Strength

Had a good holiday, not much to say except thanks for the reviews – you are all really wonderful.

Read, review and enjoy..

Chapter 33 : Confrontations

Inuyasha looked solemnly at the pups standing before him, he had just broke the news to them that he was carrying, and he was a little bit nervous about their reactions.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Papa is the best Papa ever! Kishi not gonna be youngest any more! YES!" Kishi the first to respond hopped around enthusiastically. Shippo and Mee-chan were quick to follow the lead, crowded around Inuyasha excitedly, asking questions and wanting to touch the still flat belly.

Shiori stood to the side feeling both happy and nervous, she remembered the birth of the pups, and while she was not exactly sure of what exactly had happened she knew enough to know that it had been a dangerous time for the one she considered her Papa. A warm hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up in surprise to the meet the inscrutable eyes of the DaiYoukai who had suddenly appeared beside her.

Seeing the worry in the little girl's eyes, the usually icy gold eyes, softened; "This time will not be like the last little one, this time Inuyasha will receive nothing less than the best, so this Sesshoumaru commands that you do not worry."

The little girl blinked, the strong clawed hand of the deadliest demon in Japan – rested on her small shoulder. And that hand gave her comfort and a sense of safety that was incomparable. Her smile grew as she relaxed, she beamed at her Lord and nodded her head obediently. Her enthusiasm blossoming, she daringly hugged Sesshoumaru's leg hard, and ran off to clamber on Inuyasha with the other pups.

Then Sesshoumaru turned to the other pup who was not celebrating. Yuusha stood to the side, his small face gave nothing of his feelings away, as he stood staring blankly at the wall. Sesshoumaru was about to take the risk and say something directly to his oldest son, when the boy suddenly turned and walked out of the room, to the balcony. Almost as if sensing his son's departure, Inuyasha looked up just in time to see the back of his son, it took every bit of control Inuyasha had to stop himself from calling out. He had to give his other four children the attention they were desperate for before answering Yuusha's needs. But to not have his son join in the celebration, hurt, it hurt deep and it hurt bad.

The emotions flashed though him in seconds, and that was how long it took for him to lock down the emotions, put up his smiling mask, and focus on the pups happily clamoring for attention around him.

Sesshoumaru's breath hissed though his teeth. The look of naked pain in his mate's eyes- was unacceptable. Yuusha may ignore him and to an extant, Sesshoumaru had to accept it, but for Yuusha to hurt Inuyasha – because of petty jealousy – that was unacceptable. Sesshoumaru seeing his mate engage the pups again, silently made his way to the balcony. An almost righteous anger filled the DaiYoukai, he would show his pup that bad behavior and hurting Inuyasha was not going to be tolerated. If need be a good spanking from him, would show the pup that jealous behavior would not be rewarded by more of his mate's attention.

It was almost déjà vu.

Sesshoumaru fully expected to see Yuusha standing arrogantly waiting for his Papa to come to him; instead he found his first born sitting almost huddled up on the column that not too many months ago he had found his mate leaning on and whriting in agony. Sesshoumaru did not make a sound, but the pup's head jerked up as he sensed the DaiYoukai's presence.

The pup quickly to hide the evidence of his emotions by wiping his face and putting on an aggressive scowl. "Go away! this is all your fault - go away!"

'What is my fault? That your Papa is carrying? If that is a fault - than yes this Sesshoumaru takes full responsibility for that. I will not stand for your jealousy spoiling Inuyasha's joy." Sesshoumaru snapped - thinking that the strange mix of emotions he had just glimpsed was a result of the jealousy.

"Jealous? Why would I be jealous?" Yuusha asked abruptly, taken off track by the strange statement.

"Because you papa is going to have new puppies... of course." Sesshoumaru was suddenly a little unsure as Yuusha looked baffled.

"So? That just means I have new littles around - what is there to be jealous of?" The pup blinked truly not understanding what his other father was getting at.

"Than why did you leave? Inuyasha thinks you are not happy about the babies." Impatient by the strange tangent the conversation had taken, Sesshoumaru got back on track.

Yuusha, remembering what had brought him out to the balcony, paled. The pup was silent for a long time, he stared intently at a flower growing on the awnings. It seemed to Sesshoumaru as if the pup was trying to get all the secrets of the universe from the flower. But unfortunately the flower was no revealing any of its secrets that day.

Finally after a long silence Yuusha whispered "Is it gonna be like that again? Is Papa gonna hurt and hurt and almost die again? Is it gonna be like that?"

"Yuusha what do you mean by that?"

"I know! I know when I was borned - I hurt Papa, really, really bad. I KNOW Papa almost died because I was borned, I almost killed my Papa. Is Papa gonna die, now?" Each word came out in a sob, anger and tears mixing in the voice of the little pup. He was desperately afraid, he hated showing his other father this weakness, but he could not speak to his Papa about it, and the words just spilled out.

"Yuusha!" Sesshoumaru snapped, "You dishonor your Papa's choices and strength by saying you almost killed him. You know nothing! Inuyasha did not almost die because of you, he LIVED because you were born. You gave him the reason to fight, and live regardless of the odds against. How dare you be so arrogant to think you could kill Inuyasha? You never even came close, you cheapen his strength by such thoughts."

The words like a sharp dousing of ice cold water, jerked Yuusha's head up, as he stared almost unseeing at Sesshoumaru. The fear had not abated from the pup's golden eyes.

"This Sesshoumaru will not lie, yes the birthing will hurt your Papa, birthing hurts all bearers, that is unfortunate but natural. It is the duty of the Alpha to support at give strength at that time, and yes I failed to do so the first time, this time however will be different. Inuyasha will have all the support he needs and more. Inuyasha will not die, this Sesshoumaru will not allow his mate and the bearer of his pups to die, do you understand?" grim determination resonated in the DaiYoukai's voice and eyes. "He is MY mate. I will not allow Inuyasha to die and leave me!"

Strangely enough the last utterly selfish sentence of the DaiYoukai did more to reassure Yuusha than any of the earlier statements. His fear receding, anger at his other father surfaced.

"Its your fault, its your fault Papa hurt so much. You should have been there!" Yuusha stared icily at his other father, "I know, you are trying now, and Papa forgives you, ... but I don't! If Papa is happy and fine, than maybe.. maybe one day I can respect you, learn to like you.. a little -maybe... But.. but.. if Papa is not fine, if Papa d..d..ies, - if you break your promise to keep Papa safe - than I promise you, no matter what – no matter how long it takes - I will kill you!" Yuusha said with all the venom of one who had keenly felt betrayed one he should have loved and trusted.

Sesshoumaru stared a little surprised at his small son, the chilly exterior hid a passion that ran as deep as Inuyasha's – deeper maybe. The golden eyes were agate hard and challenging as there stared at him, but there was a grudging respect in their depths, his son's feelings towards him were mixed up and complex. It dawned on Sesshoumaru that while the pup may grow to trust, respect and even love his other father- to an extent, he seriously doubted the pup who ever 'like' him. The scars caused by his absence were felt too deeply by the young one, and in some ways they were too alike so there would always be a measure of challenge between them. It was much like his own relationship with his father towards the end, and Sesshoumaru may not like it but he could live with that.

He considered Yuusha's words seriously, and nodded. "Pup, this Sesshoumaru will not fail, to that if you need the reassurance, if the worst happens, I will surrender my fangs to you and your siblings; and you may have my life as forfeit – but only when you are strong enough to take it."

The two looked at each other, and nodded solemnly, they did not touch, they did not seek to bridge the five feet of space that separated them, but for now a pact was made, a new level of understanding reached.

"Yuusha?" Inuyasha called softly from the entry, the stress was evident in that one word. The pup's head swung sharply, his papa was worried- unacceptable! Sesshoumaru totally forgotten, Yuusha stopped a couple of inches from Inuyasha, a small clawed hand reached out and grasped Inuyasha's robes tightly, and Yuusha sank to one knee.

He raised his head, and gazed with adoring eyes at his Papa, "Congratulations Papa, and thank you, YuushaMaten is very happy, and I promise that I will be the best big brother ever."

Inuyasha relief was palatable, his smile lightened the heavy air, "Stand pup, being on your knees does not suit you.' Inuyasha reached out and Yuusha launched himself into his Papa's embrace. He held on tight, inhaled deeply, and scented himself on his Papa. Immediately everything seemed better, and Yuusha closed his eyes, and relaxed totally in his Papa's arms. Exhausted by the emotional upheaval and luxuriating in safety, the pup fell into an exhausted slumber.

Inuyasha held his sleeping son close, savouring the moment. Than he raised and enquiring brow in Sesshoumaru's direction. Sesshoumaru shrugged, reached out and stroked a velvet ear, "It is between us, we have reached an... understanding." Sesshoumaru said softly, unwilling to explain further. Inuyasha nodded, what ever had been discussed had not been easy for Sesshoumaru. He hid his grin as he saw Sesshoumaru twitch as the sleeping Yuusha nuzzled closer to his Papa.

Inuyasha reached out a hand and drew Sesshoumaru's forehead to his free shoulder, allowing the DaiYoukai to rest on it, as he petted the silky hair. The tension had been evident in the DaiYouaki and it slowly drained from him as the presence of his mate soothed him.

Inuyasha was amused by the relaxing DaiYoukai. Both the Inu Youkai's in his arms were his, and if he did not love them, he would probably have been more than a little irritated by their fighting over him. As it stood, he was cheeky enough to enjoy it. The everything inside Inuyasha froze, his eyes widened in shock.

Love? Did he just think of love and Sesshoumaru in the same sentence. An tiny growl of displeasure from the being in his thoughts had Inuyasha moving his hand once again, thoughts racing in his head.

He wanted his mate, his body was desperate for Sesshoumaru's touch, needed it with a growing intensity. He respected his brother – but love? Did he love Sesshoumaru? Or was it just that they were mates, and a pack? Was he feeling this because he was expected to? He was not sure, not really. He cared for Sesshoumaru deeply, but did he dare love him? Did he dare trust Sesshoumaru with his love? His heart was so shattered – could he truly love? Since he was a wee child, he had known that he would be alone, a Hanyou – outcast, hunted and unwanted. Did he dare move beyond those painful lessons of the past and risk what was left of his heart once again? Did he have a choice?

He did not know, he truly did not know.

All he did know for sure, was that this was his pack, this was where he belonged. Though he had once been almost welcoming it, the idea of dying was becoming less and less tantalizing. He could bear the pain ever day for a million years, if he had his pack with him, if he belonged. Inuyasha's will suddenly hardened – he belonged here – fuck death – he was not going to give up, he would fight, let death try to take him, he would protect his pups and he would fight.

Inuyasha breathed in the scent of his mate and his pup, the cool evening air wrapped around them. He was content.

(a/n : Was considering stopping here, then went what the heck, my readers are so wonderful so just a little more would be a good thanks for the support.)

The foundations of the palace literally shook, at the force of the blow that hit the external barrier. No offensive moves had been taken against the God, but barriers had been put up to delay the advance. The barriers may as well have been made of paper for all the impact that they had, the God moved though most of them as if they did not exist, the most powerful seemed to hold him for a few moments, but then they too gave to the sheer force of concentrated will the God brought to bear.

Suijin had tried to speak to the God, but He had not even acknowledged her presence, the Water Goddess did not want to battle the God outright so she had returned to stand with her Hanyou. She was also a little bit confused, she could not read or understand the God at all, his focused energy was intimidating, his aura clearly telling all to get away from him and stay off his path, but there was still no hint of evil that she could detect in his aura. It was so blank – she had never seen anything like it before. Even after seeing him, she had no idea what his intentions were – and since he was simply clearing his path and not attacking – to attack him first would be unacceptable.

The war council in the palace of the Shiro Inus had lasted for hours. Inuyasha had wanted to confront the God alone, outside in the country side; after all the God maybe just wanted to talk to him. That suggestion had been unanimously vetoed by everyone. Sesshoumaru knowing his brother made it clear that if Inuyasha was to suddenly 'disappear' - he and the pups would immediately follow after him. Inuyasha had ground his teeth in frustration, Yuusha could find him anywhere - and he grudging dropped the idea of confronting the God by himself.

The discussion continued, and they finally decided that they would confront the God in the palace itself. A path to the palace through the town would be cleared, and not would challenge him; if the God started attacking and destroying anything in the city that did not put up any resistance – than they had their reason to attack the God without fear of repercussion. It was almost a test, that all hoped the God would fail.

A barrier was placed around the palace in the hope that the God would stop and start discussion before seeking entry, and if the God went though the barrier, they would meet him in the huge courtyard. Since word of the God's immanent arrival had reached the pups, and they were all concerned and determined to not hide. To stop the pups from making ellobrate plots and possibly putting themselves in danger by interrupting at the wrong time, it was decided that the children would be part of the greeting group. That way they knew where the kids were at all times, they would stand with Sesshoumaru's mother and Suijin, and not move beyond the barrier Shiori put up around the pups and the two females. What the pups did not know was that the two women had every intention of teleport them to the Castle in the Sky if the situation turned hostile.

And at the moment to the grim group in the courtyard, with the God tearing at the barrier without a pause or a word - hostile was exactly what the situation seemed to be. As the barrier gave way, they waited for the confrontation.

-tbc-

*whistles... **ducks stuff thrown at me.

I did say a 'little more' ne? I keep telling you I'm evil. hehehe Anyway need to get your responses to the enfolding family scene. Will try not to keep you waiting for what happens next to long – maybe :P –