The Love of Brothers

WOW! I broke the 7000 mark for reviews! Thank you so much! I'm sorry that this chapter took so long, I finally got a day off. I promise to update soon and give you more story! Thanks for the reviews again and keep them coming, they make me write my a** for you!


Chapter Twenty Two

"Kagome! Kagome!" the inu shouted. His voice growing frantic. He had heard the blood chilling scream and rushed towards the sound. His heart beat so hard it threatened to break lose from his chest. She was in danger, he had to move faster. Sango and Miroku right behind him, panting as he landed before the well. "Oh no." he breathed, seeming to forget his friends a moment, his claws digging into the lip of the well as he peered into the darkness.

"Please no. Kagome!" Even as he called her he knew that she was lost to him. "Baka!" he shouted to the trees, "Why did you go back to the well. We told you not to!. Sango slowly approached him, her small hand reached to him. He sensed her movement and stiffened.

He spun with unreal speed to face her. "What the fuck happened Sango?" he demanded, "She was with you. How did she get into the well?" His voice was deeper, rougher and Sango stood her ground. "She wanted to go home Inuyasha. One last time, to end it all. I tried to make her stay but she's right I would have gone too."

Inuyasha growled at her, "What do you mean end everything?" he snapped. She could not be talking about their lives together. Sango sensed his worry and shook her head, "An end to the contrast choosing… her world or ours. She made her choice, all she wanted was to see her mother and bring back a few thing."

Inuyasha took a deep rasping breath, "The well is a trap Sango, for fuck's sake you knew that and yet you let her go. Alone!" he barked out. Sango covered her face and wept into her hands, "I'm so sorry Inuyasha. I should have tried harder to make her stay, I should have said… I don't know but I should have figured it out." Inuyasha hmpfed, "Yeah you should have."

He turned to walk from the hut, listening to Sango cry so painfully. It wasn't really her fault, it was Kagome's and his. She'd hatched the harebrained plan and he hadn't seen it coming. Like Kagome would just roll over because they said so. Not his Kagome, it was why he loved her and right now he wanted to throttle her lovingly. "Stop crying Sango, we'll get her back. I have to tell Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha bounded high into the air as he said this and within seconds he was unseen.


Sesshoumaru had felt several things over the last half hour. Two surges from the well that he knew all too well meant someone had disobeyed him and entered time. The second was a darker, evil pulse and it was this one that filled him with dread. This was Naraku without doubt.

He took to the air nearly colliding with Inuyasha as the younger landed heavily at the balcony. "Where is she?" Sesshoumaru demanded, his voice hard, deadly. Inuyasha shook his head, "The well Sessh, she's gone." Inuyasha clamped his ears down against his scalp at the loud roars and growls that filled the air. Sessh was in a rage, his mate and child gone, she had left him, betrayed him.

He took true form and raced to the well, he'd tear it to pieces. Inuyasha arrived a moment later and jumped between the two . "No Sessh don't do this!" he shouted at the towering white beast. Sessh snapped and barked. Inuyasha dodged a strike keeping the well safe, "What if she is coming back? This is her way home to us. She wouldn’t leave us Sesshoumaru and you know it too. You're just scared."

A large paw came down to crush him but he dodge it and sliced at the limb with his sword. "Don't make me take your arm again." Inuyasha warned. "You know her better than this. Kagome. Loves. Us. She wouldn't leave like this. She's in danger and we have to find her, have to save her!" He shouted.

The dog snorted, "There is no scent Inuyasha! Her presence erased from us. How can I save her if I cannot track her?" he growled as he slowly returned to human form. Inuyasha shook his head sadly, "I don't know. Maybe we should split the island and search for her."

Sessh looked up into the sky, "Naraku hides too well, and she will not be with him I think. Not yet." Inuyasha eyed him in confusion, "Why not?" Sessh sighed, "Think Inuyasha, each time he has taken one of ours he keeps them away from him castle. The miasma would kill her. Someone is keeping her for him, if she has been captured."

Inuyasha waited silently. "Dispatch my troops to search for word. Someone will see her. I must have a starting point." The lord mused. Inuyasha turned and fled to see it done. Sesshoumaru glared at the well, his fist clenching threateningly. How he despised this well, longed to crush it, but his brother was right, this was the only clue they had at the moment.

Kagome hit the ground hard, her robes tearing, stones bit into her knees. Pushing herself up on stinging, raw palms she fought to breathe. Where was she? Peering around through tearing eyes, she saw that she was in a dilapidated fortress and her blood ran cold.

Reaching out with her senses she felt for Narkau, but he was faint and far away. She rose on shaky feet and dashed for the doorway and down halls lined with moss covered walls. A glimmer rose before her, a barrier and she rushed at it full speed.

"If you touch the barrier your child will be purified." A clear voice rang out in the gloom amd she skidded to a halt turning to face the source. A tall, thin man stood silent before her, his brown hair long and flowing, his yellow eyes keen. "Surely it would not survive." He continued. "Who are you?" She demanded, anger and fear warring in her voice, fear winning.

"I am called Takemaru. I am once and future ruler of the north." He said. Something about him gave Kagome pause, "Do you know who I am?" At this he chuckled, an almost bitter sound, "Why of course, you are the lady of the west. Who fled her home and betrayed her mates." Kagome shook her head at him, "No, that's not true." She insisted.

He clucked softly and turned from her, "Of course not, but HE thinks so." He began walking away from her, "Sesshoumaru will not forgive this transgression." Kagome sank to her knees and wept, he was wrong. "They will come for me!" she told him furiously and felt dread as he smiled a most feline smile at her, "Oh, I do count on that my lady. You may go where you wish, the barrier will keep you in this castle. Come… you are bleeding, I shall see to it."

Kagome slowly followed him, "Why should you?" she asked him suspiciously. "Because, unlike filthy dogs," he snapped, "I do not make war on women." Kagome was silent, confused and silent. She wished she had never gone back to the well, wished her mates would come for her, wished Naraku would burn in hell, wished the demon before her would leave her be rather than gently cleanse her wounds.
He read her thoughts and met her eyes, "And if wishes were winged horses, we'd both fly away." He said softly and then he was gone while two sparkling green eyes watched from the shadows.


Sesshoumaru raged through his palace. Twice he went to the well and twice he refrained from obliterating it. Inuyasha was a fool and so was he. He'd given her his heart and she had run from him. Disobeyed him and run. She didn't love him, this wouldn't have happened, he reasoned. She'd not wanted to return to him. Glaring into the well, his eyes landed on a lump in the darkness.

Leaping into the well, he landed with a graceful crouch. A large bag was nestled in the dusty corner. It smelled faintly of Kagome and he reached for it slowly. Sesshoumaru was faced with many things that day. Rage, guilt, possessiveness, fear, and as he looked at the small rattle in his hand..heartbreak.

The slayer had been right. A small blanket was folded at the bottom and he lifted it gently. Pressing it's softness against his face, two scents hit him. The tearful scent of the mother and the faint linger of the pup who was his wife. To ingrain her scent so deeply meant she must have been fond of this soft scrap. He tucked it into his armor, over his heart and lifting the bag he stood.

Inuyasha watched his brother move across the room, sadness stirring around him. Wide golden eyes fell on the bag and Inuyasha jumped to his feet. "There are books of images," came the quiet voice, "Kagome and her family…even you." Inuyasha hung his head, feeling useless. "We will mobilize the armies, search everywhere." The elder swore and before dawn rose.. They had.


It had been nearly a month since that fateful day and Kagome's pregnancy took a noticeable turn. Takemaru guarded her carefully and saw to her comfort as best he could. It was soon after that turn that Naraku appeared. Swathed in his baboon pelt, he greeted her with mock care in the great hall.
"I hope you have been well." He said smoothly, "Demon pregnancies are never easy on mortals, if you survive it though, you will live forever. Oh? No one told you then?"

Kagome spat at him. The unborn child bristled sensing danger to itself and it's mother. Naraku merely chuckled, "Such a strong child, I bet it could tear you apart miko. Shall we see?" He closed the distance and clutched her stomach. Kagome shrieked and clawed at him, willing her powers to ward him off but he was simply too strong and her powers while burning him, did not kill him.

Naraku laughed evilly as he stepped back and let the miko fall to the cold stones. Her arms wrapped around her middle as she felt the spell take root. Pain, terrible pain shot through her and she felt as though the child were being ripped from her. But no, her stomach swelled hugely and she felt the life inside of her twist and move as it grew larger. Her world spun and she screamed out for Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru as her world went black around her.

It was several hours later when she regained consciousness. Her eye fluttered open at the touch of something cool and wet. She was in her bed and she turned to look at Takemaru tended her in silence. She peered down at her stomach and cried out, she looked like a house! "What happened to me?" she asked in a tear filled voice. The demon gave her a long look of sympathy. "He has sped your pregnancy, the children will be born very soon. It will be harder for you because your body is not really ready… it will most likely kill you." He answered.

Kagome's eyes shot wide, "Children?" she asked, hand covering the hump under her robes. Takemaru gave what might have been a small smile, "You carry two children, did you not know?" Kagome shook her head. Two! Takemaru shrugged, "By this point the dogs would have realized it. They have different fathers. It is rare but has happened."

Kagome tried to sit up and winced, her body feeling badly battered. Takemaru pressed her back with a light push and pressed a cup into her hand, "Drink this, it will ease the pain for you and the little ones." Kagome drank it grimacing over the heavy herbal taste. Within minutes her eyes became heavy and she fought to stay awake. Takemaru spoke in hushed tones to someone beyond her vision.

Suddenly green eyes swam before her and one thought struck her before the world narrowed again, "Sh-Shippo." The little fox looked at the woman whom he had long thought of as his mother, her face was pale and a light sheen of sweat covered her. His eyes moved from her face to her distended midsection. Naraku was a bastard but he blamed the two inus for this as well. If there had been no child she might have been safe from this.

Shippo was almost as tall as Kagome now, demons prone to growth spurts. Laying his hand against her cheek he sighed. He knew what would become of her and her demon spawned children. He wanted to protect her but wasn't sure how. So he simply sat and waited for her to wake again. The time for hiding was over.


The days that passed were hellish for the two brothers. Worry for mate and child drove them relentlessly and even Sesshoumaru's demon army was becoming hard pressed to keep up. Allies from the entire country rallied behind the pale haired lords. Either out of concern for the miko or loyalty to the brothers. It didn't matter.

Sesshoumaru was plagued by nightmares and more often than not he chose to forego sleep. How could he rest when he saw Kagome before him… bloodied and swollen. She cried to him and begged him to save her, asked why he would plant the seed that would in the end kill her. It haunted him and he became even more withdrawn.

Inuyasha was swamped with guilt. His best efforts to snap the elder out of his downward spiral were failing. Kagome was out there, pregnant and alone and it ate at him too, but for Sessh it was far worse. As a full youkai he felt the loss of her acutely and Inuyasha knew that if they didn't recover her soon, his dear brother might go mad. He had a little more time before it befell him, but that remaining human part of him wailed for her.

Tipping his face up the starlight he wondered where they were hiding her. "Be safe Kagome, I'm coming." He whispered. All he needed was a little help, a scent, a feeling. She should not be cut off from them like she was. It was nearly impossible.


Kagome came awake slowly and met the green gaze. The face was slightly older now but she would know him anywhere. "Shippo!" she gasped, trying to sit up but he pushed her back down, leaning over her to accept her embrace. "Oh Shippo you are a prisoner here too? Don't worry Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru will come." Her confidence in her mates pulled his heartstrings.

He was a prisoner here, they all were… but he had come here of his own will. It seemed so long ago. Sadly, he shook his head. "The barrier Kagome, it hides you from them. That is why they haven't come yet. They don't know where to look. You are beyond their reach."

Kagome stared at the little fox. "No, there has to be a way." She insisted but he persisted. Kagome was too weak to much more than cry, cursing herself for going against their wishes and using the well. Now her life was forfeit and worse her children. Running a hand in an almost frantic caress over her stomach she wept. Two children, one from each man. They would never know and it was her fault… it was all her fault.

Shippo couldn't bear to see her like this and he excused himself. Better to face the dark confines of the fortress then the burning pain of her loss. He hung his head as he wandered. The light cackle of a well known but rarely heard voice reached him and he shivered. The master's sister was awake.


Shippo paused at the door to her rooms, he didn't want to enter but he felt should ask if she required anything. "My lady are you well?" Of course she wasn’t, "Do you want me to get you anything?" She cackled even louder, a horrid gurgling chuckle. "They are close, he is so close I can almost see him." She sing songed to herself. Shippo peered around the corner to see the ghastly figure rocking near the window. The lady was mad.

She turned the unmarred side of her face to him, she had been radiantly beautiful once. She fixed one bright eye on the fox like a hunter. "The son of the dog general, prince of the west draws near." She took a dramatic moment to smell, "Can you not smell him little fox?" Then she laughed wildly before dissolving into screaming fits of tears.

Shippo ran from her to the battlements. Peering through the swirling power of the barrier he could almost smell him. Him and his vast army. They were so close and they'd pass right by… if only he could find a way. With a resigned face he turned back to the room he had just fled. Perhaps there was a chance.