In His Arms

All previous disclaimers apply.

Author’s Note: Just to make it clear, I never saw or read all of the Inuyasha series, so from here on out, it might be a little AU when it comes to Naraku and how he is to die. Just so no one is really shocked. Thank you so much to everyone who has stuck with this story for so long! It’s almost done and I’m not sure how I feel about it yet! But, anyway, on with the story.

It was so deceptively calm out here. Kagome couldn’t help the shiver that went through her body as she looked across the moon-lit lake and wrapped her arms around herself. It was all so deceptive. The calm before the storm. Had it really only been three days ago that she had been so happy in her new mating with Sesshomaru? Three days ago none of this had even been a thought in her head. The only thing she had been able to see in her future was her life with Sesshomaru, their mating celebration, the birth of their pups, watching them grow into young children. She hadn’t even thought she would be facing Naraku for a year, perhaps two, not until the pups still in her womb were old enough to live without her should something happen. But, here she found herself, on the edge of a lake, her feet in the water, and the entirety of the Army of the West camped behind her. They had been marching toward Naraku’s stronghold all day and had only made camp as the sun was setting, but she was amazed at how ordered it was, how quickly the tents had gone up and the troops settled in.

If she closed her eyes and left her mind to drift just a little she could almost imagine that she had come away with Sesshomaru and her children on a little trip just for the family, to relax, to get away, and to spend time together. But, then, as always, False would let out a little trill of annoyance as yet another sound he was not used to rang through the campsite. She breathed in on a deep sigh and stroked his crest gently, trying to calm the firebird Sesshomaru had given her what felt like an eternity ago. He crooned gently in her ear and tucked his head under chin. She was more grateful than she could say to the bird, which had helped Hiroko entertain her children all through the long march today so that they would not make themselves annoyances to their lord or any of the generals, who were still planning as they marched. Sesshomaru had been surprised at the bird’s intelligence, but Kagome had not. She had always seen it in his eyes from the moment she had awoken to find False in her room.

She sighed again and held out her wrist so that False could step onto it and she could launch him into the air.
She followed his progress, marked in the dark by the false sparks that came from him, as he flew back to the central tent where Hiroko and the children already slept deeply. Had there been any other way she would not have chosen to bring any of them along as they marched toward war. But, there had been no other way. With herself, Sesshomaru, Miyuki, and Paru out of the capital city there was none she trusted there to keep the children safe. No, Naraku would not attack the city straight out, but none of them would put it past him to send individuals in and take the children by force to torture them in front of Kagome and Sesshomaru in hopes that it would make their concentration and skills falter. They had brought Hiroko along to look after them because her mate was in the army and she would have found a way to come along anyway. This way kept her out of danger. The other ladies had been left at the castle, crying and holding each other as the army, their lord, and their lady left the castle and the city, perhaps for good. But, that was not something she wanted to think about.

If she started to doubt herself, even in the slightest, Naraku would sense it and he would use it. No, she would not doubt and she would not falter. For the sake of the pups within her womb, for the sake of her children, her friends, and her mate she would be strong and the most terrible enemy the vile hanyou had ever seen. She felt the anger rise within her, bringing her power to the immediate surface, and used it. With a violent, feral scream she reached her hands up to the sky and released the excess energy in a streak of blue flame light that stretched across the camp, banishing all shadows and forcing all who looked upon it to shield their eyes. As the light died she brought her hands back to her sides and looked out across the water once more, the picture of serenity aside from her heaving chest. She had not exerted herself in any way, but the force of her emotions, those she had not expressed, had her fighting for control once more.

It wasn’t right that her sweet, innocent boy had been tortured. It wasn’t right that her friends, who had only ever fought on the side of the angels, were now mind slaves to the most vile creature in the history of the world. It wasn’t right that Naraku had tried to break her by taking all of them away, no matter what happiness had come from it. It wasn’t right that her lord, her love, the father of her pups, might never return to the beautiful capital because Naraku wanted something from her. Everything that was happening now, it was all her fault. She wanted to fall to her knees and sob, but she could not. She would not. Not here. Not now. She didn’t even reach up a hand to brush them away when the hot, angry tears began to streak down her face. She would allow herself that much at least.

“My Lady,” As suddenly as she knew he would be, Sesshomaru was before her, blocking the sight of the moon on the lake with his body. He leaned over in the slightest and began to rub her tears away with the pads of his thumbs, “What causes this distress?”

“This is my fault,” she whispered.

“What is?” He asked gently as he folded her into a steady embrace and she wrapped her small hands around the unforgiving material of his armor where it curved over his shoulders.

“All of it,” He was surprised to hear the bitterness in his mate’s voice where he had never heard it before, “If I had never come here, the jewel would never have been broken, Naraku wouldn’t have reawakened, he wouldn’t have taken the others, you wouldn’t be going to war now. All of it is my fault for being stupid enough to fall into that damn well when Mistress Centipede grabbed for me.”

Her words confused him greatly, he didn’t understand what it was she was talking about except for the fact that she blamed herself for everything that had happened, everything that was going to happen. She would take the responsibility for every life lost in the coming battle onto her own heart. He beast growled at him, demanding that he find a way to soothe her. His mate was not to feel such guilt, not when she was so strong, so beautiful. It wasn’t right.

“Even of the jewel had not been shattered,” Sesshomaru whispered in her ear before swooping her up in his arms and carrying her toward the forest that bordered the lake, “The foul hanyou would have found a way to threaten all of us in time. We, the Taiyokai, are fortunate that it has come now when we have you to fight alongside us, my mate.” They were out of sight of the camp and he set her again on her feet, turning her around so that her back was to him. She gasped when one of his clawed hands reached over her shoulder and under her light leather armor to cup and fondle her breast even as his mouth went to the silver mark on her neck.

“Sesshomaru…” she mumbled, dropping her head back onto his shoulder as his other hand moved toward her core, rapidly heating and moistening. She gasped in surprise and arousal when his teeth bit down on her, not hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough to have her arching and allowing his hand to press deeper against her center through the fabric.

“You will believe me, mate,” he ordered arrogantly, “You will no longer blame yourself.”

“Sesshomaru,” she moaned now in need as he pulled her skirt up and slipped his fingers inside of her, “Oh... please.”

“You will follow my order, Miko,” he felt himself losing control as she pressed back against him, wanting more friction from the fingers he had inside of her. Even as he said it, he pulled the hand on her breast back to free himself from his restrictive garments.

“As you wish,” she gasped, “Whatever you want. Please, Sesshomaru… I want you inside me. Now!”
He could not disobey her order. He spun her around quickly and slammed her against a tree. He worried for a moment that he had hurt her until she looked up at him expectantly and reached down to wrap one talented hand around him and lead him into her. He growled even as she gasped and threw back her head as they became one. With one hand he braced himself against the tree. The other he placed firmly on her thigh to keep her leg up and wrapped around his waist. With every thrust he went deeper and deeper into her body, losing himself completely as he buried his face in her fragrant hair and listened as she panted and begged for him so beautifully.

“Mmm…oh, yes….there! Right there! Harder, Sesshomaru, deeper! Please! More! Oh!”

Her clever little mouth found where she had marked him and began to suckle and nip, unaware of the frenzy it put him in as he pulled away from the tree and pulled her other leg up around his waist before he fell to his knees and let her fall against the soft ground. He rutted against her, his thrusts short and deep as she screamed out his name again and again and tightened her fists in his hair, pulling as hard as she could as he pulled down her armor and undershirt just far enough to allow himself to attach his mouth to her nipple and bite down. He could feel her tightening around him, almost at orgasm and thrust faster, racing her to the end.

“Sesshomaru!” She screamed a final time just as he let out a growl he was sure the entire camp heard and released himself inside her and his vision went white around the edges.

“Hmm. Stay,” Kagome murmured when he tried to roll off of her, “Just for a little while. It feels so good just like this.”

“As long as you wish,” he chuckled, propped himself up on his elbows and pushed her damp hair out of her eyes, “I meant it when I ordered you not to blame yourself, mate.”

“I meant it when I told you it would be as you wished,” Kagome smiled back up at him, “It is my fault, Sesshomaru, I accept that. But, I will not let the guilt cripple me. I will do something about it.” Her voice had ended like steel and he found himself smiling and kissing her again. She wrapped her arms around him and returned the kiss whole-heartedly.

“I love you very much, my Lord,” she sighed.

“And I you, my mate.”

“We’d better get back to the children,” Kagome smiled when Sesshomaru got up and helped her to her feet. They began adjusting their clothing and brushing things out of each other’s hair until they looked presentable again.

“Have a care for the pups, my love,” Sesshomaru set a hand over where their pups grew. Kagome covered the hand with her own.

“They are my first priority, my lord mate. Shall we go find them something to eat?”

“There are two. A male and a female,” Sesshomaru murmured in her ear.
The tears filled her eyes even as she smiled, “Thank you for telling me. Sesshomaru, I will fight. I cannot change that now, but I swear to you, I will do all in my power to make sure that they are kept completely safe.”

“I know,” And Sesshomaru smiled, “It will be Naraku’s mistake that he underestimates the willpower and vengeance of a mother.”

“Yes,” And she knew her smile was just as feral, just as wicked, “It will be.”