Chapter 1

"My Lord." The servant bowed respectfully, hands shaking from exhaustion. "There is something wrong, My Lord. The baby is not coming."

"There must be something you can do? I cannot lose them!" Touga felt as if his world was crumbling around him. His wife, the woman the gods made for him was laying in the birthing room, dying. She had been there for nearly twenty four hours, trying to birth their pup. For every minute she was stuck in there, her body became more exhausted. "You know what she means to me." He held out his wrist, showing the name scribbled across.

Izayoi was his soul bonded. Every person was born with the other half of their soul somewhere in the world. They could be anywhere, and because of that, it was a rarity for someone to find their soul bonded. Many people settled down with whoever they could, thinking they would never find the person meant for them.

It was what Touga had done. He had loved Satori and the life they had. Together they had a son, one who was now grown and strong. He had been happy and content with his life, had even been discussing another child being in their future.

Then Izayoi appeared. His sweet dear Izayoi. He couldn't fight the pull between them. The moment they saw each other, showed their marks that held each other's names written permanently on their skin, he was a goner. He couldn't fight the bond between him and Izayoi.

Satori had been devastated but accepted his choice. She had bowed her head and turned away from him. He thought she would be okay, thought she would live her life searching for her soul bonded. But a week later, when no one had heard from her, Sesshomaru went to check on her. He found her dead, killed by her own hand.

Touga had been guilt ridden, and to this day he still was. He had chosen Izayoi, and Satori took her own life because of it. Sesshomaru barely spoke to him anymore. He blamed Touga and Izayoi for his mother's death. Touga understood. Finding his mother like that, knowing it was caused by Touga choosing Izayoi… it was no surprise Sesshomaru hated Izayoi and only tolerated Touga.

Touga felt as if he lost more than an ex wife that day. He lost his son too. He couldn't handle losing anymore family. He couldn't lose his wife and soul bonded. He couldn't lose his newest pup. He needed them both. Looking back at the servant in front of him, he felt no shame in begging. "Please. There has to be something. I will do whatever you want. Name your price, but please save them."

The woman looked back at the room where the other maids were, then sighed. When she turned back to Touga, she had a resolve in her eye that wasn't there before. "Yes, My Lord. Meet me in the eastern meadow. For what we are going to do, we need room. I must go home to retrieve what I need, I will meet you there. Move quickly, My Lord."

"Yes. I'll be there." Touga nodded, watching as the woman turned on her heel and quickly ran from the shiro. Swallowing, his attention focused on the labored breathing he could hear in the other room. He needed to see her. Not caring for the rules, Touga stepped into the birthing room. The women inside said nothing to him as he approached his wife, kneeling beside her. "Izayoi."

Heavy eyes opened slowly, painfully. Her cheeks looked hollow, her skin was pale. She looked deathly ill, looked as if the reaper himself was there, hovering over her and waiting. He hated it. She used to be so full of life, so happy. Now, he wasn't sure if he would ever hear her laugh again.

"Touga." She reached out weakly, and he grabbed her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing each finger.

"I'm here, My Love. I am going to find help for you. But you have to fight, you have to hold on for me, okay?" Squeezing her hand, he reached out with his other, rubbing his fingers down her damp face. "Promise me you will hang on, Izayoi. You can't leave me."

"I promise." She gave him a soft smile, one that nearly gutted him. It felt as if she was trying to pacify him. She didn't think she was going to make it and with that mindset, her body would give out faster.

"Think of the baby, My Love." He placed a hand over her swollen belly, hearing the tiny heartbeat that was growing weaker by the second. Just like it's mother. "They are going to need you. I am going to need both of you."

"You are strong." Shaking her hand from his, she cupped his face, and he turned into her palm. Again, she was trying to reassure him, to keep him calm when she thought she was going to die. He wouldn't let her go. He couldn't.

"Not that strong. I will follow you. If you give up, Izayoi, I will be right behind you." He meant every damn word, and he made sure she knew it. Without her, he had nothing left.

"Sesshomaru-"

"Could care less. You know that as much as I do. He would become the lord and not grieve my passing." Closing his eyes, Touga thought of his son. How he wished things could be as they once were, but he wasn't sure he would ever have that bond he once had with Sesshomaru. Opening his eyes once more, he met and held Izayoi's gaze. "Wait for me, Izayoi. I am going to get help. I promise."

"Okay." Running a thumb over his lips, a tear fell from her eye, sorrow for everything she was losing flashing in her gaze. "I love you, Touga. I love Sesshomaru and this baby."

"I love you so much." Leaning down he kissed her temple, and then her lips softly. When he pulled away, more tears had seeped from her eyes, and he brushed them away. "I will be back shortly." She gave a nod and he stood. Everything in him wanted to stay by her side, but he couldn't. He needed to find help, and the only way to do that is by going to meet his servant in the field.

So, he turned and left, flash stepping to the meadow in a matter of seconds. The breeze blew gently around him, ruffling the various colored flowers. If the love of his life wasn't dying in the shiro behind him, he would find it beautiful.

"Father."

Touga tensed, then closed his eyes and sighed. Why did Sesshomaru insist on hiding his aura? Touga flaunted his power, making sure anyone who knew him knew just how strong he was. He had to, or Izayoi would become a target. His aura alone was a warning, a threat. However, Sesshomaru preferred stealth to offensive maneuvers. He had perfected it so much that Touga couldn't even feel when his own son was around. "Yes, Son?"

"Has she perished?" So callous and cruel. Touga fisted his hands, baring his fangs as he spun around to face his son. Sesshomaru showed no emotion to anything. Just a quiet disdain for the world surrounding him.

"Why are you here?" This wasn't what Touga wanted to deal with at all right now. He just wanted to save Izayoi, not have his son rub it in his face. "Today is not the day for your hurtful words, Sesshomaru."

"No. I assume not. It seems Karma is finally paying you a visit father." Sesshomaru kept his gaze impassive. He didn't move, his hair the only thing shifting in the breeze. "After all, mothers death hangs heavy over your head. Perhaps this is your punishment? Your pathetic human's life for the death you caused."

"Sesshomaru, please." Rubbing his face, Touga felt as if something inside of him was breaking. What if Sesshomaru was right? Could this really be a punishment from the gods? Either way, it doesn't matter. He needed to save Izayoi. "I hope you meet Kagome, son." Touga pointed to Sesshomaru's wrist. It was hidden beneath the flowing sleeve of Sesshomaru's haori, but they both knew what was written on the inside of the younger demon's wrist. "Then you will understand."

"I can assure you father, no female made for me is human. I will not be tied to a greedy, destructive, and weak excuse of a life. My female will be strong, will not need to be protected." Sesshomaru paused, lifting his head slightly. "When my demoness birth's my pups, she will do so with ease. Something your human woman cannot even do. Isn't that what women are made for? Yet, Izayoi has failed."

"Whoever Kagome is, she won't want you. Your mother's death was hard on you. You found her in a way I never would have wanted you to, but this change in you…" Touga shook his head, disappointed in the son he sired. "You will be lucky if Kagome even looks at you. You are too cold, too cruel. You are not the Sesshomaru you used to be."

"No, I suppose not." Sesshomaru looked up to the sky, the breeze still brushing past them. "However, the only one to blame for this change is you, Father. You and your dying human." Turning from Touga, Sesshomaru began to walk away, leaving his parting words to haunt Touga. "Your human's death is fitting, Father. After all, it was how mother died, wasn't it?"

Touga ground his fangs together. Satori had taken her own life. However, killing yourself while you are a demon wasn't easy. Without tearing off your own head it was nearly impossible. Satori had wanted to die. Her way of achieving that was to throw away her demon heritage and become human. She had gotten a witch to cast aside the demon in her, then slit her own throat. When Sesshomaru had found his mother, he found a human body decayed in its own pool of blood. The only reason they knew it was Satori was the odd demon characteristics she still held. Amber eyes and white hair.

Sesshomaru had always been a serious being, but he hadn't been cruel. Some had even described him as warm. He didn't discriminate, helped any who needed it with his abundance of strength. However, that all changed when his mother was found. He developed a deep hatred for anything human, especially Izayoi. He didn't hesitate to kill if you so much as got in his way. He no longer cared about anyone. Touga wondered if he even cared about himself.

A whisper of awareness caught Touga's attention, and he looked to the west, seeing his servant running towards him. When she approached, she was panting and out of breath. "I came as quickly as I could, My Lord." She held out her hands, cupped together with the palm up. Inside was a small flower, the leaves perfect despite being picked. They were a deep pink shade, a color Touga hadn't seen on a flower before. There were pink flowers, of course, but this… this almost seemed magical. "Take it, My Lord. She helped my family once, told me that if I ever needed her help, all I had to do was ask the flower for her."

"You would give me this?" Touga reached out hesitantly, only taking the flower when the servant pushed her hands farther out towards him.

"Lady Izayoi has always been kind, My Lord." The woman clasped her hands above her heart, smiling up at him. "You are not the first lord I have worked for, but you are the most fair. Your lady is deserving of my help, and I am glad that I can give it. But I must warn you, My Lord. She is a miko, a strong one. She does not discriminate, but she may make others uncomfortable."

"They will have to deal with it. Thank you, Yua." Touga looked at the flower in his hand, then held it out in front of him. "I beg of you. Priestess of power, help my wife and child." At first nothing happened, and Touga thought he had done something wrong. Just when he opened his mouth to try again, the flower shot up into the sky in a brilliant light of glowing pink.

Air rushed around them, hard enough that Touga struggled to stay on his feet. Yua nearly fell, only stopping when Touga grabbed her shoulder, keeping her up right. He understood then why they needed to be outside with nothing around to do this.

The flower burst apart into tiny little pieces, each of them floating down, forming a female body in front of Touga until a woman stood there. Black hair down to her backside, whipping around from the wind her power caused. She was petit, smaller than his Izayoi. Her eyes were a gorgeous blue, her face just as pretty. She emanated a confidence that he didn't see in many human women. This woman, this priestess, was strong, and she knew it.

"Lord Touga of the West." She lifted her chin, a kind smile pulled on her proud lips. "I am Kagome, and if you allow, I will save your wife and child."

...

This is a new start for me. I want to get back to the way I was before when I was able to post several stories at once. I used to have so many readers, and I honestly miss hearing how much everyone enjoyed my work. I am hoping that this is the push I need to get back on my horse. I know it will be sloe going, but I am patient. Big thanks to Didithereaper who has been doing editing for me lately. As always, I hope you enjoy and your reviews mean the world to me.