UnBound Memories

A/N: nette, thanks. Just one final chapter in the modern era and we're done. saturns_shimmer, thanks. Just about over now.

I also will say that though I'm posting this to get the story out of my head and complete, I will probably go back and tweak this before I'm completely satisfied.

Chapter 35

The Oath

Miroku once again found himself playing the role of the beta, clinging to Sesshomaru, and finding his new inu nature absolutely bristling at the idea. After all Sesshomaru had been through over the past few days, Miroku wanted to guard him, wanted to protect him as he would have mate or not. It killed the former monk to walk at Sesshomaru’s side, arms wrapped around Sesshomaru’s left, so not to hinder the inu lord’s fighting ability. Herded into the great room like cattle, the entire clan watched as the lord and his mate entered, Sesshomaru now entirely clear of pregnancy scent thanks to the block that Yasashiku had provided. Miroku, on the other hand, now reeked of pregnancy not only from their earlier activities, but through an enhancing potion Takara had made.

“You have all betrayed me and my family,” Sesshomaru said, the icy anger permeating every corner of the large room. “You question my authority, when not one of you possesses even as much power as I hold in my own little finger. You requested my cousin,” At that, Katsuro moved from behind Miroku and Sesshomaru, a sign that his own loyalties had changed, done at the hope of Manami rescuing his daughter with the Tenseiga once the well would take her back to the hanyou girl’s death.

There was audible shock at Katsuro’s sudden turn-about, as well as Sesshomaru’s acceptance of him.

“Cousin Katsuro has agreed to join me, and upon realizing that as a loyal member of the clan, he was forced to test me in the way he had, I have forgiven him.” Then, Sesshomaru smiled in a way that even frightened Miroku. “While it is true that the collar worked on me because I have, in fact shared myself completely with my mate, you may tell by our scents that it is he who is pregnant. For further proof, I recommend you follow my family outside.”

Then, Miroku and Sesshomaru walked back into the hall, moving into a secluded room where InuYasha’s twins were waiting for them. To pacify Miroku, Takara was going to stand guard over Sesshomaru, not that the demon lord would admit his granddaughter was protecting him. Yasashiku waited for Sesshomaru to pass him the mokomoko, which would not transform for the less than half demon, but held, deeply imbedded in it, the daiyoukai’s scent. With that tucked into his obi that matched Sesshomaru’s, Yasashiku transformed into a nearly perfect image of his grandfather, even effectively creating a false mokomoko.

“Well,” the younger demi-god said in Sesshomaru’s voice, “are you ready grandpa?” Miroku couldn’t begin to describe how creepy and repulsive that name was coming from the lips that looked so like his mate’s. “Are you wearing the talisman that I gave you?”

“Hai.” Miroku knew that Yasashiku was going to release some of his power to incite fear, so all those loyal to Sesshomaru were given special talismans and amulets to protect them.

Together, with Yasashiku, Miroku left the room, more comfortably walking behind his mate’s doppelganger than he could have the genuine article. The now-disguised Yasashiku walked out onto the main grounds, doing his best to imitate Sesshomaru’s cold demeanor, succeeding as best he could, though the kind nature he’d inherited from Kagome belied the truth, with a hidden warmth in what should have been emotionless golden orbs.

Walking outside, Yasashiku carefully rubbed at Miroku’s arm, trying to show some affection that he would if he truly was Sesshomaru. Then, InuYasha’s eldest son stood in front of the entire clan, and with a loud, powerful growl, the false Sesshomaru shifted into an enormous demonic form, not quite equal to what the true daiyoukai had been fighting Naraku, but impressive enough in itself. The large demonic dog snarled at the various members of the clan, snapping at the air around the elders.

All the while, an aura of pure fear began to surround them all. Like a creature of its own, unseen to those without spiritual powers, it caressed and encircled all present, slowly being absorbed into those without the protection Yasashiku had provided. Miroku watched as the inus began clasping their chests, holding their heads in absolute terror. Enjoying the sight of the suffering clan, Miroku didn’t bother fighting a broad grin that spread easily across his face.

********

“This is not right,” Sesshomaru growled as he was forced to observe from his window. “I am the alpha of this family. I am the leader. I should be out there.”

“It’s because we all care so much about you, ojiisan, that we do this.” Takara patted Sesshomaru on the shoulder. “So you’re just going to have to get over it, old man. You’ve got a family that will defend you, even if it's from your own stubborn self.”

The two continued to watch, Sesshomaru noticing something wrong outside, as well as a growing concern coming from his granddaughter. “Takara?”

“Something is wrong. We are going to have to end this a bit prematurely. Something is interfering with Yasashiku’s transformation.

“I told that stubborn baka that it would be too much of a risk.”

“He’s impersonated you in the past. I don’t understand what the hell the problem is right now.”

“He is pregnant,” Sesshomaru stated.

“What?” Takara said, looking over at the senior inu in shock.

“He is with pup.”

“Damn it,” Takara said, looking out at her brother. “We’re going to have to get you out there and make the switch as quickly as possible. I don’t think we’re going to have a lot of time.” The shorter demi-goddess opened the door, silently requesting that Sesshomaru follow after her.

********

As the inu clan was practically frozen in their fear, Yasashiku looked for a place to return to his normal form. He saw Takara and Sesshomaru making their way to the nearby forest, realizing that his sister must have noticed something was wrong. Yasashiku tried to transform back in the forest where the two would find him. Shifting back into his normal form, Yasashiku tried to stifle the cry of pain as he felt the second of his contractions hit him, while he remained on his hands and knees.

“You are in labor,” a even-toned voice said from above.

“Labor?” his sister said. “How far along is he?”

“Eight months, two weeks,” Yasashiku muttered out.

“What the hell did you think you were doing coming here in that state? And what about the father? Where’s he?”
“He doesn’t know, just like none of you knew,” he said, feeling as his sister and also pregnant grandfather lifted him to his feet.

“Unfortunately for you,” Sesshomaru said, “I believe you still have several hours yet before I am a great grandfather again.”

“Then we need to hurry,” Takara said, looking over at Yasashiku, who despite his pain was trying his best to smile at her in reassurance.

“I should have watched my words more carefully when I said I could imitate you and give birth at the same time,” Yasashiku said to his grandfather, attempting to smile through his suffering.

********

Miroku watched as Sesshomaru emerged from the forest, realizing this was no longer Yasashiku. The former monk immediately went to his mate, looking at him curiously.

“My family is hours away from expanding,” the daiyoukai said, conveying the meaning across, making Miroku look beyond his mate for Yasashiku. He could see the twins in the distance, waiting for the crowd to clear, InuYasha’s son breathing just a bit heavily and looking incredibly uncomfortable.

With a signal from Sesshomaru, the wolves and rest of the family managed to get the rest of the clan back inside, all still in a state of blind terror. As the twins exited the forest and the friends and family of the demon lord and his mate re-entered the courtyard, there was noticeable shock on the faces of those present.
“Manami,” Takara said, still supporting her brother, “I believe we’re going to have to call this trip short.”

Almost immediately, Kagome and InuYasha ran to their would-be son, Kagome gently caressing his face. “Son?” she asked, that word sounding foreign from her mouth.

“You’re--” InuYasha said, unable to finish what he’d said as he looked at Yasashiku’s stomach.

“About to provide you wiht your first grandson,” the demi-god answered, “though I’d prefer not to do it here.”

“You need to return to your time,” Sesshomaru said, rather authoritatively.

“I have to agree with ojiisan,” Takara said. “We need to get you home otouto.”

“Yes, but not until they understand that they have to go through with this ceremony,” Yasashiku said, looking as though his contractions were easing up. Miroku could not help but look at him a bit stunned. “I can sense the doubt, Miroku.”

Miroku didn’t dare admit that part of his problem still stemmed from his visit to Kagome’s time. Instead, he added his most recent concern. “But, if we sign the oath, we curse our family to repeat our past and be a disgrace to the family.” The former monk looked up at his mate. “After meeting them, how can we be so selfish?”

“But we are cursed,” Manami said, her arms folded across her chest. “Everything will make itself right in the end, Papa.”

“But, you are a powerful demoness. How can you say you are cursed?”

“I am mated to a fox demon,” she said, smiling at Shippo, who had refused to leave her shoulder. “Takara mated a wolf.” Kouga smirked.

“Who she bit first,” InuYasha reminded, using what little leverage he had on the fact that Kouga would one day become his son-in-law.

Manami continued. “My sister has mated Sango and Hitomi’s grandson,” Miroku looked over his shoulder to the demonslayer and the Naraku look-alike, “a half panther demon. And we are all true mates. Destined by fate, probably by the so-called curse. My brother is also engaged to an inu hanyou, which does not make her a benefit to the clan’s standards.”

“And I would guess the father of my idiot, unmated brother’s child, if it‘s who I think it is,” Takara said, “is not inu either. Is he, Yasashiku?”

“No. And not full demon either.” Miroku watched as the demi-god held onto his back once again, his parents holding onto his sides.

“Do you understand, Papa?” Manami said, running her hand down along Miroku’s arm. “That oath doesn’t curse us, just destines us to find true mates. For whatever reason, they have an association with your past, but we would never ask for anything to change.”

“We are all happy in our lives,” Takara said as she continued to brace her brother as the contraction faded once again. “And so would he be, if he wasn’t such a stupid ass to his boyfriend.”

“I’m not an ass,” Yasashiku said.

“Are.”

“Am not.”

“Are.”

“Stop it,” InuYasha ordered, sounding fatherly. “Get him home, safe.”

“Hai, nii-san.” Manami hugged InuYasha, placing a kiss on his cheek.

********

Standing before the entire clan, all of whom were still recovering from the immense terror they felt toward Sesshomaru now, some still quaking, the daiyoukai and Miroku both stood, holding brushes dipped in ink. Knowing their descendents wouldn’t suffer by their actions, together they marked the scroll stating they would remember their roles as alpha and beta, knowing fully well they were doing so dishonestly.

No sooner had the ink made contact with the scroll, than a blinding light was emitted from the shikon jewel atop Tenseiga.

Sesshomaru immediately looked down, finding the jewel was gone. It was the reason his children, grandchildren and so forth were blessed, rather than cursed by this document. It was as though the jewel had been waiting to complete its purpose all along. With a kind smile, he looked down at Miroku.

Then, with an entirely different smile, he turned his attention to his clan.

********

From the well, Takara stood, chanting.

“Is she certain she has enough power for that?” Manami asked Yasashiku as she floated him down slowly into the well.

“She is only blocking their remembrance of us until she next sees them again. Though it will last hundreds of years for our family, it will last only a few… Aah!” Manami could see a damp patch on Yasashiku’s hakamas. His water had broken. He would not be as long as they thought.

“Takara, hurry up! His water broke! We need to get him home now.”

The demi-goddess hopped down onto Manami’s slowly falling cloud. “It’s done. The only one it didn’t work on was Kirara.” In a rare show of affection to her twin, Takara rubbed the top of his head. “But we already knew that.”
“We’re on our way home,” Manami reassured her nephew.

"Too bad we couldn't stay longer," Takara said, looking upwards at the well mouth. "We've heard the stories all our lives. I wanted to see ojiisan deal with the backstabbing bastards and bitches who forced Katsuro to collar him."

"As would I," Manami said, in an unusual show of bitterness, "but we need to get your brother back home."

“And as soon as we’re there, I’m tracking down that horse hanyou, dragging him to you if I have to,” Takara said, placing a kiss on her otouto’s sweaty forehead.