Replacement

Ok… I have posted an A/N at the end of this story explaining a few things. But I would like to say THANK YOU so much for all the wonderful reviews!!!!

They made me smile… =)

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Trials


Flying back towards the manor Takuya hoped his decision about this little human child was the right one. Although he must be out of his mind to think it would work. They had just lost their own daughter a few hours before; and here he was showing back up with another child in hand to soothe the pain his mate was feeling.

He couldn’t explain his logic; he didn’t really know if he wanted it explained. It just felt right bringing this child back with him. What became of her all depended on his mates’ reaction to the whole insane idea he had in his head.

Not wanting to draw unwanted attention to himself or Kagome, Takuya opted to enter the manor through the balcony which adjoined their bed chamber.

Feet gently landing on the skillfully carved stone beneath them, Takuya willed his wings away before he entered through the French doors; toward his awaiting mate; toward the fate of the little human miko in his arms.

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“Hold him still!” A strong voice echoed through out the tension filled room. Hands upon hands struggled to hold down the ever wailing limbs of Sesshoumaru.

By the time Touga had been able to find Keade to tend to the wound that was inflicted upon his oldest; it had been too late. Even though he had removed the arrow from said wound he had indivertibly broken the tip off deep beneath his flesh.

The purification was poisoning his mind; slowly killing him. He sank deep, deep, within himself trying to fight it. Touga yelled out again for the servants to restrain his son, as much as it hurt him to do this; it was the only way for them to save his life.

“Sesshoumaru! Stop this frantic moving at once! If we do not remove your arm you will cease to exist!” Keade needed him calm before she preformed the surgery; but try as they might they couldn’t get through to him.

“I would rather die than have my arm removed! Do not touch me you filthy wretches!” Eyes still growing deeper into red; no hope of talking him into cooperating - Touga made a decision.

Looking down at his son Touga sighed. “You would rather have an arm of no use than no arm at all?”

“You will not take my arm!” it was all but a snarl; Touga could hear his sons desperation; he was still hoping somewhere in his clouded raged filled mind that they could save his arm.

“Then you will take a sedative and allow Keade to remove the tip of the arrow. We will not remove your arm unless it is necessary.”

Sesshoumaru stopped his struggles as he contemplated his father’s proposal. He, Sesshouamru, Heir to the Western Coven was scared at this moment. He knew his father recognized this and knew he wouldn’t say a word of it.

Nodding his head slowly, Sesshoumaru allowed Keade to pour the vile sedative down his throat. He couldn’t stop his gag reflex; trying to spit it out only meant them pouring more into his mouth. By the time he had swallowed the last of the sedative, Sesshoumaru felt his eye lids began to shut do to an increase in heaviness.

“Touga-sama you know we must remove the whole arm in order to insure his safety!” Keade glared heatedly up at the Lord of the manor.

Touga sighed; he knew once his son was out cold - this woman would be so brazen as to argue against his decision. But he had promised his son they would at least try to save his arm and despite what the old healer in front of him said; that is what they would do.

“Enough! This was my sons wish and it is what you will do. Now while you are arguing with me over this; not only are you wasting your breath but also time which you could be saving my son!” With a flick of his wrist he dismissed Keade to her duty; allowing himself out of the room shortly after.


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A slender pale finger gently wiped away the tear drop that had fallen unto a glass topped picture, revealing the cheery face of a once happy child. Saya felt her eyes water up once more as she took in every detail of the picture; gathering the material of her skirt up into her fist with a free hand she tried to calm herself.

After her mate had left with the others, it had taken Kimi, the Western Covens lady; quiet awhile to pry her away from her daughter’s body. Nazunas body needed to be prepared for several rituals before the burial.

Kimi was the only being that Saya would allow around right now; she understood what it was like to loose some one you love; having nothing there to fill that void; having no hope insight to ease the pain.

But Kimis loose was more than Saya thought she could ever handle; even with knowing the pain of loosing a child. Indeed Kimi was the Lady of the Western Coven, mated to the great Lord Touga Inu No Taisho; mother to the much sought after heir to the west Sesshoumaru.

But only two of those titles did she claim for the last several decades. There had been a battle; a battle which no coven could ignore. All able lords and lads were summoned to deal with a new rising human lord Takemaru Setsuna.

The battle had dragged on for near a year – a younger; much in love Kimi along side her first born son; surrounded by the Western covens residents waited eagerly atop the manor stairs; all eyes looking for any sign of their lords return.

Tiny golden eyes grew rounder than ever thought as they landed on his target; gathering his mothers hand in his own Sessoumaru started running - pulling a more than willing female along with.

Yards from his father the child let go of his mother; running arms open toward his father as Touga dismounted his battle worn horse. The sound of a child’s laughter could be heard as he was swung up in the air by his sire.

Kimi looked upon the scene; barely containing her tears of joy; her mate was home and alive. His messages had stopped coming months ago due to lack of time or people to deliver them or so she thought. Watching as her son was set back down she took a few more steps toward him resisting every urge to run to him as their son had done.

His golden eyes locked with her silver orbs; slowly her smile disappeared. Something was not right; she could feel it deep within her being.

Breaking eye contact with his mate Touga kneeled down “You’ve grown much son. I hardly recognized you.”

Beaming up Sesshoumaru glowed with pride “Mother insisted I start my training father.”

Nodding in approval Touga stood and motioned for Sesshoumaru to return to his mother’s side. Not risking another glance at his mate Touga walked towards a coach which stopped a few yards behind his person.

Kimis instincts were now screaming at her to be on alert. She would not like what was waiting in that coach; subconsciously she guided Sessoumaru behind her out of view; her stance had changed slightly; her body was ready for any threat that might emerged.

The coach door opened as Touga helped who ever was in it down the few steps; a tiny form emerged from within the carriage. Kimis’ body might have been ready for an attack; but her heart was not as lucky.

It wasn’t the female that made her mouth go dry; nor the fact that she was now walking hand in hand toward her and her child that made her chest start heaving, or what lay in her free arm wrapped in a blanket that made the tears fall down her flawless face.

But her mates’ words and actions when he introduced his new love and their first born son which made her heart break. She watched as her mate walked him and his new family into their home without a glance back.


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The sound of shifting fabric shook Saya out of her musings; for a moment her body tensed from the unknown noise until she felt a familiar aura reach out and caress hers.

Letting out a sigh of relief Saya turned to see her mate stepping away from their bed; laying the picture frame down on her vanity Saya rushed to her mate’s side.

"I was beginning to worry about you!" Catching her in his arms Takuya buried his nose in the crook of her neck to calm himself.

Bringing a hand up Saya softly stroked her loves hair. "Did you find them? Did you make them suffer Tak; did you bring me the one whom did this?"

He stiffened for a mere second hoping she didn’t notice he murmured against her neck. "In a manor of speaking, yes... I did bring her too you."

Well, that wasn’t what she had expected to hear. "What do you mean 'in a manor of speaking'? I wanted to deal with that bitch myself!"

A rend tint was slowly seeping into her eyes; Takuya didn’t have the resolve at this moment to deal with her if she turned completely. Taking her hand he guided her towards the bed, she hadn’t noticed it before but a small lump lay under the covers.

"That" he said with a finger pointing at the lump "Is the ‘manor of speaking' I was referring too. I'm warning you now though; please hear me out before you make any rash decisions."

She could hear the undertone in his voice he was pleading with her; and if she hadn’t caught it there all she had to do was look into his purple orbs. Curious at what had caused her strong lord to act in such a manor; eyebrow raised; she extended her hand grasping the blood silk comforter pulling it down more slowly that she expected.

Her breath hitched; this, this was not what she had expected. No, not at all!

Throwing a hasty glare at her mate Saya leaned over the small child to get a better look. She was a rather scrawny looking child, but beautiful none the less. Midnight black hair with a tint of dark blue; sun kissed skin; even in the poor lighting of the room Saya could make out the slashes on the child’s body.

Caressing the girl’s cheek with the back of her hand Saya spoke without care. "Why did you bring her here..."

Takuya had allowed her a few moments to study the girl; besides being under fed the girl didn’t hold the features of a normal 10 year old, she had a mature look to her... and those eyes... those eyes held a knowing ancient; all seeing; soul piercing look.

A shiver ran down his spin remembering that stare she had pinned him with earlier; he needed to relax - tonight had been a rough one; and once his mate demanded an explanation it wouldn’t get any smoother.

Walking over to their chamber bar he poured himself a snifter of brandy before allowing himself a few moments of rest in a near by chair. Savoring the taste and texture of the drink before allowing it to slide down his throat Takuya almost missed his mates’ whisper of a question.

"Why - you ask? Are you sure you want the truth Saya...

"Are you implying that you would actually lie to me about your reasons?”

Raising his hands up defensively Takuya showed he meant no harm. “No, it’s just I’m not completely sure you are ready to hear what I have to say. Although, time really isn’t on our side if we decide to go through with what I have planned.”

Kagome let out a soft moan as her body gave a little shiver; pulling the covers up around the child’s neck Saya gave a gentle sweep of her hand through her hair before leaving the bed side.

Grabbing her wrist Takuya pulled his mate into his lap, thoughts swirling in his mind on how to explain this to her.

“I couldn’t leave the girl behind Saya, I just couldn’t. Not after I saw what those…those…”

“Humans?” Saya offered.

“I rather like the term monster myself, but yes humans, did to her. Their own offspring for heavens sake! They whipped her for knowing… Saya I couldn’t just hand her over….” his voice trailed off.

Studying his face Saya; he really didn’t want to tell her what he saw; but judging by the condition of the child’s body she could guess how bad the scene was when he came upon the girl.

“Tak… open your mind too me; allow me to see what you can not explain.” Nodding slightly Takuya let down a barrier in his mind, allowing his mate to probe around for answers until she was satisfied.

Closing her eyes Saya took the plunged deep within her mates’ memories; sorting through the nights events. She could feel her mates sorrow when he saw what had been done to the child; the anger when he found out why it had happened; his sympathy when he found out who had done it and finally the triumph that had surged through out his being when he took the child away from her wrong doers.

Confusion and worry were the last too feelings that swept over her when she reached the end of his memories; her lips pulled upward into a small smile; so that was his plan… she would have never thought him to be capable of being that brazen in thinking such a thing.

She now understood why he didn’t want to voice such things; he was afraid of her lashing out at him; rejecting him. Pulling herself upward back out of his mind, severing the connection link all she could do was stare at him.

A feeling of uneasiness settled in the pit of his stomach “So… now you know.” he stated, adverting his eyes away from hers.

“Now I know.”

Still refusing to look her in the eyes – Takuya tried to swallow the lump in his throat “And you disapprove?”

Caressing a cheek with her hand, Saya gently pulled his face to look at hers and shook her head.

“No, surprisingly I do not disapprove of what you have planned for the little miko… I’m just worried about if it will work or not…”

“And…?”

Sighing she stood up before he saw the tears which were threatening to fall “She can’t replace Nazuna…and if she ever found out what we had done to her… that is how she would see it Takuya. Are you ready to explain to that sweet little girl that all she was and will be is a replacement in others eyes – and in hers.”

“That’s just it Saya! No one will know what we’ve done, only the ones that matter will. Kagome won’t remember anything before this night unless we want her too.”

Saya felt her stomach lurch “Why do I seem ok with this? I should feel guilty for betraying my baby; feel wrong for wanting to turn this human child into my own…”

Strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her back into an equally strong chest. “It’s not wrong to long for another child… and this feels right because it is. We both know she won’t replace our dear Nazuna because she’s not her; she’s her own person.”

Nodding her head slowly Saya studied the child before her. Could she love this child as her own? Possibly. There was really only one way to find out.

“You said time was against us, perhaps we shouldn’t waist more than we already have.”


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Keade watched the blood stained water disappear down the drain in a swirl; she had done the masters bidding; against her will and better judgment; but did it none the less. More than likely Sesshoumaru would never be able to use that arm again, unless a miracle happened but it wasn’t very likely.

The arrow alone hadn’t done that much damage by itself, but along with the powers the miko had armed it with… there wasn’t much Keade could have done. Sighing to herself she glanced over at the young lord lying on a near by bed still unconscious from the drugs given to him earlier.

He would be like that for a few more hours, she had already set out some pain killers along with a pitcher of fresh water incase he awoke and no one was close enough to give him anything.

Sitting down in a chair close by the old woman allowed herself a few moments of peace and silence. Although something in the back of her mind kept nagging at her; something told her that soon, very soon she would be needed again.

She also knew it would have something to do with Nazuna; although not with her directly. Speaking of Nazuna… she would need to prepare the child’s body soon. She had already started the pre-rituals required before being prepared for burial.

Before one of their kind is to join the ground one of the covens’ healers; Keade in this case; must drain all of blood she can from the body before it becomes too stiff and cold to do so. Stored into vile's which would be tucked away in the covens vault as long as it needed to be.

It might be a strange ritual but they did it for a reason; their blood told of their life. Their blood held memories which the mind would forget. Given that anyone whom was highly trained and skilled in mind reading would dive into the deepest parts of any living being and find these forgotten fragments, but not the dead.

So it was now a common ritual to store the blood of the lost incase anything arose later in life became an issue in which the departed were some how connected.

Prying herself from the chair Keade could have sworn she heard her knees groan; she couldn’t blame them, she’d been standing through out the entire surgery. Moving as swiftly as she could Keade began to prepare another bed; gathering the supplies she might need.

Her gut feeling was her skills would be called on for a different reason; nothing that had to deal with the dead or the injured. She couldn’t quiet put her finger on it…although she wouldn’t have to. The ones in need of her help were on their way to find her.


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After scooping the child into his arms Takuya and Saya made a hasty retreat from their chambers down the corridors towards the infirmary; hoping not to be seen, or at least not acknowledged.

Swiftly Saya pushed open a large wooden door; it being the only thing between them and their destination. A strange sort of relief rushed over them as they entered the room; there as if she had expected them was Keade busying herself which preparing the room for whatever lye ahead.

Upon feeling the new auras enter the room; Keade without slowing down with what she was doing motioned for them to come closer.

With a graceful stride Takuya made his way closer towards the bed and gently placed Kagomes body down.

“What is it you require me to do milord?” Keade asked while looking over the child’s body for injuries. Sure it was plain to see the poor thing had taken a whipping; was malnourished but both of those things were not to the point of being life threatening.

Shifting from one foot to another; which was very unlord like; Takuya cleared his throat. “We would like to do a complete transfusion Keade…”

Jerking her head up; Keade merely stared at them both. “Did I hear you right or are you playing a trick on this old woman?”

Kneeling beside the bed Saya softly brushed the hair away from Kagomes face. “This is no trick Keade. We’ve both decided we want this…”

Looking between her lord and lady Keade let out a puff of air. ‘What was it with this coven tonight? Both them making such demanding requests! An old healer could only do so much in one night!’

“We haven’t much time, let us start preparing now before it’s too late. I will require a bit of assistance with this procedure though. I may be a natural born healer but there are limits to what one might be able to do by ones self.”

“Who then? We wish to be as discreet as possible Keade.” Takuya hadn’t planned on anyone else being present during this.

“I need someone whom as knowledge of the ancient ways, someone who might be familiar with what needs to be done.”

Sensing her mates distress Saya racked her brain for someone whom they both trusted. “Kimi… and just to be safe, Touga. If there is something that one doesn’t know about the ancient ways the other would.”

Nodding slowly Takuya made his way towards the large wooden door once more. “I shall return shortly.”


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Ugh…I’m not really happy with this chapter… I’m sorry it took so long to post. I couldn’t get it worded the way I wanted. It should have been longer… but it just didn’t work out.

So most of what should have been in this chapter will be in the next, as long as I can get it worded correctly.

But I didn’t want to make you guys wait any longer than I already have for an update, so please forgive me for not posting quickly… I hope you enjoyed it =)