Strength

A thousand apologies to everyone, but some of you know I was writing for NaNoWriMo, and I did win. :) and I wrote a Inuyasha AU, called Survive. Fell free to read if you haven't.

I missed Strength and am happy to present the next chapter, thanks to all my wonderful reviewers and readers for their support.

Read, review and enjoy

Chapter 36 : Family

There was a flurry of confusion, as Sesshoumaru organized the guards to fix the damage the god had done, and the children were taken inside.

Finally when they were all seated in the family hall, further explanations commenced. Inuyasha rather crowded with all six children determined to sit with him or on him in some way, explained about the imaged he had seen in the baby's head. "So it seems that the baby God believes I had promised to protect it, and for some reason the universe arranged for me to give the God the last bit of energy to make him complete. I don't understand it myself and I cant remember promising t look after any God."

"If I may Inuyasha?" Suijin asked politely as she glided next to the Hanyou. Inuyasha nodded and Suijin reached out and placed a finger on the Baby God's forehead. Comfortable and safe, the Baby God now allowed the probing, and Suijin connected to the sub-conscious of the God seeing all that she needed to see. She nodded slowly, and smiled at Inuyasha.

"The promise was not made to the God, the promise was made to the Hanyou, to all on the island. Before you got trapped in the tree, hardly more than a baby yourself, you visited the mystic Isle, and helped the other Hanyou children there. You made a promise to protect them, but you worded the promise "I'll protect you, Hanyou or whatever I'll protect you." It was not just the children that took the promise to heart. You made the promise in the heart of the Isle, and everything on the Isle heard you, nature, spirits, everything. The Isle than disappeared but the children understood and believed. They hoped, they prayed and they believed in you Inuyasha. So when the Isle reappeared and you kept your promise, their gratitude was great. All that focused energy seeped into the Isle itself.

"When the energy reformed the universe decided that to balance the foul deeds of the four gods it was only appropriate that the new God be a Hanyou God that would carry on your promise, of protecting Hanyou. However the energy was incomplete, and it was decided that as the pivoting force in the creation of the new God, you would decided if the God would be complete or not. And because the God's role will require high connections and understanding of the world, he came in the form of a child. He will grow like all children and only claim his power in maturity. He has to learn how to be a good God, and you Inuyasha have been chosen to be his guide." Suijin smiled approving greatly. Her mother universe was wise indeed, Gods tended to get egoistical and aloof, by being raised in the world rather than born an adult, the Baby God will have a complete perspective of life. Especially being raised among peers who would be as powerful or even more powerful than the god.

Kouga shook his head in amusement, "Looks like Yusha was right, even the universe believes Inuyasha is the best 'Papa'." Somehow remembering how Inuyasha was in the past the wolf demon chuckled, the Hanyou had walked a long and painful road, and had emerged stronger, and different. They would save Inuyasha, for the sake of the pups, for the sake of his now best friend and for the sake of himself, that bloody Sesshoumaru had better save Inuyasha, or else. Kouga found his self glaring at the DaiYoukai who had been standing nearby his mate.

Sesshoumaru crooked an arrogant brow at the wolf's glare. He was a little amused as well, Inuyasha had been so alone. When he had most needed supporters he had been abandoned. Now it seemed when he did not really need it, defenders were coming up from the woodwork.

The Daiyoukai's eyes softened as his eyes fell on his family, Inuyasha was on the two seater, Yuusha of course sat on his left. Mee-chan and Shiori were both sitting on each of his laps, the Babe was cradled in Inuyasha's left hand, and Shippo and Kishi were both clinging to Inuyasha's shoulder. All the children were cuddling against the Hanyou, asserting their roles and their place in Inuyasha's affections. Sesshoumaru wondered were Inuyasha would place their new pups once they were born, somehow he was confident Inuyasha would find a place for all of them on his person.

The Daiyoukai examined his own emotions, like this when they were all with his mate, he felt nothing but contentment and a sense of rightness. His ridiculous jealousy of his oldest son, only seemed to rise when the pup was alone with his Papa, and when the pup challenged him - which was often enough. He probably did not feel jealous in this instance, because he was confident of his own place.

Sesshoumaru glided to Inuyasha and sat on the right sofa rest. Inuyasha almost unconsciously leaned towards Sesshoumaru's warmth, allowing his Alpha to feed him energy. Mee-chan happily scrambled into Sesshoumaru's arms and Kishi reached out and grasped his shoulder. The family was complete.

Everyone watching smiled at the sight, it was a pity Shiori could not see the sight they made, she would definitely have painted a picture.

From Inuyasha's arms the Babe looked at both Sesshoumaru and Yuusha with wide and fascinated eyes. The two were extraordinarily alike after all. And, while the big one was stronger, the little babe recognized that both would protect him. So he was fascinated by both the of the Demons.

"What is our new Babe's name, Papa?" Mee-chan ask suddenly.

Inuyasha looked nonplussed, he blinked, "Errr... I dunno, did the Babe have a name Shoiri?"

"No, Inuyasha, that is up to you. The Babe wants you to name him." Shiori smiled Inuyasha looked utterly confused and adorable.

"Umm.. I dunno, Sesshou, do you want to name the Babe? It took me months to decide on the Pup's names. I named all the others, maybe you should name this one." Inuyasha said with a relieved grin, only too happy to pass the buck.

Sesshoumaru looked considering at his beta mate. "Hmn, this Sesshoumaru will have to consider a good name for the Pup. I will decide in a while." he said as he reached out and tugged at a tight black ringlet of hair, the babe cooed in pleasure.

Servants knocked on the door, and Hana and Jaken quickly collected the trays of food from them and served tea and cakes to everyone.

That night, once the Babe was put to sleep in the nursery, Sesshoumaru made love to his mate, gently and completely. He would share Inuyasha in all ways except this one, he was gentle as he was demanding. Always taking everything the Hanyou had to give, and demanding more. In return he filled his mate with his essence, warmed both their souls and cradled the Hanyou in his powerful embrace.

Dawn, brought the return of agony, and Inuyasha's arched out a peaceful slumber, as his muscles twisted and spasmed. A bit of the healing had been undone, and the pain had doubled. Inuyasha's incisors pierced his lips, as he locked his jaws to stop the agonizing howls.

Sesshoumaru was awake immediately, and he forced Inuyasha's jaw open, shoving his fist into Inuyasha's mouth. The Hanyou bit down on the DaiYoukai's knuckles, he was so far gone, only later would he realize the tang on blood in his mouth was not his own, and the crack he heard was from his teeth breaking bones in his Alpha's hand.

Sesshoumaru was unflinching, he ensured his now mangled fist stopped Inuyasha from hurting himself, and wrapped Moko moko and himself around Inuyasha; giving what seemed to Sesshoumaru as poor comfort while his mate writhed and shuddered in pure agony.

Sesshoumaru cursed softly. He could not regret the new addition into the family, and yet, Inuyasha's pain ate at him.

Two months, two months more before their pups were born and he could save Inuyasha, two months more of his Hanyou waking to pain, to agony that only increased. He held Inuyasha tight, feeling as helpless as a Babe. He wished the day would come soon, he wished the day was far away. The day that would either be a new beginning or the end of everything.

His Inuyasha, whatever it took, Sesshoumaru would save his Inuyasha.

The sun crept up in the Eastern skies, as the pain slowly receded. Inuyasha lay wet with sweat ad blood in his brother's arms. The earth warmed, but even held in warmth, the Hanyou shivered in icy fear.

-tbc-

Hmmm.. please if you feel like it suggest names for the Babe God. And I have just realized that this tale is coming to an end soon, possibly in 2-3 chapters. Darn.. I like that and hate that at the same time. So anything extra you want to see before the end? Please review.