Across the Ages

Chapter Forty-Three

Ayeka shifted in her saddle, stiff from long hours of travel. Inuyasha had balked at the use of an oni horse but she silenced him with a look. It was clear that while they travelled with her, she was in charge. He'd shut his mouth and settled himself behind Kagome on the groaning beast.

They'd covered a great deal of ground and he was willing to admit that the oni horse was an asset. It would be weeks before they returned to the castle, if they returned. He didn't want to think about that. They had to win, his life was finally worth living after all.

For a week they travelled, on the move at dawn and stopping well after dark. Ayeka didn't even bother with a camp site. They slept in the rough, her command tent would be erected for the battle. She'd share it with her husband.

She had not missed the nighttime trysts between Kagome and her brother in law, or the monk and the slayer. She smiled to herself over young love, all the while missing the object of her own desires. Often she stared up into the night sky and imagined him looking back at her. Such fanciful thoughts.

Not so fanciful, for with the close of every day, Sesshoumaru stared skyward mentally gauging not only his progress but hers as well. Battles were no longer something that he looked foward to, it would be weeks before he could take her in their bed. Ah, but when the armies met up again, he'd take her. He was on edge from her absence and he'd be damned if he resorted to the use of his own hands.He told himself that well into the second week.

It took nearly three weeks to move the vast numbers they controlled, that was frustrating in itself. Ayeka was to the point that she just wanted to get there, kiss her lord, kill everything and go home. She glanced over her shoulder to see Kagome leaning against Inuyasha, the girl had been quiet for several days now. Inuyasha seemed to hover more too. Was she ill?

That night when she called a halt she approached the girl, "Kagome I am going to bathe in the hotsprings, join me" she said. Slowly, Kagome and Sango rose from the fire and followed her. Once they were settled in the steaming water, she looked over at the miko.

"What troubles you?" she asked, "You've been way too quiet lately. Are you sick?" Kagome blushed and then she seemed to come to a decision. She whispered her words so softly that Ayeka strained to hear her. Sango had gone pale. "What was that Kagome?" Ayeka asked.

Kagome sank lower in the water, "I'm pregnant" she whispered. Ayeka felt like someone slapped her. Kagome was obviously deeply troubled by this and so she schooled her features. "Are you sure?" Kagome nodded, "I am pretty normal and I was late, and then Inuyasha said he could smell it" she whimpered.

Ayeka looked at Sango who looked ready to speak and shook her head. "Kagome what about birth control?" she asked. Kagome shook her head, "I ran out, I wanted to go home and get some things but then we were planning and moving and there was no time. I'm sorry, it was an accident" she insisted.

Ayeka moved closer to her, "Shh, don't cry Kagome. It's no one's fault. Babies happen. Your timing isn't great, in case you haven't noticed we are going to fight a war" she teased. Kagome sobbed against her, "Inuyasha says Sesshoumaru will kill him for this, but I'll be fine".

Ayeka sighed, "Well he won't be happy. This puts you, the baby and the bloodline at risk. He'll be angry all right. He won't kill Inuyasha, but he may beat his ass to a painful pulp" she agreed. Kagome cried even louder, "Don't worry, I'll talk to him" she hurried to say.

Kagome turned shining eyes to her, "You will?" she asked. Ayeka nodded, "As soon as we arrive. Don't let him smell you until then". Kagome nodded. Ayeka stroked her hair, "Are we happy about the baby?" she asked. Kagome smiled beautifully, "Oh yes!" That settled it.

Ayeka knew that the girl didn't want to be a burden but sadly that was what she now was. Sesshoumaru would most likely demand she be taken back at once. Of course, that would risk her safety too. She assured her that everything would be fine and she hoped that she was right.

She left the two younger women a little while later, she had to see Inuyasha. Sango waited until her footsteps faded before she looked back at Kagome. "I wish you would have told me," she said. Kagome sighed, "I know, I'm sorry. I knew we couldn't hide it. What do you think that Sesshoumaru will say?".

Sango shook her head, "I don't know" she said then. Inuyoukai were fiercely protective of packmates. No doubt he considered her a part of his pack at this point. According to youkai law, he could take her from Inuyasha for putting her in danger. He could give her to a youkai he felt more suitable, he could kill Inuyasha, he could kill the child. She didn't think he was that cruel but she wasn't about to bet the farm.

Inuyasha looked up to see Ayeka striding towards him. Before he knew what she planned, she slapped his hard. "How could you?" she demanded. Inuyasha's cheek smarted and he lifted his hand to it, she had a pretty good swing. She then hugged him tightly, "Congratulations and good luck, you're going to need it" she warned.

He blinked at her, "What the hell is the matter with you?" he wanted to know, "You hit me then you hug me!" Ayeka took his hand and led him from the others. "How did this happen Inuyasha? How could you allow this to happen? We are going to fight a war!" she asked.

His ears flattened, "I know that. We'd been so careful too." he admitted, "Then she went into heat and I just couldn't stop myself, I took her and the next morning I knew". Ayeka blinked at him, "When? How long ago?". Inuyasha looked at the ground, "A week". Ayeka shook her head, "He's gonna be pissed" she told him, "You've broken youkai law".

Inuyasha flinched, that's right, he had. Sad that she, a human knew more about it than he did. "I know" he whispered. Ayeka laid a gentle hand on his arm, "What will you do?". He shook his head, "Nothin to do, I take care of her". She chewed her lip, "I mean about Sessh".

Inuyasha stiffened, "I'll tell him, he won't like it but it's done and I wouldn't change it for anything". Ayeka frowned, "You understand that she is at risk now, more that she ever was?" He nodded, oh yeah, if Naraku learned of it there would be hell to pay.

In the end, Ayeka agreed to tell her mate the news. They figured she stood a better chance than anyone of calming him. She was not as convinced. More than a week later they reached the edge of his large military camp. "Don't land until I get him inside" she called back to the two of them.

Sesshoumaru was terribly busy when they arrived. He noted her approach and barked out orders for a bath to be prepared in his tent for her. It was nearly nightfall and he knew she'd be tired. Ayeka landed and slid from her saddle, groaning at the stiffness of her muscles.

He nodded in greeting, still going about his business. "We have to talk" she told him. He didn't look at her when he spoke, "We shall...later". Ayeka gritted her teeth, her stomach in knots, "It will not wait" she insisted. Sesshoumaru noticed then that she was afraid. His instincts told him to soothe and calm her.

He motioned her toward the large tent they would share. Holding the flap aside for her, he allowed her to enter first. "What has happened?" he demanded. Ayeka looked pale and tense, "It's Kagome" she whispered. His eyes narrowed, "What has befallen the miko?" His wife took a deep breath, "Your brother has," she answered, "Kagome is pregnant".

Sesshoumaru was silent as the words penetrated his brain. The silence did not last, shattered by his feral roar. "He pupped her!?" Ayeka nodded, "She's about two weeks along as I figure it" she told him. His gaze locked on her, "You let them?" She folded her arms across her chest, "How was I to stop them?" she snapped, "In our time women can prevent conception. Kagome ran out. She went into her heat and Inuyasha said he couldn't stop himself"

Sesshouamru growled viciously, "Damn him to all the seven hells". Ayeka made no move to touch him. The stripes on his cheeks had grown ragged and his fangs peeked at her. "What will you do?" she asked him. Sesshoumaru laid his hand on Tokijin, "I shall slay him".

His words spurred her to action, and she pressed herself against his chest, "You can't!" she cried. Sesshoumaru forced the red from his eyes to look down at her. "Please," she whispered, "You cannot do that. She loves him, he loves her, they want this child".

He grunted, "He loves her? He has an odd way of showing it, putting her in danger as he has" he quipped. Ayeka tried a different approach, "What if it were me?". He stilled for a moment, "I would not be fool enough to pup you while on campaign. He has no discipline. His human half makes him weak"

Ayeka stepped away from him, hurt evident on her face. Sesshoumaru regretted the words now, if felt as though a wall of ice had sprung up between them. "Kagome needs him alive, I hope you will remember that" she told him stiffly.

"He must be punished Ayeka, youkai law is most specific regarding such things, you know that and you aren't even youkai" he told her. He reached towards her but she stepped backwards, his words had been like a slap in the face to her. Human half made him weak, humans were weak, she was human, she was weak, she was less than him.

When she met his gaze, all softness was gone. "I don't give a damn about youkai law," she snarled, "I care about a young woman who loves the father of her child and doesn't want to raise a baby on her own. You are so high and mighty with your perfect demon blood, all that blue in there and not a drop of good old fashioned HUMAN compassion!"

Sesshoumaru felt his youkai flare up again, unwilling to be talked down to by his bitch. He growled at her. She growled right back. "You will bring the hanyou to me at once, and you will NOT interfere" he ordered. Ayeka spun on her heel, that hadn't gone as well as she hoped. She'd let them down.

She found Inuyasha and Kagome in a tent that had been erected for them. kagome was pale and shaking and Inuyasha was soothing her as best he could. Ayeka lifted the flap and met his eyes. "He knows, he's pissed. He wants to see you" she told him. Inuyasha nodded, he had expected this.

Kagome clung to him as he tried to gently disengage himself. "What is going to do?" she asked. Ayeka shook her head, "I don't know" she said honestly. She looked back at Inuyasha, "Come on, lets get it done". She and Inuyasha made their way to the command tent and went inside.

Sesshoumaru was standing in the center of it, staring at maps. "So, you have planted a child within the miko" he said calmly, far too calmly. "I have. Yes" Inuyasha replied. Sesshoumaru slowly turned to face him, "You have broken youkai law" he said then, tossing a scroll to Inuyasha.

The hanyou caught it and read it quickly. "That outlines every acceptable form of punishment that you can recieve for such an act. You have put your pup and mate at risk Inuyasha" Sesshoumaru watched as his half brother rolled the scroll and tossed it back.

"So which will it be?" he asked, none of them were particularly pleasing after all. Sesshoumaru glowered at him, "That remains to be seen". Suddenly a blast of wind tore through the tent and they stared at Koga. Sesshoumaru had known he was coming. Word travelled fast through the ranks and those men who had been around Kagome could smell the child on her.

"Welcome Koga" the demon lord said. Koga grunted, "So dog shit I hear you've fucked up again" he said to Inuyasha. The hanyou growled loudly. Koga was unimpressed, "I never could understand what she sees in you, and now you've put her in danger. That's sad puppy, really sad".

"Why you faggy little motherfu-" Inuyasha began but was cut off by his brother's voice. "Enough! Both of you! Koga you are here to aid in the battle, not taunt the hanyou. Inuyasha you are here to fight not create litters!" Both young men appeared contrite. He wasn't buying it.

"Have you decided on his punishment?" Koga asked. Sesshoumaru shook his head. The wolf suddenly straightened, "I wish to challenge him for Kagome. Obviously, he is not capable of caring for her properly. Youkai law says I can fight him for her".

Sesshoumaru glared at him, "I am well aware of youkai law, having written a few of them myself" he snapped. He turned his eyes to his brother, "What he says is true. He can challenge you". Inuyasha folded his arms over his chest and 'keh'd'. "Whatever, he ain't nothing but a wimpy wolf anyway". Sesshoumaru nodded, "Very well then, the challenge will stand. Dawn you will meet and the fate of the woman will be decided. Koga who is your second?"

"Ginta" the wolf growled. Sesshoumaru nodded and looked at his brother, he assumed the monk would be his second. He, himself could have no part other than to judge. "Inuyasha, your second?" he asked. Before the hanyou could reply, his own wife spoke up, "That would be me" she announced.

Sesshouamaru wanted to kick them all out of the tent and beat his wife. Youkai law stated clearly that once seconds were named they could not be replaced. If Inuyasha fell to Koga, his wife would have to fight the wolf and if she lost, he'd not be able to save her. He glared at her, a silent warning to stay put.

"Fine. It's done. Get out of my sight" he snarled. Ayeka tried to slip out as well, "Not. You." She froze, he was understandably pissed. He'd expressely told her not to interfere and damn it all, she'd done just that. "You will bathe and ready yourself. If you leave this tent before I return, I shall have you whipped for insubordination" he growled at her.

She blinked that he would threaten her this way, but his eyes said clearly that he meant it. "Sessh, I" she began. His hand rose in the air between then, "Silence. You will learn your place Ayeka," he spat at her, "A bitch should act like one". Then he was gone in a whirl of white silk and silver hair.

Ayeka looked around the tent, what was it that her mother used to say? Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Well she'd gotten his attention for certain this time. What the hell was she supposed to do? She hoped that Inuyasha understood, that no matter how many times he'd fought Koga in the past this was going to be different. Honor and pride were at stake and so was Kagome's future.





























l