Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha or related characters they belong to the respective owners. OC's are mine.

Last time…

Sesshomaru began to move against those plotting to harm Inuyasha, while Kagome continued her work with the Yokai Exterminators and surprising events occurred at the human palace.

Chapter 13: On the Edge of Madness

Rent flesh and shattered bone, the smell of blood on the wind. These are what greeted Sesshomaru as he approached the village. Princess Abi, her weapon ready flanked him along with Shinji and his pack mates. Beyond the gates they found broken bodies with the wails of the wounded and dying scattered about.

Kneeling next to a small body Sesshomaru had to restrain the memories of Rin from surfacing. Turning to his subordinates he motioned them forward. The other Inu streaked forward searching for survivors. Abi knelt next to him, "There is no scent of any yokai here…this was the work of humans."

Nodding Sesshomaru silently stood up, "Disgusting creatures, they are below humans."

With a smirk Abi turned to the gate, "Shall we avenge these innocents milord?"

Sesshomaru griped Tenseiga, "First I have work to do."

Abi stepped back and watched as Sesshomaru moved through the dead, reviving those who could be. Once he'd revived the last villager he turned to the castle in the distance, "Come Abi…I will not allow them to reach that place."

Several miles away…

A meadow was ablaze, a strong wind fanning the unnatural flames spreading from the center of the field. Gen stood with his weapon drawn as human bandits tried to bat away the ever spreading fire. He sneered at their feeble attempts, sheathing his blade only when the last man had dropped to the ground.

The fire had just died down when Sesshomaru's party arrived. With morbid satisfaction they examined the devastation, Sesshomaru being first to approach the older warrior, "I see they crossed paths with the wrong Inu."

Gen's sneer never left his face as he motioned towards the castle, "Today is not one we should trouble your father with pathetic bandits."

Sesshomaru nodded, he knew the forest filled with warriors, each hunting either human bandits or rogue yokai. Nothing must bother the inhabitants of that castle or their honored guests. He turned as Gen began walking away, "Will you be coming to the castle?"

The old dog looked over his shoulder, "I've said my goodbyes and made my peace. My time as her protector has ended; there is nothing more this old soldier can do."

Sesshomaru watched Gen fade into the shadows of the trees and several other shadowy shapes joining with him and vanish. Princess Abi sighed, "Ten years he has guarded a human, now he fades into the shadows?"

The heir of the Western Lands bowed his head, "No, he merely goes to rest. Now I must go and make my peace, and give her the peace of mind to rest eternally."

The Castle…

The room was pungent with the smells of incense and medicine. Sesshomaru and Abi entered as Rain departed with an empty cup and red tinged cloths, the unmistakable smell of iron revealing the red tinge was blood. The two yokai slipped into the room quietly, noticed only by their own kind.

The room filled with Izayoi's family as well as Inu no Taisho's pack. The dog general was sitting next to the bed, Izayoi's pale hand grasped in his massive clawed one. Sesshomaru's mother lingered in the corner, he could only compare her to a vulture ready to swoop in and snatch Inuyasha away from the dying woman at any moment. His brother laid curled up next to his mother the half whine half sobbing the only sound in the room.

On the opposite side of the bed from his father a young nobleman sat his hand rested on Inuyasha's head trying to sooth the boy. Sesshomaru glared and only kept from snarling due to Abi elbowing him. The nobleman was a human Prince, who for the last few years had stayed at Izayoi's side. The man knew his place, and never overstepped his bounds. Though acting like a pseudo stepfather to Inuyasha was pushing it in Sesshomaru's mind.

Beyond that Izayoi's relatives around the room, her brother standing at the foot of the bed his knuckles white as he fought back his emotions. Their sister had no compunction to hide her emotions as she was quietly sobbing in to the chest of her husband. The three cousins stood clustered in another corner each fighting to keep up their composure. Izayoi's uncle stood next to her brother, while her aunt aided in calming her sister.

Inu no Taisho looked up at his eldest son, "You're just in time."

With a nod Sesshomaru approached the bed and stood next to the nobleman, Abi moving to stand at his side. The Princess looked across to the Lord of the West, "My mother sends her regards she knows the pain of losing a mate."

With a deep breath Inu no Taisho looks up at the female yokai, "For what it's worth I appreciate the sentiment." He then directed his attention to his son, "She may look asleep, but she is actually awake…she's just too weak to keep her eyes open for long."

Sesshomaru knelt and placed a hand on his brother's back, then turned to Izayoi, "Milady…we have not spoken in several years, for that I am remiss. You are aware of my past and what I have done; know that I will never again do something I would regret. I will protect Inuyasha as any elder brother should. Do not fear or worry for him, he will never be alone."

They all noted how Izayoi's lips rose in a weak smile, and a single tear traced a path down her cheek. Her chest rose and fell, then remained still; it was only the yokai who heard her heart play its final beat.

The reaction was almost immediate. Inuyasha's ears flicked then his tear streaked fact stared at Izayoi's already pale face, "Momma?" He began gently pushing on her side as though he was trying to wake her from a deep sleep, "Momma wake up." He sniffed then pushed frantically, "Momma this isn't funny, please momma wake up!"

Surprisingly it was Inari who pulled Inuyasha away from his mother's body, "Quiet Inuyasha she can't wake anymore."

Sniffing the hanyo struggled to get back to his mother, "Let go I have to wake her up."

Abi knowing the human would lose his grip quickly moved between the bed and the writhing child. Pulling the pup into her arms she quickly ducked out of the room and moved so she was on the edge of the Inuyokai hearing range, to go any further would draw their wrath.

Sliding down the wall so she sat cross-legged then sat Inuyasha on her thigh, "Calm little one…there is nothing more you can do for her."

Inuyasha sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve, "But…but momma?"

Sighing Abi stroked her hand through the pups silver hair, "I remember when my father died."

That drew a frown from Inuyasha, "Your full yokai…how'd your daddy die?"

Abi smiled sadly, "Your grandfather gave him a mortal wound in battle. He was weak and barely made it back to our mountain home, he swore he'd never leave us, but that was an empty promise."

Inuyasha's gaze lowered to the floor, "Then why are you so close to Sesshomaru, wouldn't you be enemies?"

Snickering Abi flicked the pup's forehead, "It was my idiotic father who attacked the Western Lands, not the other way around. Anyway that's beside the point, I know how it feels. The pain here," She points to his stomach, "and here," she points to his head, "and especially here." She finishes by pointing at his heart. Abi then wraps the pup into a tight hug, "I'm not going to say the pain goes away right away. Your mother was an important part of your life, and now she's been ripped away. While it may not seem fair, but you must swallow that pain, you must be strong for your father."

The pup's head shot up at mention of his father, "Poppa?"

Abi smirked, "Your mother was not merely a random human she was also your father's mate. You don't want to increase his pain by showing your own?" Inuyasha shook his head and she continued, "Good, now are you ready to go back in?"

With a nod Inuyasha squirmed out of her hold and ran back to the room. Abi stood satisfied with her little speech. Seeing movement she turned to see the Lady of the West standing around the corner, "A lovely speech Abi, but I thought you hadn't hatched until after my mate conquered your tribe in reprisal for those attacks."

Abi crossed her arms, "I may not have hatched yet, but we phoenixes are aware long before hatching." Turning away from the female Inu, Abi began walking towards the room, "And don't think I haven't noticed your eyeing of the pup, you've waited this long you can wait a few more days."

Snarling the Lady of the West vanished.

One week later…

Time passed slowly over the following days, Inuyasha clung to the last remnants of his mother's scent but maids cleaning and people bathing quickly obscured it. The day after the funeral arrived, and Sesshomaru was wandering the human castle. Though, he was not wandering aimlessly, as he was shadowing his brother.

Inuyasha had returned to the side of his mother's deathbed, and besides a few muffled snuffles and whines he'd maintained a rather strong façade. Sesshomaru had tensed when Abi left the room with Inuyasha, but had relaxed when he heard her sitting down. He'd been surprised by her gentle tone and maternal instincts. He sensed she'd be an adequate mother, better than his own at any rate. He was unaware about why he was comparing the two women.

At present his brother was searching for something, and Sesshomaru would not let his brother wander alone. In this place Izayoi had been his only guardian, Gen and Rain having departed the moment Izayoi was no more. He'd wanted to send for Kagome knowing she want to comfort Inuyasha, even if this pup wasn't the one she knew. Though, summoning her was not plausible as her work with the exterminators was crucial to his plans.

Finally fed up with the aimlessness of his brother's search Sesshomaru closed the short distance and picked him up by his collar, "Inuyasha? What is it you are looking for?"

Inuyasha hung limp as he looked at his elder brother, "I can't smell her anywhere…it's like she was never even there."

A flash of memory reminded Sesshomaru of his own futile search for an older Inuyasha. The elder brother sat the pup back on the ground, "I can assure you little brother she was there, but scents fade. You will never forget her scent, and at times you will smell things that will remind you of her. This world is full of scents, and you will one day discover new scents that will incite the same feelings as those incited by Izayoi's scent."

Grumbling the small hanyo squirmed successfully freeing himself from his brother's claws. A breeze through the halls signaled Sesshomaru that it was time to leave. Without a word he turned knowing full well Inuyasha would follow. The brothers arrived near the gatehouse to find their father waiting.

Inu no Taisho scooped up his youngest, "Ready pup, it's time to go."

Whimpering Inuyasha bowed his head, "Do we have to?"

Sesshomaru sighed, "Yes little brother, we have over stayed our welcome."

Noting they were alone here Inuyasha frowned, "I haven't said goodbye yet."

"I have made your parting remarks on your behalf my son…it is better this way." Inu no Taisho positioned the pup so he sat on his shoulder, "You will doubtlessly never see any of them again, a quick departure is better than lingering remorse."

The yokai departed unnoticed by those who resided within the castle, but not unseen. High on the castle's roof a Shinigami crouched his pale features watching the dog general leave. Shortly after they had departed he turned his dead eyes upon the soul at his side, "It is time to leave now."

Sadly Izayoi nodded. She watched the servant of the underworld wrote symbols in the air. The passage to the afterlife opened and she silently passed on. With her soul gone the Shinigami leapt into the air and flew across the sky in the form of a raven.

In the middle of a dense swamp he landed before a forlorn hut, "Oh weavers of destiny the board is set, the player have taken the stage."

The door curtain parted permitting him entrance. Within he knelt before the trio, the eldest addressed him, "Tell us servant of death, what do you know that we do not?"

The Shinigami narrowed his eyes at them, "The Inu no Taisho yet lives, even though he was set to die in battle against Ryukotsusei. Beyond that others have lived who should have died, and others have died whose time had yet to come."

The youngest of the three smiled, "Does it anger you Shinigami-san…or are you merely perplexed?"

Ruffling his feathered cape the death spirit dropped into a sitting position, "You have done it yet again, haven't you. Messing with time and space…granting a boon to another." He pointed a clawed finger at the middle one, "What payment have you claimed?"

The middle sister held up an orb which showed the image of a child, "We claimed that one's son…the child will not exist."

Rocketing to his feet the Shinigami snarled, "Vile witches, you dare mess with the cycle…you would bar the birth of a new life."

The youngest sister laughed, "Worry not Shinigami." She took the orb and expanded it, the image shifted to show three youths with the white hair of the Inu no Taisho's line, "The balance will be preserved. One life in exchange for many…will this not please your masters."

"You three sicken me, but you are beyond my power to punish. Pray the kami is merciful to such as you." Without another word he melded into the shadows and vanished.

End Chapter 13

A/N: Yeah, been awhile, but here is chapter 13. Not sure when the next chapter is going to be done, life has slowed down a bit now that the holidays are over. Though with other commitments and projects this could really slow down. Next couple chapters will be time jumps with the first being Inuyasha up to his sealing the one after being Sesshomaru after the sealing up to Kagome's arrival.