Tender Love

Disclaimer-I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha




Chapter 28

"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha screamed trying now with all the strength that was left in her to break Naraku's grip and get to her mate.

Naraku's look was black as he glared with murderous contempt at the demon lord. Then he gave a roar of cold, cruel laughter.

"You seek to take her from me do you, Sesshomaru? I would have let you taken your brats home with you but since my little pet here resigned their tiny souls to the sea. There is no need of you being here." He smiled.

Inuyasha covered her face and burst into tears. "I’m sorry Sess. I thought . . . I thought . . . " She could not finish as tears of sorrow and pain spilt from her eyes and she continued to weep.

"There is no need for tears my beloved," Sesshomaru said looking at her smiling. "Shippo and Keitano are all right. We came upon them and they are safely aboard my ship."

"They are," she looked up at him with large watery eyes. When Sesshomaru nodded his head yes, relief brightened her eyes.

"Well, since you've gotten what I intended to give back you can go now," Naraku said fondling her exposed breasts slowly as she squirmed and pushed against him. She tried to cover herself with the torn material but Naraku knocked her hand away. "You shall not have my little puppy. I have already tasted the sweetness of her beautiful tight body and I intend to enjoy her over and over again. She belongs to me now and I shall have to kill you if you try to take what is rightfully mine from me." Suddenly several tentacles burst from his back.

When Naraku told Sesshomaru he had taken her, Inuyasha began to struggle more frantically against him. "No, don't believe him, Sess!" she yelled pulling his hand to her mouth and sank her fangs into the hand that held her.

Naraku growled in anger and slapped her across the face. Inuyasha fell back against the stairs in a daze.

Seeing his beloved, fighting on the stairs against Naraku, and seeing him touch her breast, Sesshomaru's blood turned to ice. But when Naraku claimed he had taken Inuyasha, the world had turned red. Blood was pulsing in his ears and he could feel his claws and fangs become long. His demon side raged inside himself tryng to break free. It howled in outrage as the demon inside of him demanded the blood of the foul beast that dared to lay hand upon his mate. There would be no way out for the filthy hanyou except for his death, he swore to himself. No man had the right to touch his mate in such a way and live.

"Then come, you filthy half breed, and I will have an end to my long wish to cut your black heart out of your repulsive body and crush it in my hand." Sesshomaru snarled in an inhuman voice that was devoid of any kind of emotion.

Inuyasha gasped as she looked upon her mate, never has she seen him or any other demon look so dangerous. His claws and fangs were long and poison dripped from them. His amber colored eyes were red and filled with nothing but hate and death for the pirate. And when he spoke, it was not the deep soothing voice of her mate. It was the voice of some angry animal bent on death and destruction to its enemy. Inuyasha felt as though she barely knew the menacing figure standing before her.

Naraku wore a twisted grin on his face as he reached down and grabbed Inuyasha by the arm pulling her close to him. She snarled in rage and turned her head as he tried to kiss her lips but instead, his cold disgusting lips touched her cheek. Naraku smirked as he stared at the defiant glare in those beautiful eyes as he released Inuyasha from his grip, “Be patient my sweet, this won’t take but a minute,” and stepped off the stairs to stand facing the dog lord. "I see old friend you are ready to feel my tentacles rip through your flesh?"

Sesshomaru did not speak as he waited for Naraku to make the first move, but his cold blood red eyes held a promise of death that would have discouraged and even frightened any other man, who angered the dog demon lord. But Naraku did not notice his eyes or the rage that encompassed his face; the only thing that he could think of was to kill this demon he had hated for so long and then to take his mate up those stairs and to show her that he was her master.

Inuyasha sat on the stairs numb. One hand was holding the torn material protectively over her breasts while the other hand was clasped tightly over her mouth, so she could not scream and distract Sesshomaru. Naraku made the first move, sending out several tentacles. Sesshomaru dodged and severed the limbs with his claws. Naraku growled in outrage as the acid poison continued to melt the tentacles into short writhing stumps.

Suddenly the stumps began to regrow themselves as they once again began to attack the dog lord. Then more tentacles burst from Naraku's body only to be severed from the hanyou by Sesshomaru's poison claws. Sesshomaru became disgust from the smell of burning flesh as a fine green mist rose from the melting flesh of the severed tentacles that lay on the floor dissolving into nothing but a green puddle of goo. But it seems that no matter how many of Naraku’s vile tentacles he cut away it seems that more replaces them with the intent of destroying him. But Sesshomaru did not care. He would continue to cut away at Naraku's body until the end of time if it meant he would keep the filth away from his Yasha.

Naraku only sneered as he retracted his tentacles. Suddenly several large horrible looking bones tore through his clothes from his back. Grabbing one of the bones, he pulled it out of its sheath of flesh and it turned into a sword.

Inuyasha began to panic as she watched the two demons fight. She had to help but what could she do? She would be more of a hindrance. ‘No, I can help him to fight.’ Suddenly she saw Tetsusaiga lying over in the shadows near the wall. Hoping that Naraku would not notice her, she crept down the stairs and slowly made her way over to where the sword lay. She was almost within reach of the sword when a tentacle lashed out at her, slamming against the floor between her and the sword. Inuyasha looked up to see Naraku smirking at her.

“Now, now pet, let’s not do anything that would get you hurt.”

Inuyasha growled and reached for the sword. The tentacle struck her across the chest sending her crashing into the wall. She groaned as she clutched her aching chest and coughing up blood.

"Inuyasha!" yelled Sesshomaru. His eyes widened in horror as he saw his mate hit the wall and then crumple to the floor in terrible pain' Then he turned those murderous red eyes upon Naraku and growled like an angry beast.

Upon seeing that Sesshomaru had to use every bit of his self control to hold back his demon side from taking over and transforming into a wild, raging beast. No, he wanted to kill the wretched pirate with his own two hands. “Inuyasha, you will stay out of this. This fight is between me and Naraku. Now, remove yourself out of harms way.” Inuyasha white doggy ears drooped as she went back to her place on the stairs. All she could do now was watch and pray to every deity that she could think of to let her mate win this grudge match.

Naraku could see the rage in his opponent’s eyes and smirked at the enraged dog demon lord. “Let’s finish this Sesshomaru!” And he lunged toward the demon lord with sword ready to strike. Sesshomaru raised Tokijin blocking Naraku's attack. Naraku tried again and again but each time Sesshomaru blocked his attacks. Without so much as breaking his stride, Sesshomaru launched his own attack pushing Naraku back.

The fight raged on as red sparks flung from the swords to fall to the floor. Inuyasha eyes never left Sesshomaru's form for a second. The two demons were so engrossed in awaiting an opening to overtake the other that neither of them saw a small, dark figure steal through the door and huddle quietly in a dark corner.

The blows being struck were wearing on the two opponents but Sesshomaru seemed to be holding up better than Naraku. So far, he had only been struck on the arm, a small slice, between his elbow and his wrist. Blood stained his haori as Inuyasha clutched the banister, knowing her mate did not even feel the pain as he pushed ever harder against his enemy.

Naraku was breathing hard now as he tried to shield himself from the force of Sesshomaru's blows. The raging force of Sesshomaru's sword seemed to strike out harder than at the start of the fight and Naraku could only back his way about the room, trying to keep Sesshomaru's blade from making contact. Blood was streaming onto the carpet from a gash in his leg and a larger one on his shoulder.
Although his wounds were not healing as fast as they should, he still thought he could win. He would have to think about why his wounds were not healing later. Right now he had an enemy to slay and a demoness to break.

Suddenly there was a loud explosion that rocked the entire island. A huge plume of flames rose from the ground lighting up the night. The explosion sent everyone scurrying out of their homes to see what happened and try to put out the flames. But the raging inferno was ignored by the two hated enemies as their battle to the death continued.

Sesshomaru rained strokes down upon his opponent, not relenting in his attack, then with one huge burst of energy he drove with full force against Naraku. Naraku lost his footing and began to fall backward. Sesshomaru saw this as his chance to finally be rid of the hanyou and struck. He drove his sword into Naraku’s stomach helping the kumo to fall to the floor. Once Naraku was on the floor, Sesshomaru drugged the blade across his enemy’s stomach and angled upwards cutting through his rib cage. Naraku coughed up a large glob of blood that fell down the side of his mouth.

Sesshomaru stood panting over Naraku’s prone figure. Blood was seeping onto the floor from the ghastly wound as he lay there breathing his last breath of life. Then he turned from the dying hanyou and walked towards his mate.

Inuyasha ran to Sesshomaru and threw her arms about him, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Sess, Sess," she wept. "I had thought I would never see you again. It has all been so horrible."

"I know, my love, but you are safe now and no more harm shall ever befall you again." He held her tightly against him, taking her lips and drinking of their sweet honey taste. At last, he released her and she buried her tear stained face against his chest. He gently pulled her away and smiled down at her. "Did you think for one moment I would not come to get what is mine?"

Inuyasha held tightly to him, feeling safer than she had ever been in her life.

"We must hurry and leave before someone finds us here.” He took off his haori and placed it around Inuyasha’s shoulders. Sticking her arms into the sleeves, she quickly tied the obi around her waist. “I’m not sure that disturbance the others caused will last for long." He kissed her cheek.

“Oh, wait.” She ran over to the sword and picked it up. “Kaede told me Naraku had taken this sword from you some time ago.”

“Yes, the Tetsusaiga.” Then he glared down at the dying hanyou in disgust. “Hold on to this. I’m sure my father will be pleased to see that not only have I retrieved my lovely mate but his sword as well. Now, let’s go.”

They turned toward the door but Inuyasha from the corner of her eye, glimpsed a small figure kneeling beside Naraku. "Sess!" she gasped, grabbing hold of his arm.

Sesshomaru looked back to see a woman he did not recognize, talking insensibly to Naraku.

"Why did you not take me and the love I offered you?" she wailed. "Why did you want that bitch over me? I gave you my heart, body, love and soul. I gave you everything, Naraku! Why did you treat me as you did?"

Naraku lay still, barely breathing, looking at the scarecrow of a demon female leaning over him. "Get away from me, you hag," he whispered, barely getting the words out of his mouth as blood spilled over his chin to pool in the hollow of his throat and then overflowed to stain his black hair.

"It is not too late, beloved. Let me take care of you. I still love you, Naraku," she screeched, trying to take hold of his hand.

Naraku brought his head off the floor with an effort and spit a blob of blood in her face. "Begone, bitch. I can't stand the sight of you." Blood filled his mouth and trickled down the corner of his mouth. "You’re nothing but an ugly, scrawny witch that was only good at being a common whore." He collapsed to the floor breathing raspily. “You meant nothing to me. You were just a means to gain what I truly wanted.”

Inuyasha looked in horror at Sya's pathetic, bloodstained face. Maybe it was her kind heart. She didn’t know why but Inuyasha just couldn’t leave the ragged girl behind. "Sess, that's Sya. We cannot leave her here," she implored him.

Sesshomaru sighed having a bad feeling about the girl but he crossed the floor and spoke gruffly to Sya. "Come, Sya. You must come with us; there is nothing for you here." He reached down and took hold of her frail arm.

Sya tried to beat his hands away, her distressed mind not wanting to believe what Naraku had just said.

"You try my patience. Now I said come," he pulled her, resisting, to her feet and all but dragged her to the door.

As the group started out, unknown to them, Naraku was going to try one last attempt at destroying Sesshomaru. ‘I shall send you to hell where I shall be waiting for you.’ With his last bit of strength he sent one of his tentacles at the unsuspecting demon lord meaning to kill him, but Sesshomaru on reaching the door had made the mistake of releasing Sya over to Inuyasha’s care and the girl in one last attempt to reach her love, broke loose from Inuyasha’s hand and ran toward naraku-at the same time his tentacle tore through flesh as a scream split the air in the house.

Blood flung through the air as Naraku’s tentacle left a large, gaping hole in Sya's chest. Inuyasha ran to Sya as the girl slumped to the floor.

Sesshomaru rushed to where Naraku lay, thinking to put his miserable life to a sure ending, but only sightless crimson eyes stared up at the ceiling; his breathing had stopped at last. Sesshomaru sneered as he raised one hand and let the green acid drip from his claws onto Naraku. The acidic poison began to quickly eat away at the hanyou. Then he turned and walked over to his mate.

Inuyasha gently stroked the girl’s dirty black hair away from her face as tears fell from her eyes. She may not have liked Sya but she would not wish this fate to anyone.

"I'm sorry, Inu-yasha," Sya coughed up blood. "I loved him so and he promised me so much. I’m truly sorry for everything I have done to you."

Inuyasha tried to hush the girl but it was too late. Sya closed her eyes as her life came to an end.

"We must hurry, love," Sesshomaru said softly, helping Inuyasha to her feet. "Captain Shilin and the others are waiting for us outside and keeping watch. I'm sure someone will be coming here soon."

They stepped outside to see Captain Shilin standing over the bodies of the Thunder Brothers. Standing beside him was Koga, Miroku, Sango and her baby brother Kohaku. The demon slayer smiled as she looked at her friend holding tightly to her brother. “We had a little trouble but it was nothing we couldn’t handle.”

And standing beside them was Tsun-Chung. Inuyasha smiled.

"I told you I would find a way to help you escape," Tsun-Chung said smiling also.

"Thank you so much Tsun-Chung." She walked up to him and hugged him gently before releasing him.

"I think we should move this happy reunion to the ship," said dragon captain.

"You're right," said Sesshomaru. "Let's go."

Inuyasha was led to the boats that was waiting for them, hidden within the jungle along the beach. Guarding the boats, were the few crew members that came with them. Inuyasha felt a great sorrow for Sya’s death and wept for her, wishing that things could have been different between them if she wasn't so jealous of what Inuyasha had.

xxxxx

Once onboard the ship, Inuyasha was reunited with Shippo and Keitano. She held her boys tightly in her arms

"Mother. I thought I would never see you again," wailed Shippo as tears poured down his cheek.

"It's all right now. We’re together and nothing will ever tear us apart," she said smiling while tears fell from her eyes. Sesshomaru walked up to his mate and children picking the boys up into his arms, they all turned to watch the blazing fire engulf the island. The old shacks burned as though they were doused in oil.

Sesshomaru turned away from the inferno and smiled down at his mate. "You should go to my quarters and rest."

"I do feel tired now that you mentioned it," she said smiling. Before she left, she turned to Sango. "Sango."

The demon slayer turned to face the young demoness. "Yes, Inuyasha?"

"I’m so glad you found your brother."

"Thank you Inuyasha," said Sango smiling as she tightened her embrace around Kouhak's neck holding him close.

"And Miroku, what about the hole in your hand?"

The monk smiled as he held up his uncursed hand. "It disappeared the moment Naraku died." Inuyasha smiled as she was truly happy for her two friends. Now they could have children without worrying about the curse being passed down to their child.

"We could drop you and your family off in Japan Lord Sesshomaru and then we will head home to China," said Captain Shilin smiling.

"No, let's head to China first," said Sesshomaru. "I'm sure Tsun-Chung is anxious to get back to his wife."

"I am. Thank you Lord Sesshomaru," said the young man.

"Then it's settled. We head for China." He turned to the ship's captain. "Set a course for China."

"Aye, aye my lord," said the demon as he turned to his crew and began to bark out his orders. The crew scurried about doing their job with great accuracy.

"If you all will excuse us. Inuyasha and I are turning in for the night." Sessohamru said good night to everyone and then led Inuyasha below deck. They put Shippo and Keitano to bed first and then went to Sesshomaru's quarters.

Inuyasha sighed in relief as she stripped out of Sesshomaru's haori and then removed the torn tunic underneath and then the pants and boots were discarded as she slipped under the cover.

As Sesshomaru watched the naked form of his mate slip under the cover, his mind went back to what Naraku had said. He had taken his mate. Even now, it boiled his blood knowing that the filthy hanyou dared to place his hands on his beautiful mate. If he was not dead already and they had to leave the island quickly, Sesshomaru was sure he would have used Tenseiga to revive the bastard and then kill him over again. At least they didn’t have to worry about the filthy pirate bothering them ever again. But he could not shake the unsettling feeling that his enemy had defiled his mate. He knows that Naraku probably used the children against her but still he felt a little hurt.

Pushing the thought from his mind until morning, he decided that he would ask Inuyasha about what Naraku had claimed. As soon as Inuyasha’s head hit the pillow, she was sound asleep. He guessed the day’s events had truly drained her. Without another thought, he removed his clothes and slipped into bed spooning behind her. Draping one arm possessively across her waist, he pressed a kiss to her cheek and pulled her close to him as they fell into a peaceful slumber.