Of Claws And Fangs
Episode 38
Haya trembled at Keishou's affection. "By your tree?"
Keikan awoke fully rested. Stretching he sniffed the morning air and froze. Something was wrong. Three scents were missing, Rin, Uncle and Chichioya's, and his mother's seemed sad.
"I see." Akisame looked at her mate. "I don't understand Sesshomaru. You love them both. Haven't you seen the way both of them have acted over the last few weeks? Rin is coming back to herself. I have never seen Inu Yasha so happy in all the years I've known him. Yet in mere moments you stole that from them. But worse than that, you broke your promise to Midori. The last thing she asked of you. To not be angry, that it would make both of them happy." No longer able to meet his eyes she turned to look at the tapestry on the wall. "I don't think I've ever been as disappointed with someone as I am with you right this moment."
Sesshomaru lowered his head. "As I told Inu Yasha...I deserve no forgiveness but I truly wish I could go back and change the way I reacted. I heard Midori's warning but...still I was angry. Maybe a part of me was still angry at him for keeping me from Akari...maybe it was just a father's natural reaction seeing his daughter in the arms of his brother, whatever it was...it was wrong of me."
"Akari." Akisame repeated just above a whisper. Whatever he said after that name she didn't hear. Memories of the two of them together, Akari and Sesshomaru flooded her mind. None were hers. Some were his, some were Inu Yasha's and one was a long dead prince's memory.
'Shit,' he thought, borrowing his brother's favorite term. He knew that talk of Akari upset Akisame and he still had to mention his first mate now. Sesshomaru started across the room. He needed to hold her, to let her see that even if Izanagi himself came down from heaven and offered to reverse time, he would not. He didn't want Akari by his side, he wanted Akisame. "Love..."
"Akari?" She said again louder, Akisame's fury rose from the banked embers of her anger of the previous night. "Maybe I made the wrong wish. Maybe I should have wished for your precious Akari to come back to you."
Small objects began lifting then dropping to the floor as her fury grew. "I will admit you are good. You convinced me for nineteen years I was the one you wanted. But, after all I am but a poor substitute for your first love aren't I? Do you still think of her when you catch my scent? I seem to recall you and Inu Yasha thinking it was very much alike." Her eyes narrowed as she held him from her with only her will. "Naturally, a woman chosen by Fate to save the world you are from is more precious, than the woman who gave up her own for you. But then Akari was never cursed by Naraku. She was never tainted by his touch. She would never have fallen for his lies as I did. WOULD SHE?"
Mika sat bolt upright in bed. "Uh-oh," she whispered. The girl darted out of the room, racing towards the study.
'Oh, shit,' his mind repeated. Then his own anger started to build. "You know me better than that...you know my soul like no one ever has. Do I wonder how the future may have been different if she hadn't died? Yes. Do I want her here now? No. She may have been my first mate and I bound to her by blood and instinct, but," he said, daring her wrath by moving closer, "I am bound to you by my soul."
"So, you do still think of her." Tears ran down her cheeks unchecked. At his movement towards her, she concentrated her will and shoved him from her. "What hold does she still have on you?" A sudden pain traveled along her back. Collapsing from the pain, Akisame wrapped her arms protectively around her abdomen. "No... please Kami no."
The shove surprised him, her next words froze him to the bone. He was at her side in an instant. "Love? What is it?" his voice choked with sudden fear.
The door to the room flew open as Mika charged into the study. "Hahaoya?"
Her anger disappeared with the pain gripping her. Meeting his eyes, "The baby. I didn't want to tell you until I was sure. Especially after the incident with Makoto." She winced, "Please I don't want to loose this baby."
"Baby?" Sesshomaru's eyes glazed over momentarily, then he wrapped his arms around his mate. "I don't want to loose either of you."
Mika padded over to her mother. She put a hand on her shoulder, "Please Hahaoya, don't be mad at Chichioya anymore. He thinks about her sometimes...but only like Uncle Inu Yasha will always sometimes think about Kagome."
Akisame raised a hand to pat the small one on her shoulder. "I know that Mika, Hahaoya was just hurt and angry. Why don't you go find Keikan and Keishou... Your Chichioya and I will need them to run a few errands for us ok?" Turning her eyes back to her mate, "I'm sorry. I know you don't feel that way." Another wave of pain crashed over her, she moaned.
Mika nodded and darted off again to find her brothers but there was someone else she needed to find first.
Sesshomaru stood, lifting Akisame in his arms. He started towards their rooms. "I'm even more sorry for upsetting all of you."
Sango met them as they passed the entrance hall. "Akisame?"
Akisame smiled weakly at her friend. The pain was too strong. Turning her head she snuggled into her mates chest. Silently praying that the Kami would let her keep this child.
"She's pregnant," Sesshomaru said in explanation as they continued on to the family wing.
Behind him he heard Keishou and knew Keikan would not be far behind. Sango nodded grimly and followed.
With a sigh, Keikan lifted the sleeping Shakaku. Heading towards the castle he smiled gently at her. As he entered the castle Mika ran up to him. "Shhh, you'll wake her." he said then noticing the girls face "What's wrong Mika?"
Haya had followed Keishou wondering what Akisame and Sesshomaru would want with them. Her first reaction at seeing the Taiyoukai easily carrying his mate was a smile. Then she saw the concern in his eyes and the pain in hers. Increasing her speed she ran to open the door to the couples room.
"It's Hahaoya, niisan," Mika whispered, falling into step beside him, "She's hurting."
Sango knelt beside Akisame as Sesshomaru sat her gently on the futon. "How far along are you?"
Keikan nodded. He wanted to run help his Hahaoya but he had to take care of Shakaku first. Soon enough they made it to the family wing. He knew he should put her in the guest wing, but instead he placed her in his own futon. Brushing a soft kiss across her forehead he pulled the blankets over her. Rising he walked softly out of the room, shutting the door behind him. Coming up beside his twin he asked, "What's wrong?"
Curling into a ball Akisame grimaced and choked out "Three months." She grasped Sesshomaru's hand when he would have pulled away. "From that morning, after the ceremony but before."
Haya turned to Keishou, "Go have the cook make some willow bark tea." At his questioning look she explained, "It might help with the pain."
Keishou nodded, then looked at Keikan. "We're hopefully going to have another sibling," he said. He hurried to the kitchen to prepare the tea.
Sango gently forced her friend straight so that she could feel her abdomen. Through clenched teeth she muttered, "Fate better not ever visit me...I'll kill her."
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