As Death Gives Life

Chapter 26 – Go home Anubis!

A/N: Well, I had a great surprise everyone! This story has been nominated into the Inuyasha Fanguild Second Quarter 2005 contest for best characterization of Inuyasha. I am so honored and surprised. I would like to thank acparks (Chaos-and Serenity) for the nomination and Vyncent for seconding it. You, my friends, have put a happy smile on my face. Doomo Arigato!


Now, on with As Death Gives Life.....

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Power. It was thick in the air. Suffocating in its intensity as two posturing inu males fought to control their temper. The force of it drew every eye in the arena to the source. Gasps and whispers mingled through the electrically charged air as the crowd wondered at the spectacle playing out at the head of the arena.

Lady Chika sat with mouth agape, temporarily stunned into silence. In minutes she became acutely aware of the danger she and her chicks were in. With a sweep of her arm, she gathered her equally amazed boys and made haste in putting distance between them and the angry males. She thought to grab poor Kagome along the way, least she become injured during the ensuing fight, but Lord Sesshomaru seemed reluctant to release her at the moment.

As Chika scurried behind her children she glanced back to the one who claimed to be the father of Kagome’s pup. The inu held immense power and he wore it casually on his sleeve. His full aura made her head spin, and she feared that the male may just follow through with his threat to kill them all, for clearly he had the power to do just that.

Spikes of inertia sizzled and popped in the charged air around the males. The InuGod was darkness to Sesshomaru’s light. His long hair, dancing about his form, was as pitch black as the darkest night and his unusually clear blue eyes swam with a menacing silver. There was handsome aristocracy chiseled over his smooth face. The black teardrop falling from the diamond mark over his brow seemed to speak of sadness over an enemy’s imminent death. Chika felt worry for her young friend who was forever linked to this ancient God of death.

Kagome shivered under the power of the flaring male auras. Her mind was spinning and her voice refused to come. This was all her fault! She couldn’t allow them to fight. Sesshomaru would not live to tell the tale. After witnessing Anubis wipe out Naraku with the nonchalant wave of his hands she had no doubts that Sesshomaru would not stand a chance against him. Anubis was a GOD, for Kami’s sake! What was it with these arrogant males anyway? Even when clearly out-matched they still refused to back down!

She carelessly brought the sleeve of her right hand up and wiped the last traces of disgusting vomit from her face, then opened her mouth and tried to speak. Nothing. Her voice betrayed her as it always had when subjected to Anubis’ raw uncensored power. So far Sesshomaru had made no move to prepare an attack on Anubis. Instead he was clutching him to her like he owned her or something! At first she thought to push him away, but something inside of her refused to follow through. He was her protector. He had taken on the job, and was willing to die in order to do just that. Even if he was protecting her from the very one who assigned him the job.

“Your presence here, InuGod, is no longer required. Kagome is quite safe, as you can clearly see.” Sesshomaru growled as he brought two fingers up. The jaki surged and his fingers glowed with a deadly green light.

Anubis pulled his lip up in a snarl. “What I see, and what I have seen, taiyoukai, is you, sniffing around what belongs to me.”

‘Hold up.’ Kagome paused as the rush of adrenaline flushed through major arteries, filled small veins and swept through organs. ‘Hold up. Did he just say what I thought he said? Did he just refer to me as some inanimate object? Some damn possession?’ Fury exploded within the young miko mother.

Spectators to the showdown between the powerful unknown male and their Great Western Lord suddenly became aware of a third surge of raw power. A different element. One that whispered of purity and vengeance. It took only moments to see from where it came. The human female clutched rather scandalously beneath the shoulder of Sesshomaru-sama held a furious glare on her face. Her eyes were changing, swimming with the same unusual silver tendrils as the dark male she faced. Her raven hair began dancing about her form, mingling with the white hairs of the taiyoukai at her side. Her body positively glowed with barely restrained justice.

Just as quickly as the female became charged with glowing silver-blue light, Lord Sesshomaru looked down at her in surprise. He seemed reluctant, at first, to release the girl, but his arm slid from her shoulders anyway and the riled female stepped away, toward the dark inu. The male held his own look of wonder as he was clearly captivated by the one stepping closer to him.

Anubis was shocked at the drastic change in Kagome. Her level of holy power had reached a peak of that which he never dreamed possible. It was obvious that his seed had indeed been working swiftly to change her inner being. His pup needed the protection of its mother, and Kagome’s own power had blended with his to supply the pregnant female with the strength needed to ensure the survival of her unborn child. It was nothing short of amazing.

A beauty beyond compare.

His appraisal of his chosen female was brought to an abrupt halt when it became apparent the he was the target of this show of power.

Anger and embarrassment coursed through her body, mind, and spirit. ‘How dare he just waltz in here now and try to dictate who gets close to me! He left me!’ Kagome’s smooth full lips pulled up as a feminine snarl revealed flashing white elongated canine teeth. Her voice, as she spoke, held the echo of one with god-like power. Though not loud, it was crystal clear, holding the same exact volume and tone when heard by each separate individual present, no matter how close or far away. “How dare you. I am not some object to be owned. I am not yours to command. I am not yours to use. I am not yours to discard. I belong to no one. I am Kagome. Protector of the Shikon no Tama. Ward of Lord Sesshomaru, Taiyoukai of the West. Miko. Mother. Friend to any who wish it. Enemy to fools. The days of you manipulating my life are over, Anubis, and you would do well to remember that.”

Gasps flooded the silence as the crowd stood in awe at the angry female. The tiny voice of a shivering fox child was heard. “Boy. Kagome sure is scary when she’s angry.”

Anubis was shaken. His Kagome was rebelling against him with violent force. He could not discipline her for fear of harming his child. He could not soothe her fiery demeanor for fear of receiving her full wrath. He was at a loss on how to proceed. He never expected her to reject him. It never crossed his mind that she would turn on him in such a manner. Osiris had warned him to use caution with his female, but he failed to see the wisdom behind those words until it was too late.

Sesshomaru was highly amused by the little vixen staring down a powerful God as if she were his equal. She never failed to show her true colors when threatened or oppressed. The difference now, was her massive flow of jolting power. It was very obvious that she was now an even greater force with which to reckon.

He pulled his sights away from Kagome and threw his golden eyes on the one responsible for sending her into this rage. Lord Anubis seemed to be stunned beyond speech. It was a sight that he would cherish for many years to come. The haughty arrogance of the InuGod withered before his very eyes.

Sesshomaru grinned wickedly and stepped up beside of Kagome. “Lord Anubis, you are clearly upsetting Kagome. Such blazing emotion is certainly not in her best interest when considering her delicate condition.” He tried very hard not to snicker as he spoke of her delicacy, for at the moment, she looked anything but. “Kagome and your pup are well and safe within the sanctuary of my home. You have breached our agreement by returning before the birth. I must insist that you take your leave and let me see to the damage that you have caused her.” Ah, the glory of snubbing he who once thought to walk upon this Sesshomaru.

Anubis growled deep within his chest as he turned angry, hurt eyes on the taiyoukai. This male thought to covet his woman! He flexed his claws, tight muscles snapping knuckles in readiness for battle.

He was the stupidest most arrogant, pig-headed male alive! Even after all that she said, Anubis still thought to fight Sesshomaru over her! Did he not understand her? Did she not speak clearly enough for his pointy ears to hear? “Anubis,” she interjected, her voice low, filled with pain and anger, “I want you to go back to the Underworld. Go. You know that it could never be between you and I. You know that you can never have me, nor I you. I am asking you now. Asking you, Anubis, to let me go. Let me mourn you. Please, if you care about me the tiniest bit, just let me be.”

It was true. And the truth of it felt like a fist pounding through his chest. Whatever he felt for her, was never to be. His world was death, and she was life. They could never live together for their worlds were completely opposite. The Underworld was not for Kagome now. She was overflowing with the light of the living, and he was a master of darkness. The Opener of the Way. He was one with the world of death. They could never be together.

A new sadness twisted his heart, and Anubis wondered at the hard pain this acceptance ushered upon him. Kagome was the mother of his pup. She deserved to live her life full and happy. The future of his pup depended upon it. With a slow nod of acceptance, Anubis said, “Please forgive this Anubis for his faults, fair Kagome. Live your life. Love my pup. You will always be in my thoughts.”

His words stirred tears in Kagome’s swirling silver eyes, seeming to soothe the awesome spike of power and forcing it into a deep sleep once more. Silver turned to blue and the glow about her body paled to nothingness. Miko Kagome returned to her normal state of power as she watched the glimmering image of her dark InuGod dissolve away before her eyes.

Weakness washed over her in a flood. The tremendous strength she formerly felt drained away with frightening speed. Her legs became jelly and she swayed just a moment before falling. Strong arms caught her descent and carefully pulled her against an armored chest. Sesshomaru looked down at her with a spark of something mysterious in his golden eyes. It was a glimmer of something not there before, and it gave Kagome a sense of peace. The effort to keep her eyes open became too much and she gave in to the call of rejuvenating sleep.

A pair of narrowed emerald eyes watched the haughty taiyoukai sweep the pathetic girl up and away. Kiyori was livid with anger and injustice. Her mate’s life meant nothing to them all. His blood upon the arena floor did not even receive the proper homage to one who ruled the Southern Lands. It was sacrilege! Her mate had given his life in battle and not one youkai here acknowledged the fact because they were all too concerned with the high and mighty Sesshomaru and his little domestic drama.

How weak. A demon male who would claim a pregnant human female for his own. And right in front of his followers! It was a disgrace to the inu clan! She gathered her children close to her and ushered them through the bustling crowd of gossiping youkai. Everywhere she turned was some dramatic ninny talking about the awesome display of power between the two beautiful males. Not one youkai had anything to say about the battle, which took the life of her mate. Not one youkai gave his memory the respect that it deserved.

Kiyori led her children around the arena to the alley behind, where her wagon was located. Already her mates wrapped body was placed inside. Her sons were bravely holding back the tears and fear of what the future would hold for them. They were so much like her in that way. “Load up my sons,” Kiyori instructed. “We leave this wretched land to take your beloved father home for proper burial rites. Today we mourn, but the day for retribution will most definitely come. I swear it upon my life.”

Buhito shook his head in sad disappointment. He slipped back into the dark recesses of the building behind him. He had thought to administer his apologies and offer his assistance to the mate of his fallen enemy. Fuskae had fought bravely, and his treachery was resolved with the death blow. It was not the fault of his innocent family, but coming here he overheard the Lady Kiyori speaking of future revenge upon Sesshomaru and himself. It was a sad day indeed to make enemies of boys so young as these. The death of their father would be a harsh blow in their lives, but it was the natural way of things. Fuskae had betrayed his fellow lords, and had to pay the ultimate price. It was a sad thing indeed.

Buhito watched the wagon pull away, and several youkai leap from its path before being trampled beneath the hooves of the lead beast. With a heavy sigh he headed around the arena to find his own mate, Chika. He soon found her huddled together with several other hens, a lizard and a neko.

Chika was busy spreading her wealth of knowledge on the subject of the miko and mysterious male who faced off with Sesshomaru-sama. “Oh, my dear, yes, she is a powerful miko. Why, at first I was frightened for my very life, but I soon realized how silly I had been. Kagome; that’s the girls’ name, Kagome is one of the sweetest young women that I have ever met. And that male, which you all think is so all-fired handsome, is called Anubis. Kagome told me that he is the father of her unborn pup, and a God in a foreign land. He came here to find the perfect....”

The clearing of a male throat behind her alerted her to the presence of her mate. Chika became still and clamped her mouth shut. Buhito hated when she gossiped with the girls. He always chastised her for tending to other youkai’s business. She really meant no harm in it. She was just helping to clear up the mystery for those who were unaware.

Buhito scowled at his mate. “Chika, I believe that you are needed back at the castle.” Chika turned to him with a grin. “Oh my darling, Buhito. You fought so well and brave. I am so proud of you.” Her words fell on deaf ears, as Buhito was highly suspicious that her praise was given simply in the attempt to distract him. He lifted a brow in response and clucked. “You women can never get enough of telling your female tales. How is it that you all can stand one another, knowing that as soon as you walk away you are the one being gossiped about, is beyond me.”

The other ladies had the good grace to make their excuses and say their good-byes, leaving the Lord and Lady to their difference of opinion. Chika frowned at Buhito, “Now mate, you know very well that I would say nothing ill against that girl or the high lord, Sesshomaru.” Buhito placed his arm about her shoulder and guided her back toward the castle. “Yes mate, I know this very well, but sometimes your mouth proceeds your brain, and you do not realize what trouble you may brew unknowingly.” Chika huffed and remained silent. They had already had this particular discussion one hundred times before and it would do her no good to argue it again. Instead she closed her mouth and walked silently beside her mate back to the castle.

Sesshomaru walked through the halls and skimmed lightly up the stairs, despite the slight weight of Kagome in his arms. Her jasmine scent soothed his senses and calmed his beast. If only he did not have the accursed armor between them, he could feel her warmth as well. In seconds he was at the head of the stairs and facing a strange decision. Would he place her in her room and politely leave her to her own devices? The thought of leaving her now made his inner beast rumble, and without further thought Sesshomaru slipped into his own shoji door. He carefully lowered Kagome onto his futon, and sat down beside her.

She never moved during her transportation inside of the castle, but her breathing was smooth and strong. The exuberant amount of energy manufactured throughout the very cells of her body during her recent power spike had drained her of natural strength in the condition that she was in. Sesshomaru sat quietly beside of her, just watching, and thinking as she slept peacefully.

This young miko had proven to be much more than he ever imagined her. Thinking back to the day he met her, Sesshomaru found it unbelievable that he had been so ignorant to her potential during that time in her life. Even as she urged Inuyasha on, giving the boy courage and strength to face his formidable brother in battle, she had appeared no more than an annoyance with a bit of untapped holy power. Never would he have dreamed the extent of her power or bravery on that day in his father’s tomb.

Even as she stood against him time and again, fearlessly facing him, Taiyoukai of the West, with only her meager hamaya, he was blind to what she would someday be. The years had molded her courage and strength as well as her inner power, into something to be respected. Her human ancestry meant little now, as her body accepted the changes and became something different altogether.

Sesshomaru took the time to study her now, in the privacy of his bedchambers. Her skin, if possible, looked even smoother and silkier than any time he had looked upon her in the past. Was this due to the pup in her belly? Or was it that he simply never took the time to really notice before? She had always just been a pawn in his eternal game against his hanyou brother. A pawn that did not merit his attention. Now, however, things were different.

She was his to keep safe. His charge, and at first he wanted nothing to do with it. But now he had chosen to embrace his task completely. All his well-laid plans to be rid of her were useless now. His own plans to bring the InuGod back had worked all too well. What was it that made him rebel against his own plan? When was the moment that he made the decision to allow her to stay, even at the cost to his own well being? No answers were forthcoming, and he continued to peruse the why’s and how’s of it all.

There was just something about her that made him feel alive inside. Something that stirred his beast. No other woman had effected him in such a manner. No wench that was taken to his bed had brought about feelings of such magnitude. Protectiveness over one’s charge was inherit in his species, but this felt like more. Could it be that he was compelled to see to her because of the pregnancy? Was it possible that his beast feels the need to bring this powerful unborn child into its clan?

His mind was spinning with the possibilities, which only served to create more questions. Sesshomaru never was one to waste time and energy on mysteries that had no answer. For these questions were sure to remain questions for all time. The only one capable of seeing an end to them was himself, and he himself, was a creature of instinct. His instincts were his guide, and had always done him justice. At this time in his life his instincts were screaming at him to keep this young, infuriating, beautiful, and powerful human, by his side.

To what extent do his feelings go? He had no answers for that either. It was painfully obvious, as his manhood was clearly aching with need even now, that he found her attractive in the most erotic of ways. The lure of the unknown and forbidden. Had this been the lure that brought his terrible father to his knees at the feet of a human hime? A dark elegant brow rose at the thought. Kagome could not be compared to Izayoi, Inuyasha’s mother. While Izayoi was a princess, she was merely human. Kagome was beyond the human realm. She was beyond the youkai realm. Her power was holy, unusual, and strong, and now that the InuGod had taken her to bed, she was exploding with god-like energies.

The thought of that bastard touching her in such an intimate fashion made his blood boil in anger. It was ridiculous to feel such a way, as he never wanted anything to do with her until now. But still the knowledge did nothing to appease the flush of rage at the unbidden image of Kagome deep in the throws of passion beneath Anubis.

He looked away from her, regaining his composure. He wanted to erase her memory of the InuGod. Take away the thoughts that surely graced her mind on occasion. She said that she wished to mourn him, but even that was too good for him. Kagome should not waste her tears on such filthy scum.

Kagome rolled to her back, carelessly throwing her arm over the pillow over her head. Her bare legs had worked free from the crumpled dirty kimono. Sesshomaru decided to discard the unclean garment as well as his own. In minutes he had donned a fresh set of clothing and returned to her side. Carefully, as not to awaken her, he untied the obi and pulled her out of the layers of kimono. As her flesh became exposed to him he felt himself tighten, heavy with unspent passions. The strictest disciplines were his aid in controlling his animal hunger.

He threw the discarded clothing to a heap upon the floor. She lay before him with ebony hair spilling about his futon, wearing nothing more than a strange strap of cloth over her dark feminine curls. It matched the unusual contraption that covered her breasts from his sight. For a moment he merely stood staring down at the strangeness of the materials. The dark blue was covering, but scant, and fashioned almost like some foreign type of lace. Had this been a gift from Anubis? Never before had he seen such cloth in Japan. Though obviously meant to contain her personal parts, the flimsy material had the strangest effect on him. He found that his breathing had increased, and his heart was pounding fiercely. He wanted to touch the blue material to see if it was as soft as it appeared.

Lord Sesshomaru stood in his bedchambers perplexed over what was happening to him and his life. The moment this woman appeared at his doorstep his world had been turned upside down. Now here he stood, great Taiyoukai of the West, panting over the half naked body of the miko Kagome.

Laugh it up father.

Curiosity won out over pride this day, and Sesshomaru carefully laid himself down on the other side of the miko. Her body heat warmed him and he felt so at peace with himself and the world around him. It was amazing that her mere proximity could soothe his mind and spirit. He propped his head upon his right hand, and slowly moved his left to trace lightly over the blue lace. It was like nothing he had ever touched before. Lace, but not. It was softer than any lace he had ever seen. He looked up to her face when she made a soft noise beneath his light caress.

The bulge between his legs throbbed with need, but he would not stoop so low as to explore that path. He returned to his curious inspection, and slowly moved his hand to hover above the slight swell of her belly. The babe within was still very early in its development, but her flat stomach could not hide the growing pup from him. He pressed his palm over the swell, and again Kagome moaned softly before wiggling closer to his warmth. Sesshomaru felt oddly excited to know that she carried a new life inside her womb. He softly moved his large hand, caressing the curve, enjoying the knowledge that he would be the one to raise this tiny demi-god. He moved his right arm and laid his head on the pillow. His golden eyes took in everything, from the mingling of ebony and white hairs to the slow steady beat of her heart. He was so very comfortable that he done something that he never ever does in the daylight hours with guests roaming his grounds.

Sesshomaru fell asleep.

Rin and Shippo scurried up the spiraling steps in search of Kagome and Lord Sesshomaru. When Kagome passed out they became worried, and after finally breaking free of the curious crowd around them, they had hurried to the castle. As they entered the heavy rear door they noticed Lord and Lady Teriyaki right behind them. The four of them approached the head of the stairs almost simultaneously.

The fox and Rin made their way to Kagome’s door, but Buhito stopped in front of the master chambers. His mate looked at him questioningly and a mischievous smirk appeared on his handsome face. Suddenly, Rin and Shippo rejoined them in a bit of a panic.

In a whisper of a voice, Buhito pointed to Lord Sesshomaru’s chambers. “Do not fear children, for they are sleeping within.”

Shippo looked shocked and confused, as did Rin. She could not believe his words. “But Lord Sesshomaru would never sleep with so many guests roaming the grounds.” Shippo added, “And Kagome would never sleep anywhere near Sesshomaru!”

Buhito shook his head, and Chika placed a finger over her lips to hush the children. Buhito whispered, “You both are perhaps right in what you say, but this I tell you as the truth. Lord Sesshomaru and the miko Kagome are both within Sesshomaru’s chambers, and the sound of their bodies indicate deep sleep. I would not disturb them, and neither should you, least Sesshomaru have our heads.”

The group turned and walked in a much slower pace back down the steps. Chika could hardly contain herself, and once the children were out of ears reach she turned to Buhito. “What is it that you suppose those two are doing in there, Buhito? It is nothing short of scandalous for Sesshomaru to lay with that girl at this hour of the day. Does he mean to make her his mate?” Buhito rolled his eye. His Chika just loved a bit of domestic drama. It stirred her to life like nothing else. He turned to her. “Chika. Listen to me and listen well. What we know about that situation is better kept between us. Should it get out that the high lord is with a human woman sleeping the day away while guests move about his castle, well, all hell could break loose. Now promise me now that you will not say a word of this to anyone.”

Chika frowned. It was such a juicy bit of gossip, but her mate was most wise in this matter. She looked up at him and smiled. “You have my word. I would not wish to endanger that sweet girl for anything.” Buhito smiled back and kissed her long and deep. “You do me proud, Chika. Come now, let us retire to our futon. Chika giggled and hurried along beside of him.

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A/N: Next update we find Inuyasha and Kat getting closer. Sango is distraught over a spiritual resolution made by her lecherous husband, and Kagome wakes up half-naked in Sesshomaru’s bed! See you then!