Chapter Twenty-Two: The Wolf Demon Tribe

For Sesshomaru, the night was long and sleepless. Kagome's words before bed repeated in his head constantly. When the sun raised over the hills and shined into the windows, he sighed and stood up. Before anyone else was going to wake, he needed to get some air. He left the hut and took a walk that led him into the Forest of Inuyasha. He found himself by the well, staring down into the darkness.

Again, Kagome's words echoed in his mind. He shook his head, trying to shake the thoughts out. The last few months had been a complicated story for Sesshomaru. He's helped rebuild a human village, hasn't gone back to his home, begun living with Kagome, and slept in the same bed as her. He's even guided a demon child in the development of his demonic power, while the woman that is technically his wife has guided his own child in using a bow and arrow. Every single day, she cooks and cleans for him, listens to anything he has to say, and has made him feel welcome in this small human village. And none of these issues even spoke to the trust he had in the monk and his brother or the care he knew he felt for those who had come to rely on and greatly respect him in the village. This was not the life that he envisioned for himself and the thought of being permanently attached to Kagome was becoming less awful every day. Rin loved her too, so leaving wasn't an easy decision, even if the mark was gone.

"What the hell am I doing?" Sesshomaru asked himself and sat down on the lip of the well.

"What are you doing out here?" A familiar friendly voice turned Sesshomaru's attention toward a few trees.

"Good morning Kikyo, Kaede." Sesshomaru nodded to them both.

"Good morning to ye' as well, Sesshomaru." Kaede stepped up to him. "You seem deep in thought. Is everything alright?"

"Yes." Sesshomaru nodded, but neither sister believed him and weren't going to let it go. "I'm concerned about Kagome and Rin."

"What's the matter?" Kikyo asked.

"The original plan was to remove the mark, but these months that have gone by lead me to believe that is no longer her goal, and as Rin stays here, the closer she becomes to the villagers, Shippo, and Kagome." Sesshomaru explained to them.

"I see. Do you feel like your life has suddenly been turned upside down? You're questioning your loyalties to humans? Is it the mark that has guided you here or is it your own will?" Kikyo continued Sesshomaru's thoughts out loud.

"Something like that." Sesshomaru nodded again.

"When was the last time you actually felt the pull of the mark?" Kikyo asked.

"It's been over a month. It was when that demon attacked and Kagome was with the children, unarmed." Sesshomaru explained, thinking back to a minor event that led him to protecting Kagome again. It wasn't a powerful demon, but Kagome was unable to do anything.

"Then your actions have been your own." Kikyo reassured him with a small smile. "Kagome becomes terrified when she uses the mark to push you to helping her. She hates it, so she's learning to avoid it through meditation and training. She has been trying desperately to figure out that blade you gave her as well. It's a difficult task… Poor girl is getting frustrated with it."

"Is that so?" Sesshomaru questioned. Kagome had been going to see Kikyo for some time now. She only explained it as important training, but always kept it vague and secretive, like she was ashamed of admitting it. If that was her goal, to learn not to use the mark, he appreciated the effort.

"Yes, so I strongly believe that you do not have to worry about whether your actions are your own or not." Kikyo explained.

"Lord Sesshomaru, do ye' even desire the mark to be removed now?" Kaede asked.

"Ye-…" Sesshomaru stopped himself and had to think. He took a deep breath, shook his head, and sighed. "I don't know."

"I believe that ye' are trying to hold onto a past you." Kaede stepped up closet to him, smiling with her hands behind her back. "Ye' have changed and opened up your heart to the world around you. Ye' have gained friends who would fight by your side, kill, and die to ensure your safety and the safety of those and what you care about. It is a strange change, I know, and the difference in perceptions of time between humans and demons is not helping the situation. I've heard that ye' constantly remind Kagome how much time has passed."

"I do." Sesshomaru said. "It's only been six months."

"Yes, it has. It's a mere moment for a demon like yourself, but a decent amount of time for a human." Kaede said and nodded as she spoke. "Even Kagome has stated that only six months is not a long time. In her time, people take years to feel about each other the way she feels about ye'."

"Kaede!" Kikyo scolded her younger sister.

"Oh, dear. It seems that I've said too much." Kaede sighed regrettably and shook her head in shame, but what's done is done. "Kagome cares deeply for ye', Sesshomaru. I'm sure ye' can see it, but I do not think it is unrequited. It's in your eyes each time ye' look at her. Ye' are struggling with what's in your heart, but only because you fear letting go of the old you. It may be the mark, it may not. It may be that ye' are becoming more like your Father, it may not. No matter what it is, you cannot deny that ye' care for the girl without denying a piece of who you both now are."

"Kaede is right. Have you ever thought about just… giving in?" Kikyo asked him.

"Giving in?" Sesshomaru questioned.

"Yes. Don't hold back." Kikyo told him with a smile. "When you have the urge to hold her, do it. When you think about kissing her, just do it. If there is something you want to say, let it out. Just give in to this new life of yours, this new love. I guarantee, with a woman like Kagome, you won't regret it. And besides, you're having a baby. You and Kagome are bringing a miracle into this world. Cherish it all. It's going to be beautiful."

After a moment of silent thought, Sesshomaru allowed a small smile onto his face. "Thank you."

Sesshomaru turned his head toward the village as he sensed someone approaching. He instantly recognized the scent. Inuyasha soon came into view, landing a few feet from the group. He looked suspiciously at them all, glancing between his girlfriend, brother, and the old woman.

"What's going on over here?" Inuyasha asked. "You all look like you're hiding something."

"Just a quick talk." Kikyo answered as she walked over to Inuyasha and kissed his cheek.

"Well, the wolves are getting restless. They wanna head out now." Inuyasha explained with lightly red cheeks, pointing back to the village.

"Let's not disappoint them." Sesshomaru stood up from the well and began walking back to the village.

Back at the village, Kagome was helping the wolves get ready. Sango and Miroku were helping as well, but made it clear that they had no intention of leaving the village unguarded, so would be staying behind with Kikyo to protect everyone. Besides, this technically was Sesshomaru's deal.

"You should stay behind too." Sesshomaru told Kagome. She was all ready to go, back to wearing the outfit she got from Sesshomaru's castle a few months back and had Aikizōha on her back, so the idea of being left behind wasn't exactly in her mind.

"Wait, what?" Kagome blinked in surprise. "No, I want to go with you."

"It is safer for you and the baby to not go into battle." Sesshomaru said, stating the obvious.

"I know that, but I wan-… I mean, I…" Kagome couldn't figure out the words to say. She knew that she didn't want to be left behind, but she was pregnant and not going was the smarter option, but what if Sesshomaru got hurt? She could be there to help, right? Kagome lowered her head in defeat. She always had a hard time arguing with him. In previous months, before Sesshomaru joined, she'd just yell at Inuyasha to get her way, but that behavior didn't work with Sesshomaru. She didn't know what did work with him. It was his way or the nothing at all.

"She's gotta come, doesn't she?" Inuyasha asked suddenly. "What happens if she ends up in danger here. Ain't the mark just gonna automatically force you back? She may be farther from battle if she stays, but she's always in danger if you're not there to protect her."

"From what I can tell, it enhances my abilities, but it is not a teleport." Sesshomaru explained. After some observation, the group figured out that the mark strengthens Sesshomaru. The extra power he has recently developed comes from their bond. This means that while Sesshomaru is protecting Kagome, the mark enhances his demonic power, strength, speed, durability, endurance, and regeneration. Since Sesshomaru is already very powerful, these enhancements are making Sesshomaru undefeatable.

"You're right." Sesshomaru gave in and looked to Kagome. "But you will listen to me on the battlefield. I don't want you hurt."

"I promise!" Kagome smiled and said excitedly.

"Good." Sesshomaru nodded and turned to Rin and Shippo. "You two behave while we're gone. If anyone tells me you haven't, demon training."

"We'll be good!" Rin and Shippo said in fearful unison. Neither of them knew what "demon training" looked like, but it was a threat that Inuyasha, Kikyo, and Kaede all backed up with exaggerated reactions. It was a good way to encourage good behavior.

Once farewells were given, Sesshomaru, Kagome, Koga, and the rest of the wolf demon tribe began making their way back to their mountain range. They weren't in a hurry, but made good time. During their travel, they discussed strategies for the upcoming battle. Sesshomaru, Inuyasha, and Koga would each lead a separate team in an attempt to surround the bat demons that took over their lair. Kagome would stay with Sesshomaru, of course, but was meant to stay back with two of Koga's men guarding her during the battle. She was there to support, not to fight. While Kagome didn't want to sit on the sidelines, she understood that it was better for her unborn child and Sesshomaru.

When they arrived at their rally point, it was late in the evening and not a good time to attack bat demons. Instead of getting too close, the group stayed about a mile away from the mountain range and within the shadows of the forest. The decision was to attack in the morning after everyone was rested, fed, and ready to go. Kagome was the one to make sure everyone got food in their stomachs. Everything quieted down once dinner was done. The wolf demons huddled together in their own area, snoring up a storm that could wake the bat demons if they weren't careful. Kagome found herself unable to sleep near them and set up against a tree in a clearing about fifty feet away. She couldn't hear them from here. As expected of him now, Sesshomaru followed Kagome and sat down against a tree across from her to sleep himself. As she fell asleep, like the night before, he could not.

When the morning came, Sesshomaru was still awake. The wolf demon tribe was ready to go and took no time to push everyone into battle. As each group took their position, moving to surround the cave that once belonged to Koga and his men, Kagome noticed Sesshomaru was acting odd. He was having trouble focusing on anything and it worried her.

"Sesshomaru." Kagome whispered and he looked back to her. "Are you okay? You seem distracted."

"I'm fine." Sesshomaru assured her.

"Yeah… right." Kagome retorted. She didn't believe him and gave him an annoyed glare to show it. "Just be careful. I know if something is bothering you, you're not going to talk about it now, but don't let it break your focus. The last thing I want is the father of my child getting hurt over something silly."

"I am fine, Kagome." Sesshomaru looked her in the eyes and spoke firmly.

"Okay." Kagome backed off from Sesshomaru's side and made her way to the back of the group. She was worried about him, but he shared the stubbornness trait with Inuyasha.

They reached their destination and Kagome was instructed to stick back, hide, and watch. If there were injured, she would help bring them to safety with the aid of two female wolf demons that weren't fighters either. Sesshomaru moved forward with the rest of the group, taking their position high above the cave opening. Koga's group was meant to charge in and challenge the bat demons, getting them to emerge from their caves while Inuyasha acted as immediate backup to Koga. Sesshomaru was above them in order to prevent the bat demons from rising too far into the sky.

Once the ruckus began, everyone was on the move. Bat demons scattered and the wolves went on the attack, following the plan to the best of their ability. Once the bats began taking many of them up, Sesshomaru's group did their jobs and took out anyone who grabbed their soldiers. With more loss on the side of the bats than within Koga's men, the battle was looking good. Their plan went off without any problem. Kagome grabbed a couple of wolf demons that had been hurt, but they were all minor injuries and could easily return to combat once taken care of.

Hours went by and many of the demons were getting tired, bat and wolf alike. However, there was one demon that was showing his exhaustion more than anyone else. Sesshomaru, who barely slept the last couple of nights, was having problems keeping up with everyone. Though he showed it very little, his reaction times and strength were wavering. He was sweating profusely and struggling to keep moving as he took out more of the wretched bat demons. There was no end to them. They multiplied more than you'd expected a rabbit to reproduce.

As the battle began leaning further and further in the wolves' favor, the bat leader became worried and decided to enter the battlefield on his own. Unlike the rest of his men, he did not take the exit expected of him. Instead, the bat demon king rose out of the mountain in his true form, destroying the peak and sending boulders flying every direction as he emerged with an explosive roar.

The Bat Demon King was fifty feet tall, had wings longer than his body, and had a bone crown sitting atop his head. He opened his large fanged mouth and fired out a beam of dark purple energy. The beam went over the entire mountain range, not really aiming at person in particular, but anything that the Bat King deemed as a threat or unworthy of life. The beam took out multiple of Koga's men, but Koga, Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru all escaped harm. Unfortunately for the tribe of bat demons, their King did not care whether they were in the line of fire. He slaughtered his own men, his family, in an attempt to protect the territory that he had taken.

"Do you really believe I would let you take this mountain back from me?" The King spoke in a raspy voice, deep and intimidating.

"This mountain belongs to me and my clan." Koga shouted back angrily. "And we're taking our home back!"

"I'd like to see you try it." The King laughed at fired out another beam that ran through his own men and a few more of Koga's. "Fire at them, my children! Do not give them time to run. Slaughter them where they stand and no one will challenge us again!"

The rest of the living bat demons all took their cue from their King and began firing short beams of purple, black, and green lights down over the battlefield, covering the mountain range in a rain of demonic power. Rocks crumbled, wolves were downed, and the three leaders were pinned, hiding from the unrelenting force of the bat demons. It was easy to see why Koga had so much trouble with them before.

"I didn't see this power before. They didn't use it in their initial assault." Koga shouted across the battlefield.

Kagome and the two female wolf demons watched from afar in horror as the mountain range was practically being leveled in front of them. It was their job to take care of the injured, but the battle was deeper within the mountains than expected. They were left far behind and saw none of the injured wolves. They worried for the men and feared who had fallen and prayed for who was safe. How would anyone defeat the monster that rose from the peak?

Sesshomaru stood quietly, trying to think of a way to deal with this, but nothing was coming to mind. He was utterly exhausted and this long-lasting battle fogged his mind further. As he stood there thinking, two of the bat demons got past his senses and suddenly fired at him and two other wolf demons hiding with him. He barely saw them out of the corner of his eye and had no time to dodge. He and the two wolf demons were caught in the attack. Dozens of these beams fired at him, a few getting to pierce his body. He withstood the pain and swung his unsheathed Tōkijin at them. His own demonic energy took them over and shredded their bodies to nothing. Pieces of them fell, splatting to the ground. Sesshomaru looked to the two that were with him, finding they had been slain by the attack. He mentally cursed himself, but the threat of another barrage of those beams forced him to move and he ran.

"Wait!" The Bat King shouted and his demons stopped their assault. "Lord Sesshomaru of the Western Lands, why are you here?"

"You know this guy?" Koga yelled furiously from his spot across the battlefield.

Sesshomaru said nothing as he turned to face the Bat King.

"You raise your sword against my clan? We were on mutual standing, why?" The King asked.

"That was before you chose to slaughter a comrade's men and push his clan from their home, Daigoromaru." Sesshomaru stated clearly.

"You are allied with this filth? I thought the wolves and dogs were at odd ends?" Daigoromaru laughed hysterically.

"There may have been a time we were." Sesshomaru replied and pointed his Tōkijin at Daigoromaru. "But times change. Leave this place or die."

"You dare threaten me?" Daigoromaru said. "In your condition, that is laughable. Your demonic power is wavering. You were injured in that last attack, and I can tell your body is about to give out. Do you really think that you're in a position to threaten me?"

Suddenly a spear shaped energy bolt fired at Sesshomaru, reaching speeds he did not expect. He tried to dodge, but the attack struck him like an arrow and pinned him to the ground. He grabbed onto the energy, it burning his hand like acid as he pulled it out of the ground and then out of his body, tossing it to the side. Once it hit the ground, the energy evaporated.

Koga and Inuyasha chose that moment to go on the attack. They began a full-on battle with Daigoromaru in an attempt to help Sesshomaru recover and hopefully end the fight. When Inuyasha's Wind Scar brushed off of Daigoromaru, he landed with an angry thud and began shouting in frustration. Koga tried to get a few good hits in as well, but Daigoromaru's thick skin prevented him from causing any real damage.

Outside the range of the battlefield, Kagome was unable to kick a very bad feeling in the pit of her stomach. Kagome watched the battle continue with no real retaliation on the part of the wolves and could not stand by any longer. She hurried into the mountain to get a better look at the battlefield.

Kagome came to the scene and saw Sesshomaru on one knee while Koga and Inuyasha tried to fight off the large bat demon. Her desire to run to him was overwhelmed by the fear of breaking her promise, so she froze. Sesshomaru tried to stand and immediately dropped back to one knee. Koga and Inuyasha couldn't get anywhere with Daigoromaru.

Kagome felt a strange pulse at her back. She looked back to the blade Sesshomaru gifted her, Aikizōha. She could feel it pulsing and was tempted to try and use it, but any other time she tried, she completely failed.

Daigoromaru laughed loudly, expecting a victory soon. "This is what you brought to take your home back? This is all the power you could muster here, Koga? I bet Sesshomaru was your last hope and he can't even get to his feet. What are you going to do now?"

"Shut up, Daigoromaru. You're gonna die." Inuyasha shouted and raised his Tetsusaiga, sending out an Adamant Barrage. Hundreds of diamond-like stone fired out to Daigoromaru, piercing the demon's thick skin and finally causing him to bleed. "Ha, ya see that?"

"Bastard!" Daigoromaru raised an arm to block the shards from striking his head. With the shards sticking out of his body, the large bat demon swung his arm outwards and send the shards firing right back over the battlefield. Inuyasha was able to dodge them all, but Koga was struck in the side, his hip being cut open. Koga fell and Inuyasha rushed to his side, picked him up, and got him out of Daigoromaru's line of sight.

Sesshomaru saw one of the shards flying at him. He tried pushing himself to his feet using Tokijin, but wasn't fast enough. As the shard went to strike him in the chest, he was pushed out of the way. His head turn to see Kagome. The shard was to hit her back, but with a loud clank echoing over the mountain range, it ricocheted off and hit a protruding rock.

"K-Kagome…" Sesshomaru found some strength and got to her side.

"Are you okay?" Kagome got up and looked at him as if nothing happened.

"H-How… are you?" Sesshomaru grabbed her and moved her around, examining her body. She wasn't injured.

"I don't know how you survived, woman, but you shouldn't be on the battlefield. Leave at once." Daigoromaru said.

"Use the blade he's given you." Kagome heard the voice of a man echo in her head. "What?"

"I said leave here, woman!" Daigoromaru demanded.

"I wasn't talking to you, stupid!" Kagome yelled spitefully back at him.

"Such insolence!" Daigoromaru shouted and opened his mouth again, readying another attack.

"Kagome, run." Sesshomaru demanded. He could barely move, so there was no way he could carry her out.

"Take the sword in your hand and shield the demon you love." The masculine voice said again and Kagome reached back to pull Aikizōha off her back. She followed her instincts and didn't unsheathe the blade.

"KAGOME RUN." Inuyasha and Koga yelled as they tried to get to her, but were way too far off.

Daigoromaru fired off a massive beam of black and purple colors swirling around each other like a whirlpool. Sesshomaru hurried and reached out to grab her. Kagome reached out and wrapped and arm around him as she held Aikizōha above her head with the other. The powerful attack struck. The entire area around them was enveloped in the dark energy of the Bat Demon King. Boulders were turned to pebbles and rocks to dust. No one could see what happened. Hearts were racing, eyes were wide. Everyone feared the worst. Inuyasha felt tears stream down his cheeks in an instant.

As the dust settled, two figures came into view. They were alive and surrounded by a sphere of bright white energy emanating from Aikizōha. Everyone could sense the power of the blade as is pulsated over the land, radiating outward in a wave of impressively powerful energy, an aura that almost rivaled Sesshomaru's. Kagome was clinging to Sesshomaru, her face buried in his chest as he held her tight to himself. When they realized they were standing, they looked around in shock.

"I-It worked…" Kagome said as she lowered her arm and looked at Aikizōha. "It really worked."

Sesshomaru was stunned. He expected his death, Kagome's, and their child's. He could barely catch his breath.

"How did you survive that attack?" Daigoromaru asked in a horrified shock. "Th-that was my most powerful attack!"

"Take the blade in both hands and raise it to your enemy." The voice repeated again and Kagome obliged. She unsheathed the blade, took it in both hands and raised is above her head. "You will not allow him to harm those you love."

"Eternal Arc." Kagome muttered. Her body lit up with a bright white energy. The clouds broke apart above her and the sun shined down onto Aikizōha like a spotlight. Kagome's hair grew longer and turned white, her eyes turned gold, and markings that matched Sesshomaru's appeared on her face. With one strong downward swing of her sword, a massive arc of brilliant white energy fired out at enormous speeds, cutting through the Bat King like a red-hot knife through warm butter and then through the mountain behind him.

Everyone on the battlefield froze in shock or horror. Daigoromaru stood still. His body slid apart into two pieces and fell, disintegrating to ash and blowing away with the wind before hitting the ground. The rest of the bats began shrieking in fear and fleeing the battlefield. Inuyasha and Koga and his men began taking out as many as possible before they could get away. Inuyasha ran through about a hundred with his Wind Scar and then a hundred more with Adamant Barrage. Koga and his men were able to take out around fifty, leaving the Bat demon tribe at a mere ten percent strength of what they were used to. They were confident that the bats wouldn't return any time soon. The wolves won.

Kagome sheathed Aikizōha and returned to her normal self. She took in a deep breath and calmed herself down from an adrenaline rush caused by all that power coursing through her. After she felt more relaxed, she looked to Sesshomaru and watched him stare at her. His eyes were wide, but focused. She couldn't tell whether he was extremely furious with her or not. Either way, he was safe and that's what mattered.

"Sesshomaru?" Kagome stepped up to him, and as if saying his name pulled him from a trance, all the pain shot back through his body. Sesshomaru winced and was back on one knee. Kagome helped him into a sitting position against a rock and sat next to him. "Are you okay?"

Silence.

"Hey, answer me." Kagome asked, practically begging. She was in trouble. She could tell.

Silence.

Inuyasha and Koga returned, each out of breath and glad for the win.

"The bats aren't coming back any time soon." Inuyasha said.

"You got the right." Koga said and turned to Sesshomaru. "We're even. Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru nodded, his only reply.

"If you guys want to stay and heal up for a couple of days, you can." Koga offered.

"No. We need to head home. An hour or so and I'll be fine." Sesshomaru insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

After an hour and a half went by, Sesshomaru was ready to go. He was still hurt, weak, and exhausted, but he forced himself to his feet and said his goodbyes to everyone. Inuyasha and Kagome followed Sesshomaru out of the mountain range and back on the road home. After they were a decent distance away, Sesshomaru stopped walking and turned toward Inuyasha. The look on Sesshomaru's face startled his brother.

"You alright?" Inuyasha asked.

"I am. Inuyasha, can you go home?" Sesshomaru asked and was met with a confused head tilt. "Go on ahead. I need to speak with Kagome, and I believe it is going to take some time. We should be back within the next two days."

"You sure?" Inuyasha asked, glancing between him and an upset Kagome. She hadn't looked up from the grass.

"Yes. Please, get home to Kikyo." Sesshomaru said.

"Alright." Inuyasha nodded and walked up by his brother, whispering. "Go easy on her, alright?"

"Not possible." Sesshomaru replied and Inuyasha just sighed and ran off toward Kaede's village.

Sesshomaru watched to make sure Inuyasha kept going. Once he was definitely gone, Sesshomaru turned back to Kagome. He stared down at her, his expression completely unreadable. Kagome glanced up for a moment, but when their eyes met, she lowered her head again. Silence was all that came for a good minute before Sesshomaru finally stepped up to her. Kagome brought her hands up to her chest nervously.

"S-Sesshomaru… I…" Kagome let the tears fall from her eyes and then looked him directly in his. "I… I'm not sorry."