Of Claws and Fangs
Episode 55

Miroku sat watching the reunion of mother and child. He thought for a long moment, then turned to Sango. "I will be traveling tonight. She has extracted promises from you, Inu Yasha, Haya, Shakaku and all of her children, but I have made no such promise." As the Inu family entered the hut, he rose calling to the fire-cat. "Do not let anyone know where I have gone." He whispered kissing her softly. "Come on Kiarara."

Sango watched her husband go. 'Good luck love. I hope you are successful."

Shakaku took Akisame's hands. This woman had been so kind to her and she hated to see her in the condition she was in now. "How are you feeling?"

Akisame smiled at the young woman, "I'm fine." she lied. Pulling her hands from the girls grasp she started to serve the meal.

Kiarara transformed shortly after leaving the village. Riding the fire cat allowed the monk time to think and prepare soon enough they arrived at the castle. Landing in the courtyard Miroku began to hunt for his friend, the small kitten beside him. With Jaken's help he located the Taiyoukai sitting quietly in his study. "Are you a fool by nature or do you practice at it?"

Sesshomaru looked at the monk. Normally he would have been highly insulted at being called a fool but the inu found he didn't really care anymore. He looked at him dully, "What are you talking about Miroku?"

"I'm about to repay an old debt, and probably have your mate hate me. How long do you plan on sitting on your ass? I'm tired of watching her slowly die. If it was Sango, she would have given up on me months ago. Do you even remember what she said that day? She said 'He has chosen. I can't wait patiently for him to decide between Akari and me. I have not Kagome's patience. I have given my heart and now it lies broken at his feet.' You have done nothing to show her anything but her assumptions were correct."

He blinked in surprise. She was waiting for him? But she had always come back before. Had he really been sitting here all this time waiting for her, causing them both pain when she was actually waiting for him? "She wants me to come?" he asked in a small voice.

She moved closer to the village until she found the barrier of the monks spells. Her eyes narrowed in annoyance. The monk alone was not enough to keep her away but that young miko helped him place the ofuda. She had not been able to get near any of the family in Edo for months and she was starting to get bored. True there were plenty of other beings on which to inflict pain and suffering but these ones had driven her away, discovered her. A feral light crept into her eyes. "I always get my way," she whispered. Nanshokagai turned and walked away from the village. As she walked, her form materialized so that she was now visible to all. Slowly her form changed from that of a tall woman to that of a young male. Long silver hair moved gently with the wind of her passing. Furry silver ears flicked back and forth atop the head. A dark blue crescent moon graced the forehead beneath the bangs. Only the eyes remained as they had been, constantly shifting through all the hues of the spectrum, pausing longer on green than any other. Nanshokagai flexed one hand, looking at the deadly claws. A smile curved the lips of her borrowed form. It was time to have fun.

"Yes, Sesshomaru. She is waiting for you. Let me guess she has always been the one to make the peace?" At the startled look, the monk smiled. "I thought so. Before you get angry at everyone else, she forced them to promise not to reveal the fact she wanted you to come to her. If nothing else your mate is stubborn. The last time we saw Nanshokagai, she was laying over the hut Akisame slept in. I am the only one who knows what that spirits last attack was. She sent a dream of Akari telling Akisame all her efforts were in vain, ending it with a dream you laughing at Akisame as she professed her love." Miroku met the Taiyoukai's eyes, "Now, what do you wish to do."

As the meal finished Akisame gathered the dishes sitting she spoke, "I've made a decision. If Sesshomaru does not come by the time I am recovered from birthing this pup, I'm going to Kyoto. It is unfair for this pup to be raised in sadness, hopefully in Kyoto I can start over." She hung her head and continued softly, "There comes a time when you have to realize, that what you want isn't going to happen. I want this child to be happy and not the child of the poor woman the Western Lord threw aside."

He lowered his head. How could he have been so stupid? When Sesshomaru looked up again, determination gleamed in his golden eyes. He stood, his shoulders not slumped as they had been for so many months. "I wish to go get my mate back," the inu Taiyoukai began to leave the room, pausing to put a hand on Miroku's shoulder. "There are no words to thank you for coming to tell me this Miroku."

"Just don't tell her I told you." Miroku chuckled. "I think she might kill me. Go on... don't bother to change, just go get her. She said earlier today she had an announcement to make."

Sesshomaru nodded and sped down the halls, out the front door and was soon soaring over the treetops. 'Please don't let me be too late.'

Keishou looked up in alarm. "But, Hahaoya--" he was cut off by his sister.

"He'll come Hahaoya. He will come."

Akisame smiled at Mika, "I hope so sweetie, but after so long I don't think he will. One other thing, beware of Nanshokagai, she will return"

Mika's eyes flickered briefly red. "If she does...I'll kill her."

Akisame frowned at her daughter, "Mika. Killing is not the way to defeat someone like her. What if she were to appear to you as Midori? Would you be able to harm her? What if it she took the shape of Keikan or Keishou or even me. No, sweetie to defeat her you mustn't do what I did. You must be strong in your beliefs of your family and friends." She tried to rise and grimaced, holding her hands up, Keikan and Inu Yasha pulled her to her feet. "Now, this very pregnant lady is going to go to bed. Girls, would you mind cleaning up?" Rin and Haya quickly nodded their heads and began to gather the dishes as the red-head went to the back room.

He reached the village after everyone had retired for the evening. Quickly he found the hut Akisame was staying in. Once there he paused at the entrance. Looking up he saw Inu Yasha on the roof.

Inu Yasha smiled down at his brother before leaping to stand in front of him. "Bout damn time you came to your senses. She told us at dinner if you didn't come by the time she recovered from giving birth she was going to Kyoto. Was it that hard to decide between a dead woman and your mate?"

Sesshomaru looked at his brother with a cool gaze. "Brother, I've got three syllables for you...Ka..go..me." Leaving the hanyou to ponder that, Sesshomaru moved into the hut. Swallowing the lump in his throat he knelt beside the sleeping form of his mate. He gazed down at her for a long moment, he had missed her so much. What would she say when she awoke? He reached out with one clawed hand and brushed the back of it gently across her cheek.

Inu Yasha fumed silently for a moment, then started towards the well. Sesshomaru was right, he needed to put Kagome behind him, only then could he finally take Rin as his own.

The dream attacked again, even knowing it was a dream, a residual of Nashokagai's attack didn't stop it. She watched helpless as Sesshomaru took Akari into his arms. "Sesshomaru please, come back to me." A tear slid down her cheek even as the dream held her tight.

Sesshomaru bent down, kissing away the tear. Then put his lips close to her ear, hoping to awaken her this time, "I choose you Akisame."

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