier knowing that someone would be there when Shippou awoke with nightmares. It broke her heart that she knew the nightmares would come.

Miyuki followed close at her elbow as she continued down the hall, a single mindedness in the way she moved that spoke of great anger unlike anything that had been seen from their gentle, kind lady yet. She was proud, really, of the way Kagome was handling herself. Heavens forbid, but if anything were to ever happen to Lord Sesshomaru, the Western lands would survive. They had a strong, warrior Lady whose temper was rivaled only by her ability to love and her compassion. Miyuki marveled at the way she had become Kagome’s general without the Lady ever asking her to. Kagome commanded that loyalty and Miyuki knew the people would give it to her. This union was the best thing that Sesshomaru had ever done, she decided as Kagome opened the door to her mate’s studty without announcement and went to sit next to him, deep in conversation with Kouga, the Dragon Lord, and all of their respective generals. She tried for a smile when Sesshomaru held up his hand to halt the conversation for a moment and turned to her.

“How fares the kit?” he asked quietly, so low only she could hear.

“He sleeps,” she answered, just as low, “He is fevered. Nightmares will come.” He took her hand and rubbed his thumb over the back of it soothingly when her voice broke.

“Is he close enough to reach when they do?”

“He is. And Hoshiko waits by his bedside. She will come get me if need be.”

“And Rin?”

“She worries for him. She is in the kitchens making him a soup for when he awakens and is ready to eat. She’s appointed herself his sister.”

“That is good,” Sesshomaru rubbed a claw down her face and she was just exhausted and heart-sick enough to lean into the brief touch, even in front of the other lords and their generals, “It would please me, mate, if you would go to our chambers and rest.”

“You’ll have to be displeased, my Lord mate,” her voice was sweet even as her words were strong, “The bastard nearly killed my son. I will have my revenge.”

Sesshomaru was pleased with her reaction and showed it by rubbing the back of her hand again before resting his hand over the gentle swell of her belly where, even now, their pups grew, “The pups require rest and food, my Lady love.”

“I will eat,” she conceded before turning to a servant and requesting a tray to be brought up.

He nodded, pleased, and turned back to the conversation, “My mate’s son has been nearly killed. The Foul One threatens all of our lands once again. It was foolish of us to think that he was no longer a threat because he has not moved in recent months.”

“I still do not understand exactly whom this ‘Foul One’ is,” The Dragon Lord said quietly, “My lands have not been threatened.”

“The Foul One,” Kagome hissed, “His name is Naraku. He is an unnatural hanyou created from jealousy and greed over the wanting of a woman who could never be his. He steals the power and life force of humans and demons alike to keep himself alive and powerful. He may not have threatened your lands yet, Dragon, but I guarantee that if the West and the South fall the rest of the lands will stand no chance. It is only through allegiance that we can keep all of our lands safe.”

“It would require all of us?” The Dragon asked, “All of our armies?”

“Yes,” Kouga muttered, to the surprise of the rest gathered in the room. He shrugged, “This is no time for foolish pride. He is powerful beyond measure due to unnatural and black magics that none of us can even imagine. He can control people, bring them back to life after he’s killed them. The demon slayer village was decimated due to his influence. A great many from my tribe as well. He has influential ways and allies in all that are dark.”

“Where does your son come in to all of this, Lady Kagome?” There was only curiosity in the Dragon’s voice and so Kagome just sighed and closed her eyes before relating all that Shippou had told her in between sobs and tears.

“He was not to be involved at the start,” She kept her voice low for fear of losing control of her emotions. It would not due to be a wreck in this meeting, “Naraku stole my traveling companions, and my kit, away in the night, leaving no trace of them. His aim was to make me question my own sanity as his influence stretched far enough to alter memories of those we had once met. He wanted me insane with grief. When I was unfit to defend myself he would have come to take me as well.”

“Beg pardon, My Lady,” one of the Dragon’s generals interrupted, “But, why are you so important?”

“I am the bearer of the Shikon Jewel,” Kagome pulled the small bottle of shards she kept around her neck out and watched as the demons around the low table gasped and leaned in closer for a better look, “It was broken through my folly and I have been working with companions to complete it again. Naraku has most of it, but my power had grown considerably and he knew that there was no way he could take the rest of it from me to complete the jewel without my sanity being less than stable. He intended to have me insane and then take the rest of the jewel. Once it was complete he would have had me purify it so that he could have his wish. Had my lord not found me in the night his plan would have succeeded.”

“Why has he not come for it since that time?”

“I am sane, am I not?” Kagome questioned, “He knows that unless I am not so I would die before I gave over the jewel and willingly purified it.”

“What did the kit mean when he said there was no time?” Sesshomaru asked.

“Naraku grows impatient waiting” Kagome’s voice became a growl, “He gave my son an ultimatum. Deliver me and the jewel or he would kill Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sango. He forced Shippou to watch as he tortured each of them to within an inch of their lives. Then, he did the same to my son and released him into the world. He will pay for his crimes, but he will hurt most for that act.”

“He will,” Sesshomaru agreed.

“I still do not understand why this task requires all of our forces if he dares not even attack Nishi,” The Dragon leaned back and crossed his arms.

“He doesn’t attack Nishi because it would be difficult,” Kagome murmured, “And he enjoys torture of any kind, which was what he was putting me through just as he was doing the same to my companions.”

“And we need all because this time he has something that he’s never had before.” Sesshomaru looked down.

“What is that?”

“A demon slayer with more skill than most demons, a monk with a wind tunnel in his hand that can pull in anything, and a hanyou will skill to match my own. Beside being powerful in his own right the Foul One will have taken their wills by now.”

“You can’t mean…” Kouga trailed off.

When Sesshomaru looked back up his face was grim, “Yes. We will be fighting Inuyasha as well.”

Author’s Note: I probably do not need to say this, but just to cover all my bases, this does not follow anything beyond the first few episodes and a couple of the movies, that Naraku can do. I making it up as I go, so please don’t expect it to match with the anime or the manga. Thank you so much for sticking with this!