Tangled in Lies

Fore note: To repost what I posted in the last chapter; I no longer accept anonymous reviews. You can review anonymously, but I will not read it and will delete it before it makes it to the page.

Thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own it unfortunately.

However, I will use the characters and may make them do things that aren't in their nature; because really, you only see certain parts of some of the characters in the series so who is anyone to judge what they may be like or not?

Last time:

The kitchen was empty when he turned on the light, noting the pool of blood and semen. He had taken her too roughly. He was so lost in his anger that he had no control. Her old bedroom was next but there was no sign of her other than a fresh scent that was to the wardrobe and back out. He reached out, noticing that she had disappeared from their home completely. Frustration bloomed in his chest as he entered the dining room, noting the mess he had created.

"It is my own fault." He spoke aloud, wondering why he had gotten so angry. The picture on the floor caught his eye. He lifted it to stare at the little sac that would become a child. His heart felt like lead. It was an odd feeling- one he'd never had before. Surprise left him when two tears fell onto the ultrasound and he noted they were his own.

A lord never cried after all.

This time:

Chapter Seventeen

On My Mind

Quote: You try to make me feel like being humans wrong.

Silence.

That's what he awoke to. No soft breathing next to him. He looked around groggily, wondering why the quiet bothered him so. "Kikyo?" He questioned. Flashes of their last encounter came to mind and he sighed. He had been so busy trying to get the ball rolling that he hadn't thought twice about all the damage he had caused. All so Sesshomaru could expose Hojo. He scratched his head; hoping everything would be worth it in the end. He hoped Hojo didn't succeed with his plans. He reached for his ringing phone, placing it against his ear. "This is InuYasha."

"InuYasha, it is Kikyo." He sat in a rush, wondering why she was calling. She had told him she wanted nothing to do with him. "What do you know about Kagome?"

"What do you mean?"

"She is not home and neither is Sesshomaru." He heard knocking and stood to answer the door.

"Sesshomaru is here." He stated, moving back to let his brother into his apartment. He didn't miss Sesshomaru's sneer of disgust at the shape of his place. He switched ears. "I have to go Kikyo." A raised eyebrow was shot his way.

"InuYasha… something is off. I can't place my finger on it but I am certain."

"Thanks for the heads up." He rubbed a hand over his head. "And Kikyo? I'm sorry." He got no response before the call ended. He turned to look at Sesshomaru, who was staring down at the pizza boxes and beer bottles that littered the floor. "What is it?"

"Kagome is gone." He stated, holding out the ultrasound photo. "She told me she was pregnant with my child and now she is gone."

InuYasha examined the sonogram. "What did you do to make her leave?" He questioned.

"Why would you assume that I had done something?"

"I know Kagome, Sesshomaru." InuYasha stared at the Taiyoukai with narrowed eyes. "She is loyal; the most loyal person I have ever met. She will give and give and give until there is nothing left of her. So, you must have done something to fuck it up." He leaned back against his counter, holding the sonogram out for Sesshomaru to take. "And why are you telling me this instead of looking for her?"

"I need you to find her for me InuYasha." He rubbed his forehead. "I have believed for years that it is impossible for a youkai to impregnate a female without being in the heat cycle. I need to speak to someone."

"Who?"

"My grandmother."

"Good luck with that."

….

Kagome walked through the soft grass, wondering what she had done to be called a cheater and a liar. She had known he wouldn't be happy, but foolishly she had hoped she would have been wrong. Yes, she was selfish for leaving without letting him know. Yes, she knew he would worry- but after the violent way he had taken her she couldn't risk seeing him now. Emotions bubbled up in her chest, choking her. She sat on the bench at the edge of the property, wondering if Kikyo would sense her presence soon. Her eyes welled with tears and she sobbed into her hands, reliving the event. 'What am I going to do when I see him again?'

"Kagome?" She wiped her face, plastering a smile. Surprise flashed across her eyes.

"Oh, hey Miroku. What are you doing here?"

"I brought stuff for lunch…" He raised a bag. "Are you alright?" His eyes narrowed. "Did something happen?"

"I just fought with Sesshomaru is all."

"Kagome!" Kikyo exclaimed. She had dropped the barrier and instantly picked up the other woman's aura alongside Miroku's. "Are you alright?" She assessed the woman with a critical eye. "Come in."

"Thank you." She whispered, rising and following her friend. She sat at the table as Miroku unpacked soups and sandwiches for two. She raised her eyebrow in curiosity. "When did you two meet? I mean, I know you've been to the café before…"

"Has she? I don't recall." Miroku took the lids from the soups. "Are you hungry, Kagome?"

"No." She whispered, stomach churning as she looked at the soup. The smell hit her next and she rose, rushing towards the bathroom.

"Is she okay?" Miroku questioned, eyebrows furrowed. "She looks a bit ill."

"I'm pretty sure that illness isn't contagious." Kikyo murmured, lifting a tea cup to her lips. At Miroku's confused expression, she sighed. "Pregnant. She's pregnant. I can sense the hanyou growing in her."

He nodded, words stolen from him at the thought that the woman who he considered family being pregnant by a Taiyoukai. He sighed again, sitting to eat. Soon he would have to leave for the temple; a complete 180 from the man he used to be. He had always considered himself to be wise in the ways of the world; but having lost the woman he wanted for the rest of his life dashed his hopes for the future.

….

Kagura listened to the judge drone on and on about her character. Her behavior had been atrocious, blah, blah, blah. She didn't care. She smiled at the judge. She wouldn't be in here much longer. She was certain the person who had orchestrated this whole plot would bail her out. "Therefore, you are sentenced to 30 years' hard labor."

Her heart dropped, eyes widening. "What!" She shouted. "You can't send ME to jail!"

"Silence!" He pounded the gavel. "You, Kagura Chi, have been charged with attempted murder, along with murder." At her confused expression, he brought up a picture onto the screen. "Your fingerprints were entered into the system and matched a case from five years ago. They had run out of leads- but these things always have a way of catching up with you, don't they?" His eyes were harsh as the bailiff grabbed her and escorted her from the court room.

….

The cell seemed cramped as she carried her blankets into it. Her blood-red eyes sparkled with anger. She threw them to the thing that they called a 'bed' and stomped her foot like a child. "I cannot believe this!"

"Believe it." She turned her head. "You made your bed Kagura."

"Naraku! You told me that I wouldn't be in danger of jail time! You lied to me!" She reached for him through the cell bars. He stepped back, avoiding her grasp with ease. "I won't survive in this cage!"

"I could have protected you." He murmured, eyes soft as he reached into the cell and touched her face gently. "Had you not been such a whore and wanted to fuck the only person I consider my enemy." He wrapped his fingers around her throat, smirking when her eyes grew wide. "You're nothing but a slut, Kagura. And now you will rot in this cell for the remainder of your days."

He walked away; knowing that soon Kagura would be no more. All he had to do after the Miko was in Hojo's custody was kill Hojo and ruin her to where the Taiyoukai would never want her again. He smiled as he exited the jail, evil seeping from his pores like miasma.

…..

He entered the residence; no knock, no warm welcome. The woman who sat upon the duvet had long golden locks, a purple crescent upon her forehead and matching stripes upon her cheeks. Her cold golden eyes stared at the grandson she hadn't seen in nearly a hundred years. "Sesshomaru." She greeted, voice like satin as she sipped the brandy from her glass. "To what do I owe this hindrance?"

"Grandmother." He stood, towering over her with a matching expression. Though he hid his power from most of the world, he was relaxed enough in this youkais' presence to let all his power out. Annoyance crossed her features, eyes flickering from gold to red to gold. She set her empty glass upon the stand beside her, placing her book upon her lap. "I have always been told we could not impregnate a female unless we are going through a heat cycle."

"Another youkai."

"Any female."

His grandmother scoffed. "Have you gone and mated a human now, Sesshomaru?" His silence made her growl. "I was always told you hated humans. Pity that you went and managed to knock one up."

"Answers, grandmother. Were the stories incorrect?"

She stood, grabbing the decanter before she poured herself another glass. "For centuries youkai have been mating with humans. There have been no precautions when it comes to these things and many times the humans will end up pregnant. It is from dumb luck that a percentage of the time the youkai were in their heat cycle." She sipped her brandy. "There is no protection in the human body from becoming impregnated like a youkais'. Youkai woman who were raped during war times only became pregnant when they were in their heat cycles; human females who were raped during war times became pregnant much more frequently. Human women ovulate 12 times a year, youkai female only ovulate once during the heat cycle." Her cold golden eyes flickered over the distraught features of her grandson. Never in the years she had known him had he ever shown any emotion. His eyes flickered with pain and he ran a hand through his hair. "You have gotten her pregnant."

"I accused her of cheating on me with another male."

"That is highly doubtful to happen." She swirled her drink. His inquisitive eyes had her rolling hers and sighing. "When a youkai mates with a female he creates a certain type of barrier on her. If someone else were to attempt to take her, or touch her; it would cause a burning pain that would only continue until it was over. It would feel as though they were on fire."

"How do you know this?" He watched her as she walked towards her windows, sipping from her glass occasionally before she began to speak.

"Once before I mated with your grandfather, I grew up in a village of humans. They accepted me as their own. I was happy, I suppose. My closest friend was a young girl named Hannah." Her eyes slowly faded as she recalled memories from her youth. "We were together every day; harvesting from the fields and keeping each other company. I was not wise to the ways of mating as I am now. I left to get water for her when she became ill. It was winter; fresh snow had coated the ground. I promised her I would be right back. I didn't expand my senses like I would normally do when she was with me; why would I? I was a powerful youkai and no one would bother me." She downed the rest of her drink. "I had no idea what had happened; all I knew is that she had been raped by multiple youkai before one marked her." Her eyes flickered red. "She gave birth to a hanyou child eight months later and tried to marry a male from our village. The moment he touched her on their wedding night she screamed in pain as though she were dying. To my knowledge, she raised the child and never remarried. I had gotten news of her passing after I gave birth to your father."

They stood in silence. Sesshomaru's mind raced; his mind that was normally calm and logical made guilt cover him like a thick blanket. "What do I do?" He pondered. "I have never made such a heinous mistake."

"If all you did was accuse her-"

"I did more than accuse her." He stated, golden eyes hardening. His heart felt odd and he pondered the feeling. "I have hurt her." His grandmother looked at him, shock marring her features. "I cannot sense her." He ran a hand through his hair again.

"A priestess hides her."

"Yes."

"I normally do not care about these things but you must apologize to your mate." Her cold golden eyes stared down her grandson. He was a lot more powerful than he was a hundred years before; more controlled, more emotional- but she could sense the essence of love that flowed through him as he thought about his mate. "Go."

He left in a sphere of white through the open window.

….

Weeks passed quickly to Kagome. Her stomach began to grow- surprising both her and Kikyo at the rapid changes her body began to display. Sickness plagued her and she found herself heaving into the toilet regularly when she saw meat. She walked on a trail on Kikyo's property, noticing how the birds would fly away from her whenever she drew near. 'Probably not me…' She thought ruefully, rubbing a hand over her stomach. Ayame had been by to visit and tell Kagome that the café was going to close. It seemed Shichi had decided to move to America. Kouga's eyes had bulged from his head when he smelled the hanyou growing inside her womb.

….

"You're pregnant?" His eyes widened. Kikyo glared at Kouga while Kagome wiped the table clean, placing a bowl of salad on top of it. "Does he know?"

"Yes."

"Why are you here?" Kagome didn't speak. She didn't need to when the sadness flooded through her senses. Ayame swatted at him. "Sorry." He murmured. She pasted on a fake smile.

"He just didn't expect it." Her hands trembled slightly as she carried the remaining dishes to finish the set up. She clapped her hands together. "Who's hungry?"

….

Blood. There was so much blood. Kagome stared into the toilet, wiping her mouth. 'Probably just ripped my esophagus.' She stood, cramps causing her to double over. The pain seemed to stem from within. "Kikyo!" Her vision began to fade. The last thing she remembered hearing was someone calling her name.

….

"Is she alright?" Kikyo's concern was evident in her voice. InuYasha held her with gloved hands, lifting her from the floor and into his arms. He looked at Kagome; at the paleness in her face and the sweat that coated her like a second skin. He raised his eyes to Kikyo's, noting the love that shone in her eyes at the other girl.

"Is there somewhere I can put her?" He asked softly.

"Of course!" Kikyo bustled out of the bathroom, InuYasha following. She turned down Kagome's covers, moving aside to let InuYasha place her in her bed. Kikyo dabbed at the drop of blood that exited the girls mouth. "Is she going to be alright?" They exited the room.

"She's ill."

"Because she is not with Sesshomaru?"

"Yes." He paused, eyebrows furrowing. "How many months is she now?"

"Four."

"Has a doctor been to see her? One that specializes in hanyou birthing?"

"I am a certified doula, InuYasha."

"She needs to see a professional."

Kikyo bristled. "I AM a professional." She lifted her head slightly, sending InuYasha a nasty glare. He took her in, watching as she stood to full height. Her posture became harder, eyes narrowing at his remark. 'God, is she beautiful.' He reached for her, touching her cheek softly. Kikyo stepped back. "Do not think this is romantic. I had no one else to call other than Kouga, and he was not happy when he found out she had mated with your brother."

"I miss you, Kikyo."

"You cheated on me, InuYasha."

"For some stupid mission to get information for Sesshomaru."

"Cheating is cheating, all the same."

"Damn it, Kikyo!"

"Are we done here?" Kikyo opened the fridge. "What do I need to do to help Kagome?"

He stared at her back, wondering what had happened to the woman who was so fragile. 'Had she ever been fragile?' He found himself asking. He watched as she poured a cup of water for herself before pushing a second across the island at him. She sat on a barstool, gesturing for him to sit as well. He watched the way she moved, the grace with which she could do seemingly anything. Memories hit him; memories of her taking donations for some orphaned children, helping elderly women cross the street, how she would say his name so sweetly when he would call. His heart clenched. "The only way for her to get better is to be with Sesshomaru."

Kikyo watched emotions flutter across his eyes; curious if he knew how much of an open book he was. "Well, that won't happen. Kagome wouldn't tell me what happened but I assume it wasn't good. She hasn't spoken of him once. I've caught her crying occasionally in the garden. She wakes up screaming most nights. He did something awful to her, InuYasha."

"I know. This is called mating fever; when a newly impregnated female used to be forced away from her mate in the old days; they'd become ill. Not able to eat, and eventually not able to drink because the pup craved the father's warmth as well." He downed his water. "I'll go to his house and take something that smells of him. Maybe we can trick the pup into believing his father is near."

"His?" Her eyebrows raised.

"I don't know. Hers. Whatever." Kikyo's laugh made him look up. "What's so funny?"

"You're always making assumptions. I just remembered you used to do that when we were together as well. You assumed Kagome didn't love you because she wouldn't have sex with you, then assumed I had cheated with Naraku… Assumed I was pregnant when I didn't want to come around for a few weeks and assumed I didn't love you too." She shook her head. "Thank you InuYasha." She smiled at him. "Please come back soon with the item. She hasn't eaten in a few days as it is."

….

InuYasha exited the barrier Kikyo had around her home, pondering how he was going to get into Sesshomaru's house when he stopped. "Sesshomaru?" His brother stared at him, red in his eyes. His fangs were elongating and a growl vibrated the air around them. "What?"

"Kagome." He growled, stepping towards InuYasha. "You have touched my mate. Her blood is on your jacket." Frantic eyes searched anywhere else on his brother, wondering what had happened to his mate in the span of time they'd been apart. It was his own fault- he knew. He should have never been stupid enough to think she would sleep with another male.

"She's sick, you idiot." A slap to Sesshomaru's pride. He had never let anyone he deemed his become ill before. Freezing in place, he stared at InuYasha's annoyed face. "She has the fever." He bared his own teeth, watching as Sesshomaru transformed from half-beast to normal.

"She needs to be with her mate; but he's an asshole who misreads situations." Kikyo snapped as she exited the barrier. She had sensed the anger swirling the air outside of her home. "And hurts her in the worst ways."

Another slap to his pride. His eyes assessed her. "I need to see her." His soft words caused Kikyo to falter in her anger. "I acted on impulse- trying to reassert my dominance over her. Trying to assure myself no other male had touched her." His blank eyes wavered with a soft emotion that Kikyo never thought she would see. InuYasha clutched his chest, sure his heart would explode. "Please allow me to see my wife." That was it. InuYasha was certain he was dead. He slapped himself in the face twice, trying to ascertain that he was, in fact, alive. He watched the hesitation in Kikyo's features before she dropped the barrier.

Sesshomaru sighed softly, closing his eyes. The first sound that hit his ears was soft crying. "Kagome." He walked past InuYasha and Kikyo, entered the house and found his mate in bed. Tears streamed down the sides of her face and onto the pillow. He listened to her soft sobs, tasted the sadness in the air, listened to the multiple heartbeats in the room. Two fluttered higher and faster than Kagome's. He closed his eyes, taking in the gentle noises. He felt a need to absorb the sorrow that graced his mate's features. He had done this; had broken this strong woman.

He was a monster.

Removing his shirt, he climbed into the bed and lifted her gently into his arms. Cradling her against his body as he sat. Her tears soaked into his skin. Odd emotions stirred inside him. 'Guilt?' He kissed her hair, inhaling the scent of illness and blood. He glanced up, watching Kikyo close the door and saw the wide eyes of his brother. He raised an eyebrow at the dropped jaw before the door shut completely. Kagome stirred in his arms, murmuring his name. Pain emanated from every pore in her body. He kissed her eyelids gently, trying to take it away. He leaned against the headboard, closing his eyes as he listened to her breathing even.

….

"No. No." She struck, hitting him in the jaw. "Please, it hurts. No. No!" She sobbed. Her eyes shot open. She was hot- too hot. Struggling against the darkness, she struck out again. A hand wrapped around her fist. "No!" She screamed.

"Kagome."

She froze. The light turned on, blinding her momentarily. "Sesshomaru?" She whispered, struggling more. "I'm sorry. Please. Don't be mad. I'm sorry."

"It is my fault." He released her, surprised when she didn't move away. "I did not trust you. I hurt you."

…..

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Jaime