~Their Salvation~

~Chapter 51~

Though the travel was long, they got back to the village finally. Yōki stayed for the whole trip knowing if Inuyasha took the reins he'd need a few hours of rest, that's only slow them down. Plus, he also used this excuse to spend more personal time with his beloved bitch. After he marked her, she's been the most affectionate he's ever seen her. Normally, a female demon acts this way when her rightful mate marks her. He didn't question it, but due to Yōki knowing this fact, so did Inuyasha, and he questioned how that'd apply to a priestess such as Hana. When they got back, Inuyasha finally took his control back, he needed to rest overnight due to the number of days he was out of control. Sesshomaru was still impressed by how short his rest was, he wondered if Inuyasha would even need proper rest after just a few hours of Yōki being in control or not.

"Ready?" Inuyasha asked Hana.

"Uhn!" She said with a bright smile making Inuyasha's face slowly grow red. He then smiled and took her hand.

"Let's head out then." They then got walking. Hana needed time with her family, he knew that. Kami only knows what Shi did to her. She seemed to do a lot better after Yōki marked her, but he still didn't want to push her. When they got to the well, he let Hana climb on his back before jumping down into her world. When they made it, he jumped out and let her down gently. She smiled brightly and ran outside the well's hut seeing her father, grandmother, and oldest aunt sitting on the porch.

"Hey!~" She called running over. They all looked up.

"Hana, you're back." Her grandmother Yanai greeted with a smile. Her father stood up and gave his daughter a big hug.

"Hey hun." He said pulled back, then looking at her new outfit, then the large branch with crystals that rested on her back.

"Uh?" Hana tilted her head.

"Gear upgrade." Inuyasha answered for Hana.

"Oh! I had nearly forgotten already." Hana said rubbing the back of her neck. Hana then looked over and frowned.

"Fujima, are you ok?" She asked concerned.

"I'm ok hun, lost my mucus plug this morning, contractions once in a great while but nothing to worry on yet." Hana perked up.

"A-Are you sure??" Fujima laughed.

"I've done this once before, I know what I'm doing." She reassured. Hana nodded, then blushed a little.

"C-Can I feel?" She asked sheepishly.

"You can listen too, they're being very active right now." Hana's eyes sparkled as she knelt down beside Fujima and gently pressed her ear on her stomach closing her eyes. She then smiled brightly.

"So cute.~ How weird does it feel?" Hana asked earning a laugh.

"Eh, you get used to it after around five or six months." Hana giggled, then she looked up at Inuyasha.

"Inu, take a listen!" Inuyasha perked up.

"Ah- uh, i-it's f-" Hana got up taking his hand and pulled him over so he gave in and didn't fight it. He closed his eyes as he listened, his ear twitched a little, then confusion ran over him. The second heartbeat was a lot weaker than he thought it would be.

'Something's wrong.' Yōki suddenly spoke up confusing Inuyasha further.

'What is?' He asked.

'A pup's heartbeat should match the mother's, it's not.' Inuyasha opened his eyes and pulled away.

"What's wrong Inu?" Hana asked a little worried.

"Something's not right." He whispered. Fujima instantly perked up.