Yellow Brick Road

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND COMPANY, NOR DO I OWN WIZARD OF OZ.

Thank you to whoever nominated this story on dokuga. I feel honored. I also want to encourage all to go to www . dokuga . com and vote for your favorite stories. It is open to everyone, just click on the voting tab.

Thank you to ktshabatie and Fallen_8Tenshi for beta-ing.

*****Warning: Gory chapter, death, etc.****


Chapter 27: And Your Little Dog Too

Inuyasha’s ears flattened to his head for a moment, and then his anger took over again. He had not been allowed near Kagome in over two months due to “pack laws and tradition.” Bullshit. He might not know tradition and understand very little about “pack laws,” but being pack meant you were protected. He had been denied his right to protect Kagome.

“Where the fuck were you?!” The silver-headed hanyou turned his anger on the only other living occupant of the room.

“I was in the garden with Iwao. We … he-“ her voice failed her completely when she heard the threatening growls emanate from the male. Immediately, she put the fear of what had almost happened to her in the past. It did not matter now. What mattered now was finding Kagome. “We must find Sesshoumaru-sama.”

“NO way in hell are we wasting time searching for that bastard. No, we are going after Kagome, NOW!”

“And how do we do that? There is no scent to follow, no visual trail. Her aura is too far away to sense. Unless you have a magical link to Kagome, we will go to the only being that has been bonded with her.” Michi did not wait for his response; instead, she turned on her heels and followed the tai-youkai’s scent.

Inuyasha cursed as he watched Michi leave. His claws sought relief in the very shoji that his brother had been contemplating destroying only an hour before. Feeling slightly better after destroying the screen that held an image of Sesshoumaru in true form, Inuyasha followed his niece to find his half-brother. Hell if this was not going to be just one big family reunion.

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Well, she did want to be able to get up. However, being dragged by an irate inu-youkai, her hair playing the part of a leash, was not exactly what she envisioned. Kagome had given a fleeting thought about crying out for help several times, yet again this plan would not be possible. The pace at which the two moved left Kagome wondering if she was getting enough oxygen or if it was the pain that was leaving her so disoriented. She did not know and she did not care, all Kagome knew right now was that she would be more than happy to lay down and have someone tell her she needed to relax.

The sharp pain in her scalp alerted her to the fact that her situation was changing. Desperately willing her eyes to focus, Kagome tried to recognize the new person in her midst.

Madoka sneered down her nose at the two females before her. The human looked incredibly fragile clutching her rotund abdomen, while the other inu-youkai looked nothing more than a glorified whore. Well in truth, the female dog was nothing more than a glorified whore, willing to bend-over for the male that promised her the most luxury.

“You have done your part, Miyu. Now, receive your reward.” Madoka smirked as simultaneously sunk her clawed fingers into Miyu’s wrist that held the miko’s hair like a tether. The poison released into the concubine’s body would ensure that she would be dead before the moon kissed the sky. After all she was a whore, and a whore did not deserve the honor of a quick and relatively painless death.

Screeching in pain and indignation, Miyu spat, “What have you done?”

“This Madoka is simply tying up loose ends. It serves no one to allow a power-hungry whore to live beyond her usefulness.”

Both inu-youkai’s eyes snapped to the small human as she chuckled to herself. Though neither youkai was positive; both believed that they heard the former miko rambling on about black pots and kettles.

Miyu was the first to recover and returned her hardened eyes to her murderer. “My death will not go unavenged.”

“No one will seek to avenge a female who could not prove herself better than a peasant girl.”

“This ‘peasant girl,’” Miyu pointed a clawed finger at Kagome with her good hand, “as you call her, is at least a miko. What was the one you lost to? What could Izayoi claim to be, besides being a better fuck?”

Madoka’s eyes began to bleed red, “She was a hime!” The growl within her voice spoke of the rage she was trying to control.

Miyu cared not for the other’s internal struggle, the bitch had killed her. “As if humans cold ever claim to have noble blood. You, Madoka-sama, were so weak that you allowed mere a human girl be marked as mate in your stead. Now, you over-look the fact that the human you taunt your son with is a powerful miko. I am dead before this night is through, but at least I go to my grave knowing that my murderer will feel the burn of purification.

“You will fail, withered bitch. You will fail because you are too blinded by your own self importance.”

Madoka could not listen to the sniveling bitch any longer. In one fluid motion, Madoka removed the head of the concubine from her body and stared down at the lifeless eyes and silent mouth. It occurred to the former breeder that this was precisely what the other wanted, a quick end to a painful death.

Pulling hard on the human’s hair, Madoka headed further into the wilderness. It would not do to allow her son to find them before she had reached her destination. No, that would leave too many unaccounted for variables.

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Inuyasha noticed his nearly naked half brother battling with one of the generals, Hisashi if he remembered correctly. Yes, this is exactly what Sesshoumaru should be doing. No, there is absolutely no reason why the asshole of all assholes should be guarding his female. She was doing nothing important, no.

Inuyasha was brought out of his musing as he heard Michi’s growl. He turned his ears and cocked his head towards her.

“It is a ploy,” the look of confusion on the hanyou’s face forced the female to continue explaining. “Hisashi has issued a formal challenge in order to distract Sesshoumaru-sama. Sesshoumaru-sama cannot leave without a decisive victory.”

Inuyasha growled before he stepped forward and pulled Tessaiga from his hip. The transformed fang’s aura crackled in the air as the hanyou strode forward to the dueling inu.

Sesshoumaru had smelt his half-brother approach, but he had been too busy trying to avoid the aged general’s surprisingly effective attacks. It was the charge in the air that alerted the stoic lord of his father’s fang making its presence known. The dueling pair came to a standstill as the hanyou stepped in the circle.

Inuyasha did not defer to his brother as he addressed the traitorous general. “It is my right as Regent to take my lord’s stead in this challenge.”

A silver eyebrow cocked on the elder of the two sons of Inu no Taisho, he was surprised that his younger, crude and crass, half brother had bothered to learn any of the edicts that pertained to his role within the West. It must have been Jaken that forced the hanyou to learn. There were reasons why he, Sesshoumaru, put up with the annoying toad.

Hisashi would not stand for the indignation of having a hanyou interfere. “You have no place here, hanyou. Go; swing your father’s fang at some defenseless trees. They would be worthy opponents for the likes of you.”

Inuyasha’s ears flattened at the insult, but he knew that it was his right to take his brother’s place here. “No. I am your Regent, I bare only to the alpha. You would be wise to give up now, Hisashi. Already your plot against the breeder has been exposed.”

Sesshoumaru’s head snapped to Inuyasha, his eyes no longer amber, but blood red. “Where is Kagome?!”

“Gone with no scent to track,” came a soft female voice. “More than likely, she is already in the claws of Madoka and Miyu is dead.”

Sesshoumaru turned his head further to observe his niece. Her appearance was disheveled and it was obvious that she had been attacked. He had yet to make a move as if the threat to Kagome’s life had frozen him.

Michi took another step towards her alpha, “I have no bond with Kagome-sama that allows me to track her aura.”

Within a blink of an eye, all gathered in the training grounds were knocked off their feet by the explosion of Sesshoumaru’s jaki as he transformed into true form. The red-eyed white mountain loomed over all as he focused somewhere to the east. Before his acidic drool could drip to the ground, the western tai-youkai took off in the same direction. Michi scrambled to her feet taking off after her uncle’s gigantic form.

Inuyasha shifted, planting the Tessaiga in the ground so that he could use it to pull himself up. He pulled the fang from the ground and stared at his opponent.

Hisashi roused himself quickly, shaking the words of the bitch from his head. He did not allow his mind to wander down the path of reasonable excuses as to why she appeared without his son and still unmarked. No, the plan would still move forward. He would kill the hanyou that had caused the disarray in the West for so long and then find his son. Together they would hunt down the Western Lord and kill him. Iwao would be lord, and he would be able to retire with Miyu to satisfy his every need.

Lunging toward the hanyou, Hisashi aimed to kill. Inuyasha recognized the look within the inu’s eyes and knew that he was in a match to the death. Faintly, his dog-ears picked up the other mumbling about some female not being dead. Then, as a giant lit light bulb appeared over the hanyou’s head, he knew exactly whom the general had made his challenge about.

Side stepping yet another lethal swipe of the sword, Inuyasha had enough of this self-righteous inu. For fuck’s sake, he was fighting over the honor of a whore! “She ain’t shit; nothing but a weak bitch, whose heat was weaker than that of a ningen.”

“You, filthy hanyou, will not talk about Miyu in such a manner!” Hisashi’s rage was beginning to dull his ability to fight.

“Miyu was a whore that thought to become Lady of the West simple because the fluffy bastard frequented her chambers more than the others. The dunce bitch never picked up on the fact that he stayed the hell away from her when she was in heat.” Inuyasha enjoyed watching the old inu’s face contort further in rage. He had never been the type of fighter to go for taunting his opponent much beyond an expletive way of telling him to die. However, fighting the loud mouth wolf had ventured him into the new territory of being creative with his insults.

Though loathed, he would have to admit, this type of baiting was much more influenced by his older brother than anyone else. True, Naraku had always enjoyed toying with his opponents’ emotions, his tongue being much sharper than his claws. However, it was Sesshoumaru that used his equally sharp tongue to compliment his sword.

The old dog was slowing, which was a good thing. Inuyasha didn’t even have a thousandth of the experience with swordplay that elder did. The other thing he was regretting was that none of the attacks his sword was so famous for could be employed without wiping out half of the bystanders. True, it would be their own fault for not fleeing when they felt the build of Tessiaga’s aura, but his pride would not allow him to use his powerful attacks on an opponent that his brother was defeating with only his claws.

“Miyu is mine and the West will no longer be polluted by the filth of human blood.” Hisashi attacked again, but this time he was blinded by his rage, leaving his legs unprotected. Inuyasha seized his chance at the mistake and severed the muscles in the back of Hisashi’s legs.

Hisashi was left bleeding on the ground with two lame legs, feeling the weight of the transformed fang of the great Inu no Taisho resting on his throat. Before the aged general left the mortal plane, he heard, “How does it feel, to know that one with dirty human blood killed you.” Then his head was no longer attached to his body.

Inuyasha stood over the gory mess of the former general, kicking the head at the surrounding witnesses. His voice was calm but meaningful, “Who else?”

Silence.

“Who else?!”

None moved. Only a few dared to breathe.

All composure lost, the hanyou seethed, “IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF HER HAPPINESS?! The one we owe everything to, the one that saved us all, the one who lost everything. WHO ELSE?!”

Slowly, the soldiers knelt down and bared to their Regent.

“She is the Breeder and she will be protected. She will be happy, for it’s her strength that ensured all of our happiness.” His final declaration brought pain, but for Kagome he would endure it. “Kagome will never be the weakness that the former Lady of the West was.”

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Okay really, did the old witch have to use her hair as a leash? It was not as if she was not in enough pain as it was, but to have your head feel like it was on fire too, really? Whoever said you couldn’t feel more than one pain had lied….big time.

Madoka was not pleased. The minute satisfaction that she had gained from slaying the whore had long since vanished. In fact, it was replaced with a feeling that seemed to be similar to regret. If she had not killed the whore, then the bitch could have served as a pack mule by carrying the human. She yanked the hair in her hand again, hard.

A sneer appeared on the witch’s face as she realized that it would take days, possibly more, to remove the human’s stench from her hand. However, if she let the hair go, the woman would stop moving altogether. As if birthing pups was that hard! The woman was so weak that she could not even maintain a decent pace. No, this wretched little wench was insisting on continuing to slow down.

There would be no helping it. If Madoka wanted to reach her destination before her son could threaten to catch up; she would have to carry the smelly thing. The growl did leave her throat then.

Kagome was seeing spots, her legs numb, and her scalp was on fire. She did not want to think about her stomach and back. Strangely, one story she had read about on strange cases in the medical field came to mind. It had been one where a woman had roots growing out of her … her womanly parts. The doctor examining her had found a potato lodged up in her, and when asked how the vegetable had come to its resting place, the woman responded that she had put it there because she thought her insides were falling out. Now Kagome had no desire to become intimate with vegetables, but she completely understood how someone could come to believe that their insides were falling out.

Another contraction racked her body as her feet stumbled for placement. Her entire body pitched forward and Kagome had a conflict in that moment as to whether she should continued to hold her stomach or throw her hands forward. Fortunately, or not, she never met the ground because of Madoka’s iron grip on her hair.

Kagome could feel the old witch dragging her, not giving her a chance to right herself. It is not to say that she would have been able to, the contractions were coming back to back now. The pressure was building, either the pups were coming or she really had to go to the little girls’ room.

“You will stand and walk, wench. This Madoka will not lower herself to carrying a foul scented human.”

Oh, oh, Kagome was excited. Her ears still worked, granted there was still this really loud ringing, but she had definitely heard someone … insult her? It was at this point, Kagome realized that her judgment was not the best. Hey, but neither was her thought process.

What was the girl smiling about? She was about to die along with her pup and there was no hope for salvation. If Madoka had ever doubted the simple mindedness of humans before, there was no room for doubt anymore. Suddenly, Madoka’s thoughts were stopped when she felt a burning pain in her hand.

Screeching, Madoka dropped the lock of hair that she had been using as a leash. Upon examining her hand, she discovered that the little wench had tried to purify her. Madoka closed her eyes trying to resist the urge to just melt the wench now. No, she needed her son to witness the death of his bitch and pup in order to weaken him enough that he could be defeated.

Kagome found herself on her hands and knees rocking back and forth. This was not good, something told her that she was about to have the pups right here. How in the hell was she supposed to be able to protect them from the insane bitch hovering over her?

Kagome realized in that moment that she would not be able to; there was no way to control her powers without causing harm to the pups. As she rolled to her back, a hoarse cry escaped her throat, “Sesshoumaru, where are you?”

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Michi followed the path of destruction left in the wake of one severely pissed tai-youkai. His speed was not to be matched by any, but she owed it to the breeder, to Kagome, to be there. If harm came to either Kagome or the pup, the blame would fall on her shoulders.

Michi had failed to save her brothers and sisters, she had failed her former alpha, and she had failed her pack. Yet through all this failure, Kagome had seen fit to welcome her whole-heartedly within a new pack. She had been offered purpose, she had been offered the right to protect and defend, and she had been offered much. But what had she done? She had allowed her breeder to weather the sharp tongues of others alone, she had refused to offer strength when the breeder needed it most, and she had allowed others to view Kagome as simply human. All of this she had done because a sweet talking male expressed an interest in her.

Michi would have hung her head in shame but now was not the time. Now was the time to prove to Kagome that she was, or could be, a pack mate. She needed to protect that which was hers. No, she did not claim to be dominant over Kagome; she desperately wanted to claim to be worthy to be within her presence.

A distant scream pulled Michi from her self-loathing. She pushed her body further than it had ever been.

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It was unimaginable. Why would anyone ever get pregnant a second time? Didn’t they remember this pain?

Kagome had long since drowned out anything and everything that did not have to deal with the intense pain. It was all she could do now. The pressure was pushing lower in her abdomen, too much pressure. It felt as if she was ripping apart. Idly, she wondered if she was actually ripping and if so who would stitch it back up.

Kagome was trying to push, but her legs and arms found no leverage. This would be over sooner if someone would just help her. A hysterical laugh escaped her as she realized that this was like everything else, just another reason to pluck bald Fate’s head.

The need to push came again and again she could not get her legs right. Frustrated, she screamed into the night and somehow the pain lessened, the pressure was not quit so badly anymore. Then reality set in as a voice filtered through her hazed mind.

“What sorcery is this?” Kagome desperately tried to focus her eyes and when they did, her blood ran cold.

There, just beyond her reach, was the wicked witch of the west holding her pup, her daughter.

No.

“How does a ningen wench birth a full-blooded youkai pup? It is impossible,” Madoka sneered, as she held the pup closer to her nose sniffing it.

Kagome’s daughter whined and trembled in her grandmother’s grasp. It looked as if the black patches of fur were moving on the pup’s body. She was still slick with fluids from the womb and dirt from the ground, her tail was tucked securely between her hind legs. It was this closer examination of her daughter that made Kagome realize that the moving dark patches were taint within the babe’s aura.

Kagome gasped at the epiphany and the growing pressure within her lower abdomen. Trying to focus through the growing pain, Kagome was frantic to remember what she had been told about the remaining taint. Nothing would come, every time she got close, the shrill voice of the harpy would cut through her thoughts. There was only one thing to do and she prayed to the Kami that her daughter would be safe.

Madoka had been holding the weak pup, trying to figure out how this had come about. Miko had been taken before and they, like all other ningen, produced hanyou, or more specifically half youkai. How had this little wench managed to carry a full inu-youkai pup within her? It was not possible. Well at least this occurred away from prying eyes so that none would know she could have produced full-blooded heirs.

Madoka knew by scent that which she held in her hands was no male, but female. It disgusted Madoka how the little pup trembled in her grasp, for a highborn bitch, this pup had no self-respect. Bitches were such a bother for they were only gateways to power. They could never hold any true power themselves. This Madoka knew all too well, because it was this fact that had forced her to bend over and submit to the great and terrible Inu no Taisho.

It was with a sneer upon her face that the old inu continued to examine her granddaughter, and then the hairs on the back of her neck raised in warning of the danger coming. Slowly, a pearly pink glow began to climb the unsevered umbilical cord as the mother’s reiki reached out for her pup. Madoka thought that the insane miko thought to purify her own child and she could not stop the maniacal laugh that left her.

It was too good. The bitch was going to kill her own pup and Sesshoumaru would know. He would know his breeder cared nothing for his offspring, sending him into a deep rage that would blind him to any attacks.

Madoka continued to laugh as the reiki reached the pup within her grasp; she would endure the minor burns to watch the pup’s agonizing death closely. The pup was not whining and crying out in agony.

While the reiki seemed to focus on the pup, it was also moving up her arms burning her further. Well, if the crazed miko was not going to kill her own, then Madoka would have to. The problem was that it was becoming increasingly more difficult to even hold the sniffling little bitch. She had to figure out how to stop the reiki.

Quicker than the eye could see, Madoka’s claws sliced through the umbilical cord thinking that if the connection was lost the reiki could no longer flow. She was wrong. The pup continued to glow, though now it was not such a pearly pink color but had more hues of purple within it. It was as if the pup was the source of reiki now.

Snarling, the harpy could no longer stand to hold the pup. She moved to throw the young one from her as far as possible and it was when she released the fur ball that she saw the flash of silver streak by.

Sesshoumaru had changed back into his humanoid form in order to provide more stealth; however, that advantage was lost when he saw his mother throw his pup. Kagome’s aura was still strong, but the pup would not survive the impact. His muscles tensed and he sprang to save his pack.

Catching the his pup, he had no time to take in her scent, no time to ponder why she was glowing with reiki, and no time to understand why it was not burning him in the slightest. The only thing he had time for was to block his mother’s attack on his female. Cradling his daughter in his left hand, he sprang to stand in front of Kagome.

Sesshoumaru was quickly tallying his options and they were looking more and more abysmal. His mother was the one he inherited his poison from; therefore, she was immune to his poison attacks. He still did not have Bakusaiga at his side, his left arm was useless, and he couldn’t leave Kagome open and vulnerable. While his acid whip would not burn her, it would still force her to stay back. He thought about giving the pup to Kagome to hold, but another scream from her told him that soon his other daughter would be here.

“There is one thing that this Madoka wishes to know before you die, dear son.”

“Hn.” He snapped his wrist at her feet causing her to jump back.

“How did you manage to get a full-blood youkai from a human mother?”

“There are some things that will remain secret, even to you mother,” he spat the words as his mind kept running over any possibilities to aid his victory.

“Ha. It matters not, for none will know of the precious bundle you hold so close to your tit like a bitch. There is no way for you to protect your pup and your bitch, especially considering that the wench on the ground is still acting like she is in labor. Is this what you align yourself with? A creature so weak her body does not even recognize when it is no longer in pain?”

Her son was doing a good job of always staying between her and the insane miko as well as only presenting her with his right side. Yet, none of that mattered because he could not risk high speeds while holding the pup and he was unarmed. The fool had run out into the woods in nothing more than a light robe.

“What were you doing while you were supposed to be guarding your bitch in her time of weakness? Your state of dress implies that you were finally indulging in the pleasure of another,” Madoka smiled wickedly as she continued. Her son was so easy to anger even though many believed him emotionless. “Tell me, oh great lord, whose company were you keeping since it was,” she sniffed the air, “obviously not female.

“It brings pride to my heart to know that you are so apt to be able to conceal such secret. Is that why you allow that toad to follow you?”

Kagome had been phasing in and out. The use of her power along with the labor had left her very drained, but she knew that if Sesshoumaru was there and that all would be well. It was the taunting tone of the wicked witch of the west that made Kagome focus more closely on what was being said. When the innuendo penetrated her comprehension, she had a strong urge to vomit.

“Ew!! How can you think of Jaken and anything sexual? I thought you were supposed to be smart.” Both inu stopped for a second, giving Sesshoumaru a chance to dart forward at his mother.

It did not work and he almost did not make it back to block her claws from Kagome in time. He felt as her poison merged into his bloodstream, it was not a pleasant feeling and he knew why. It was a poison that he did not have complete immunity to, the old bitch had held back in her training of his younger self.

“Hn.” This was not good, for it slowed him even further than he already was.

Michi took in the scene before her. Kagome lay behind Sesshoumaru panting and in pain, as if she was about to give birth. Sesshoumaru stood protectively in between her and Madoka and he was carefully shielding a bundle of fur from his mother in his left hand while his right shoulder bled. By the blinking of his eyes, Michi could tell that he was trying to fight of the effects of some sort of poison. Then there was Madoka, laughing and taunting as her hands were covered in blood. Grandma had left her back unprotected. Was she so sure that no other would come to defend the Breeder of the West? Apparently. Well it was time for revenge.

Pushing her sore muscles once again, Michi darted from her position behind Madoka. Her clawed hand ripped through skin, muscle, and bone until it reached its goal, the heart. Pulling the life organ from the old witch’s carcass, her left hand came to rest on her grandmother’s right shoulder. Madoka’s scream of agony turned into a gurgling sound as her lungs filled with blood.

Through the increasing darkness, one voice called out to Madoka’s slipping consciousness, “Goodbye, grandmother.”

With her final words said, Michi pushed the lifeless body to the ground. Never glancing back at the body that was face down in the mud made from the dirt and its own blood, the younger inu moved to her alpha. Stopping five feet from the imposing figure of the male, she kneeled down and bared her neck. She had taken his kill. The only thing she could do was offer the heart of the offender.

Sesshoumaru did not care, the threat was gone. “Cast it away, it is not a trophy worth keeping.”

“H-help,” a hoarse whisper came from behind the stoic inu, alerting him to the need of his Kagome.

Kneeling down beside her, he showed her their pup. “She is fine.”

Kagome was glad, really she was, but she could not handle anything beyond her pain. “HELP!” Her feet were futilely trying to find a perch, yet none was there causing them to slide along the dirt floor.

Michi had thrown the heart far from them and was currently looking at the motion of Kagome’s legs. Then she remembered from Ichiro’s birth, that Rin’s legs had to be held in order to help her push out her son. Moving so that she was positioned behind Kagome, she reached forward and drew both the human’s legs back towards the swollen stomach.

A growl emanating from the male told her that he did not appreciate her movements, but Michi sought to sooth him with a statement. “Sesshoumaru-sama, I believe that there is another pup coming. Kagome’s legs must be held to help her focus on where she pushes.”

Sesshoumaru tucked his daughter back into his body offering his warmth as he moved down to await his other pup’s birth. When he looked between her legs, he saw the head of his other daughter breeching the birth canal. His free hand reflexively moved to help guide the young pup into the land of the living.

Michi was quietly whispering words of encouragement in Kagome’s ear. It only took one more push before the pup was free of the womb completely. Sesshoumaru held his second daughter close to his body as he gingerly cut the umbilical cord.

His movements were slow and steady, both pups cradled to his chest. It was time for Kagome to see their daughters. Their first-born was laid on her chest as Sesshoumaru used his free arm to support Kagome’s head and shift her into his lap. Once she was situated, he moved the newest member of their pact into her embrace as well.

The tremors were racking Kagome’s body as the pain finally subsided. Absently, she noted the shakes were probably due to the fact that her adrenaline levels were dropping. A faint cramp was felt as Michi helped the afterbirth from her womb. Exhaustion, it was the only thing her body knew now. However, the nuzzling at her breasts did not go completely unnoticed.

Kagome focused on her daughters, trying to actually see them. “Why don’t they have any markings?” It was barely above a whisper.

A deep baritone that she had learned to associate with safety, washed over her. “Markings are earned. Their eyes will not open for at least a few more weeks.”

“Oh,” her eyes closed and she smiled. “Pretty silver puppies.” The pups’ color was true silver, not a dull grey or crisp white, but the ethereal glow of silver.

“Hn, they are bigger than I thought they would be.” Sesshoumaru noted that each one was slightly too large to fit within his hand, extending about a quarter of the way up his forearm.

Sapphire orbs shot open, her head jerked so that she was facing him. Her voice was tainted with a hint of panic, “Can you tell them apart?”

“They each have a unique scent.” The look of defeat on his Kagome’s face was not one that he enjoyed. Now was a time to enjoy. His Kagome was safe, their pups were born, both healthy. He had his pack within his arms. What could she find to be upset about?

“How will I know?”

The soft growl was a gentle reprimand. “You are their mother. You will know your own daughters.” He felt her weakly nod against him for he had brought his head down to nuzzle her cheek. “Hold them tight, it is time we return home.”

The tai-youkai stood and melted the afterbirth. He wanted none to have a taste for either his mate or his pups. Walking at a steady pace, Kagome cradled to his chest as she cradled their pups, he began the trek back to the Citadel. Names would come after the pups were fed and Kagome rested.

Forgotten by the new family, Michi followed. Her heart was light; Kagome and the pups were safe. Never would the young ones have to know the fear that was their grandmother; and finally her brothers and sisters had been avenged. A new day would dawn on the West and Michi would be free to enjoy it.

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Inuyasha had traced Michi’s scent back through the garden. He would ensure that Iwao was dead. Inuyasha’s ears flattened as he resigned himself to allow Kagome’s protection to fall solely in Sesshoumaru’s hands. His brother would not fail.

The scent of blood drew Inuyasha out of his depressing and worrisome thoughts. His pace quickened as he hunted down the source, or rather, sources.

Inuyasha found two bloody bodies; one dead and the other not. He recognized the dead body as Iwao; the other one was of a vaguely familiar low ranking soldier. It was obvious that the soldier had killed the general’s son, with his teeth no less, but recognition came as Inuyasha studied the inu’s face. He was one of the guards that went with Kagome to the forbidden island.

Kuro’s silver eyes fluttered open as he felt himself being rolled onto his back. The triangular ears gave away the identity of the one who found him. “Is Kagome-sama safe?” he rasped out.

Immediately, Kuro found himself being pinned to the ground by a growling hanyou. “What the fuck do you know of the threat to Kagome?”

“Much, too much,” was choked out by the weakening inu.

Inuyasha could smell the shame and guilt coming off the dying youkai. “Who was behind it?”

“Madoka.”

Inuyasha hated it. This filth had obviously been a part of the plot, meaning that he was rightfully Sesshoumaru’s kill. Releasing his hold on the traitor’s neck to drag him by his hair, the golden-eyed hanyou headed for the dungeons.

Casting a foreboding prophecy over his shoulder, Inuyasha spat, “I hope that you are ready for Hell.”

Kuro only closed his eyes and laughed humorlessly, “That is where I have been these past months.”

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AN: Yeah so, a few things this time. First, have I told you how much I love reviews? No? Okay, I love them. I like to hear what people have to say.

Second, the whole Kagome not taking down Madoka thing. I am sorry but I could not see how she would be able to while in labor. Besides, I thought that it was poetic justice for Michi to do it.

Third, you will learn Kuro’s fate in the next chapter, and also, the next chapter will have a lemon. I am wrapping this story up in two more chapters, it is up to you to ponder if I am mean enough to kill an enjoyable character so close to the end.

Thank you for reading.

Emmaren

I might extend this story some if I get the other story in my mind to leave me alone long enough to focus on this one.