Strength

Okay finally the confrontation you have been waiting for. Thanks for all the reviews and stuff. I have been waiting for this chapter.

Read, review and ENJOY!

Chapter 34 : Enter the New God

They waited in the courtyard, tense, anticipating.

About 20 meters separated the group and the entry through which the God would enter. Sesshoumaru had positioned himself so that he would be the first being the god would see when he entered the courtyard, at the head of an inverted V. Inuyasha as Sesshoumaru's 2nd stood to his right about a foot behind him (Yes many had protested this – but you try talking to a stubborn Hanyou who had a proven RIGHT to stand there.) The most senior of the generals, one who had not been stupid enough to challenge the son of Inu Taisho stood to the left opposite Inuyasha. Slightly behind Inuyasha, between him and the children stood Kouga. The Ookami's main task was to ensure that if the God flanked them and went for the children he would use his speed to interfere with the attack and give the ladies time to teleport the children to safety. None there, not even Sesshoumaru doubted that Kouga would take a direct hit before he allowed the god to attack Inuyasha's pups, who were also unofficially his pupils.

To the sides flanking the entry, were the other generals and the Inu elite soldiers. No so many as to make an army, but enough to give any God a reason to think twice. They all had strict instructions, no one was to attack before Sesshoumaru. The tension was so thick, it was like a knife in the air.

Sesshoumaru released all barriers on his Youki and his demonic energy coated everyone in the courtyard, especially his mate, marking all of them (except Suijin – who easily repelled his Youki) as his. Inuyasha, Kouga and Yuusha were all uncomfortable under the heavy feel of powerful Youki around them – but they were aware of the shuddering of the barrier and recognized the need for it. Kouga especially had to swallow his pride to accept it, and in the planning stages Sesshoumaru had reluctantly given the Wolf Tribe special concessions in exchange for Kouga's involvement and acceptance of Sesshoumaru's action in the confrontation. Not that Kouga required urging to be there – but he was a wolf after all, and would not allow a good opportunity to get grudging concessions from the blasted DaiYoukai to pass.

By spreading out his Youki this way, Sesshoumaru was drawing attention to himself. His Youki actually masked the scent of all around him to an extent, from a spiritual perspective it was almost 'blinding'. The message was crystal clear to any adult Alpha, "Demon or God you will have to go through me before you can even approach MY pack."

The barrier would not hold much longer, Inuyasha inhaled deeply he seemed to centre himself. In spite of the tension Sesshoumaru could not help positioning his body so he could keep an eye on the entry and his mate simultaneously. Inuyasha was doing something different and Sesshoumaru had to see it. Under the layer of Sesshoumaru's Youki, Inuyasha's own Youki rose, not challenging Sesshoumaru, instead the Hanyou created an underlay that lent strength to Sesshoumaru's Youki without drawing attention to Inuyasha. His eyes opened and the golden light shone with pure determination, he drew Juisaiga in his right hand and with his left he drew Tessaiga, instead of the heavy sword it usually transformed into, the Fang of destruction transformed into a short, deadly curved off hand blade, it did not break barriers in this form, instead it was an almost impenetrable battle shield.

Sesshoumaru's eyebrow rose, only he truly understood. Totosai had not created this form, it was after all the Fang of destruction. This was the extent to which Inuyasha had mastered the blade, the blade had literally taken a new form to best serve Inuyasha's need, to defend and not simply destroy. Sesshoumaru could not help being a little bit impressed. Unfortunately he could only allow for half a second of distraction, than his full focus went to the entry, the hits the God was making was getting stronger and the barrier was about to be breached. They were as prepared as they would ever be.

The impact of the barrier shattering sent a wave of energy through the palace. The backlash should have knocked everyone down for a second – but they were all well prepared. Ryoku-Sensei who had been the principle creator of the barrier, immediately siphoned the backlash of the barriers destruction into her castle, ensuring that it had an extra boost of energy for when she and Suijin teleported the children to safety.

The great gates shuddered and finally burst open, the God stood there his flat colourless eyes taking in the scene before him. The contrast of obsidian and ivory was stark, if Sesshoumaru was a pillar of Ice, this God was a pillar of Marble. He did not reach for the huge Halbred on his back, nor did he make any attempt to ease the tension. His aura radiated the message 'get out of my way'.

Sesshoumaru growled in challenge, he increased the power of his Youki flow, without words demanding that the God make his intentions be know for entering the DaiYoukai's home. Such was the flow of concentrated energy from the DaiYoukai that even Suijin shuddered a little at the power around her.

But... the Marble God did not seem to notice, inspite of the power that should have blinded the God to all others in the courtyard, the God's eyes feel unwavering on Inuyasha. Stone cold determination seemed to emanate from the God and His eyes fixed, He began for the first time to run towards his target.

Sesshoumaru drew Bakunsaiga and stepped between the charging God and Inuyasha, the God seemed to look right through Sesshoumaru, fixing his attention solely on the Hanyou.

10 feet away He leapt, and as his feet left the ground, the God shimmered...

Sesshoumaru braced himself for the attack, that would mark the start of the battle. In the air, the shimmering God transformed, and Sesshoumaru for the first time in his long history, dropped his guard in shocked response.

A powerful force from behind propelled the now unguarded DaiYoukai out of the God's path, and the full bodied attack hit Inuyahsa straight in the chest.

The courtyard was stunned by the turn of events. A child's desperate wail began to fill the courtyard.

(a/n : Now If I was truly EVIL, I'd stop here ... but I can be good so there!)

The clattering of the Ivory and Obsidian crown of the God, as well as Inuyasha's fangs, as they fell to the ground, jarred the observers. The crown bounced and rolled to a stop infront of Sesshoumaru's feet.

Inuyasha had been tense when the God broke in, this was his Alpha's show and he would allow Sesshoumaru to take the lead. When the God's eyes had narrowed on him almost immediately, a strange wave of apprehension and guilt ran through him. He had no time to process it, the God had begun his charge, leapt and transformed. His instincts working faster than actual thought, recognizing the true source of danger, Inuyasha had shoved Sesshoumaru ingloriously aside, and had no time to brace himself for the impact.

Not that much bracing was needed.

He would have been better served with a pair of ear muffs.

"A Hanyou God?" Ryoku-Sensei whispered in a state of shock.

Smaller even then Shippo, Inuyahsa was trying and so far failing -to calm the exceeding loud wails of what seemed to be an infant, definitely less than two years old clinging desperately to his neck, and trying to get inside his top. The now tiny ribbon floating around the babe was the one thing that definitely confirmed the identity of the babe. The once flowing black hair was now a messy cascade of ringlets down the heaving back. On the top of his head in the middle of the messy hair, were a pair of white and black Inuyasha style Doggy ears, flopping about the way tiny puppy ears do.

"A Baby Hanyou God!" Suijin said slowly, wonder and disbelief in her voice.

No one moved, their eyes all trained on the flustered Inuyasha, who had finally managed to position the babe more comfortably in his arms and was stroking and rocking the wailing infant. After what seemed like an eternity of wailing (5 minutes actually) the babe calmed down and hiccupped miserably, his face still buried in Inuyasha's top.

It took many more minutes before the babe, raised his head to look at the Hanyou holding him so gently. Inuyahsa's eyes widened in surprise, the baby's eyes though filled with tears, were still rather blank and colourless, the soul of the being in his arms was incomplete.

The babe stared into Inuyasha's eyes, unblinking, solemn. The babe raised tiny fingers and touched Inuyasha's cheek. "'apa? Why 'apa bye bye? 'apa? My 'apa Yes?"

It was not the words, it was a flood of images that entered Inyasha's mind from the child. He had been born lost, alone, the Island which had birthed him, was silent and dark. So terribly dark. And the one that had promised to protect Him was not there, the baby had wailed in misery. Like a cloud green glowing fireflies had risen from the forest, floated around the babe to comfort it. But the babe only wanted the one who had promised to protect him. The babe's will was strong but his body was not, so the fireflies had gifted the babe with extra magic that had allowed the babe to temporarily grow into an adult.

He only knew one thing, find the one who had promised to protect him, the one with the fang of destruction. At the very beginning he could think almost like an adult, but the longer he stayed as an adult, the less effective the magic sustaining the growth became, and the less able he was to process the world around him. The world had been so big so strange, and he searched and searched but at first found nothing, then finally he had sensed his goal, he knew where it was and the babe in adult's clothing had made a bee-line for what he perceived was safety.

Strange people had tried to stop him, they made funny sounds at him, he just did not understand and he had been so scared, he had just wanted them to go away, and not block him from his goal. Going around never occurred to him, looking down to see what he stepped on was just beyond his processing, his goal in his head, eyes fixed on it; he had moved through a strange and frightening world to find the one who had promised to keep him safe.

He was born, but he was not complete, not all the energy that was required to make him complete had been available, and only the one who had promised to keep him safe had, what he so desperately needed to be whole. Without that infusion of energy the Baby God would literally vanish returning once again to nature and the original energy state – until other events caused a formation of a different god.

Blank colourless eyes stared into golden ones, the touch of tiny fingers on his cheek, asking beseeching.

There were many questions one could ask... why me,... when did I make such a promise,... what will you take from me,... what will I get in return from this? There were many questions one could ask, but not a one crossed the mind of the doggy eared Hanyou.

He leaned his head closer, their noses touching, Inuyasha said simply "Yes, your Papa!"

The Babe's eyes widened, energy swirled around the two, Inuyasha's eyes closed his body shuddered. He ensured that nothing touched the precious foetus inside him, and everything else he offered freely. The Babe only required a part, a small part, and that energy was given without reservation, and a small part – just a small part- of the healing became undone.

Everyone watched as Inuyasha and the babe glowed, they say Inuyasha transform first into his demon form, and then human and then back to Hanyou, for a moment they was all three forms superimposed upon Inuyasha, and then a rush of silver energy ran from the adult into the tiny babe.

A bright flash of light forced everyone to look away for a moment, and when they looked again the babe in Inuyasha's arms was whole.

The babe laughed for the first time since his birth. His eyes were now a dark rich purple, a colour identical to Inuyasha's when he used to turn human. On his cheeks were now two jaggered violet stripes, much like Inuyasha's when he had become a demon in the past. In the eyes, the babe's soul rich, full of life and pure beamed at the rest of the world.

Feeling much weaker than he had been a minute ago, Inuyasha ignored it, and smiled at the beaming babe. He was going to embarrass himself and sink to his knees when strong arms drew him to rest against a solid chest, the energy that had been used to blanket his scent, now flooded his being, bolstering him, supporting him, giving him the strength to stand.

"Inuyasha, you will not tell this Sesshoumaru, that you have accepted this brat of a god as our son?" The cool words from the Daiyoukai were a sharp contrast to the warmth and comfort of the embrace.

Inuyahsa smiled rather sheepishly, he leaned his head back, brushed his ears on Sesshoumaru's jaw, as he cuddled the babe that was looking with a little bit of wonder at Sesshoumaru, while holding tight to Inuyasha. "Alright I won't you but don't be surprised when you have to feed him at breakfast." Inuyasha said cheekily.

Sesshoumaru could not quite hold back his smile, he reached around to touch the Baby's cheek. The Babe grinned toothily in delight, and accepted the DaiYoukai's caress and the wave of Youki from the DaiYoukai gently welcoming him into the family.

"Yuu-Nii, Mee-chan, I thought the new babies were gonna come from Papa's tummy." Kishi said scratching his head and looking at the baby.

Mee-chan shook her head, "No they are coming in a few month. This babe is different"

Kouga shook his head in bewilderment, "Why a god would cross half the country, and to find Inuyasha and make him his father is what I would like to know?" Kouga asked the question that was in all the adults heads.

"That's obvi..obivior... pretty clear." Yuusha said in a slightly know it all voice that didn't quite work when he forgot the big words, "Papa is the best Papa in the world, so definitely any God with sense would want Papa as their Papa."

With the unassailable logic of a 7 year old, the little demon glided forward to meet his new brother.

_-tbc-

Hahahahaahhaaha –from what some of you thought - Gotcha - SOOOOO pllleaaasee what did you think! Dying here to know, please! Reaview!