InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Forbidden Pain 2 ❯ Chapter 3

It's already finished so what does it matter how long or short the chapters are right? I just haven't edited any of them yet. Why I can't post them all at once. Spell check doesn't work that well all the time as you all know. Enjoy.

Chapter 3

Kagome woke up feeling her side healed put something still on it… And something on her back. Meaning she was on her other side… But she felt light headed. Meaning she was in his tail. She opened her eyes seeing Yoko still injured from Sesshomaru, gravely, in fox form.

“If you're going to wake up as soon as I try getting out of your tail at least let me find something to make sure you don't die from injury.”

She saw him open his eyes then close them again undoing his tail. She returned ten minutes later not wanting to leave him for long and took care of him as much as she knew how to. She was all but finished when she moved to his sixth tail, because apparently he could tell when they grew in, seeing it almost severed completely. She felt bad, applied herbs, wrapped it up…

Yoko opened his eyes quickly a bit alert not knowing when he had become lax and passed out quickly getting up to his paws. He couldn't sense Kagome around, near. It was a close cave he quickly cleared out, killing, and she was gone. Alerted feeling well enough and would have regardless concerning his mate he went outside quickly stopping at the edge of a brush of trees seeing Kagome hassling for breath, looking fresh from a fight leaning against a hump of grass protecting something in her arms. She looked up some seeing Yoko standing a bit worn.

“I needed to find more bandages for your wounds so they wouldn't get infected. You need to rest more Yoko-“

Yoko picked her up with ease going back. “-I love you Kagome.”

Kagome was exhausted. “I love you and you don't-“

Yoko set her down seeing her trying to take care of him still. “-mate you were attacked again because you love me. Let me take care of you like you've been taking care of me.”

Kagome looked at him. “Sorry.”

Yoko took her shirt off cleaning her wound out again not looking at her face. “Nothing to be sorry for or apologize about.”

Kagome felt bad and didn't know why. “It's just… I had never seen you that injured before or heard of you that injured and I was, scared. That you really were hurt. And when I found out you were I just had to make sure you'd be okay. Felt normal, natural.”

Yoko bandaged her. “It's called being truly mated love.” He looked to his left getting an herb. “Your belly's grown. How long was I out for.”

“I woke up four days after we went back to Ningenkai. Today's the eighteenth day.”

Yoko felt bad for how much he had worried her if he had slept that long. “How can you tell eighteen.”

She looked up. “The constellation in the sky next to the crane. That one only shows so many days after the little dipper if facing north west. Eighteen.”

Yoko licked her stomach. “Kits. Who was your first mate.”

“Yoko Kurama.”

`She wasn't mate to him.' “Who was your son's father?”

“Fukai was his name.” She continued at the stars. “He was killed protecting his son.”

“What was his name.”

“Shippo.” She smiled some. “Actually I had a picture of him, a lot. But when my shrine burnt down there wasn't a single one left. But I wouldn't've known I was youkai if he were alive and that means I would have never known you. But, you would have liked him. A milder younger version of Nijuu but more curious. He had bright green eyes, brownish red fur and hair…” She smiled. “His father died before he could teach him how to hide his paws and he never learned how to. And with his illusions he never thought to hide his tail when doing them on himself but if it weren't for that they were perfect.” She smiled biting her lip. “And at such a young age.”

“What type of youkai was he dominate of.”

She smiled still gazing at the stars. “Come on Yoko I don't wanna cry on the bandages.” She laughed a bit. “Wow. G that was so long ago.”

Yoko sat up looking at her. “You'll be there for them always Kagome.”

She laid stayed where she was at not wanting to hurt him from her `weight'. “We need to stop dreaming.” She was exhausted. “I gotta sleep.”

Yoko gazed at her for a while continuing to care for his mate. He figured it was a group of mid B class that tried doing so to her.

`I want you to feel happiness not pain.' He nuzzled her head. “Sleep mate. I'll be here when you wake.”

Kagome opened her eyes whining some. She hadn't thought to eat in a long time, just focused on Yoko. She saw him sitting aside against the cave wall looking outside. He was basically healed- He was healed. Herself on the other hand…

Yoko turned seeing her smile. “What makes you smile mate if you're not thinking about mating?”

Kagome smiled. “I'm not going to let your perverted mind ruin my rare good mood. I, don't really know…I don't know.” She looked up at the ceiling. “I've never just, wanted to smile. Was weird at first, but now…new.”

Yoko still looked at her. “You're happy.”

“I shouldn't be happy and not even thinking about that…”

“What you told me earlier.”

“But, it's, life.”

He saw her smiling more. “You don't have mood swings and aren't hormonal when pregnant so I suppose you truly are happy so what now causes this smile.”

Kagome smiled and looked at him still on her back. “I'm surprised you didn't think of it first with your mind set.”

Yoko growled going over to her. “You're the one,” he kissed her. “who said you didn't want this mood ruined” he heard her gasp from where his tail was. “from my mind set yet you were thinking about mating, not…I so much.”

Kagome sat up and kissed him taking his tunic off. “I know you can be gentle.”

Yoko gazed at Kagome waiting for her to wake up. She was healed as of three days ago and was… He was learning more and more about her every second that she allowed him to stay with her. And he meant to think of it that way. Because she was opening up far more than she ever had before. Allowing herself to laugh, smile, and actually speak slightly more without being probed for information…And for some reason that he didn't care she was almost inciting rutting more than he was. But through all of this, he knew there was no way that she had gone to care free in a few days, in a week. He knew she'd leave without a seconds notice if something went wrong, happened, after her for the shikkon. And there was nothing he could do about that. She had learned how to alternate being hardened from pleasure-

Kagome moaned, sat up and kissed Yoko. “The rare times I actually do over sleep do you just sit and gaze at me.”

Yoko kissed her back gently rubbing her stomach. She may have a want and he may have a greater want, but she was still pregnant and he would never do that to her. He held her resting his hands on her stomach.

“By your definition of over sleeping is four hours then you are mistaken love. I'll figure out how to get you to sleep more.” He saw her relaxed. “You have three in you, I'll get you to eat more as well.”

Kagome looked up at him. “Why have you been killing everyone that sees you?”

Yoko kissed her. “Uremeshi and myself have killed ourselves off, and having evidence that we're alive would not be welcomed at this time. Aside of his, only Maramaru and Sesshomaru are the only ones on this planet with hope who know of our existence.”

“Can we bring back your kits now.”

Yoko stood. “Stay here. I'll be back with them shortly.”

Kagome sat up on her side once Yoko was out of sensory range. She was free. She had `freedoms'.

`And I could leave him right now and disappear and never have to worry about his safety because the fool mated me. Zokusai and Nijuu could live their lives, Nijuu like the spirit fox he is and I could continue to pray for Zokusai to become more unhardened as days go by. For them to have freedoms. And all I have to do is get up and run away. And that's just what I would be doing. Running away. It's about me and yet it's not about me. I want them safe they want me happy. But I can't be safe with or without them and I can't be happy without or with them. Together I can see the twins smile, grow, love Yoko…

But apart I know they are safe and can have a life.' She stood walking deeper into the cave. `Not now. I don't want to hurt Yoko either, but I'd rather him hurt then dead…I'm scared to be happy.' She put her hands on her stomach looking down. `But I'll be even more damned if I claim any one of these, because then they will be damned-`

Kagome tensed quickly looking up. Someone was in the cave and had been for some time. Meaning he entered before- She entered before Yoko left. Kagome looked around not sure where it was coming from and couldn't sense her. She looked around the cave more side stepping around the small lake knowing she already knew she was sensed.

`I want to stay. I don't want to leav-`

“-Surprise.”

Yoko shook his head getting the notion out of his mind. `She wouldn't leave. She doesn't want to on some level.'

Nijuu jumped in front of him going into the cave. “Where's Mom?” he sniffed around. “I don't smell her in here.”

Zokusai looked down the cave tunnels. “Her scent is about two hours old. The time it takes for you to leave and come back with us.”

Yoko followed her scent to the last place he smelled it and looked around seeing nothing. `She hadn't left to go hunting, but she did leave the cave…But the scent ended. She wouldn't leave like that and especially not while with kits.' Yoko hid his confusion. `But if someone had taken her I would have sensed her fear or pain. Nothing…But she wouldn't leave.'

Zokusai looked around. “Mom…” he spoke looking ahead and Nijuu trying to sniff something out. “I'll believe you if you tell me she didn't leave.”

Yoko growled at him. “She's very pregnant she wouldn't leave.”

“But she could-“

Yoko picked him up against the wall growling at him. “-if you do not stop with your pessimistic ways kit-“

Nijuu spoke stopping his sniffing. “-Dad this isn't one of your caves right? Who'd you take it from?”

Yoko spoke still having Zokusai against the wall with one hand. “A stray ookami why.”

“'Cause there's some scales on the ground here and I know ookami keep their dens and what not some how even cleaner than yours Dad since you've-“
Yoko dropped Zokusai landing on his feet and went over to Nijuu. “told me before. Is this from a lizard demon Dad?”

Yoko picked up a scale in between two claws. “Well done Nijuu.”

Zokusai growled some holding onto his neck. “How long until Mom births.”

“Around three weeks at the most.” Yoko hesitated. “Come. And Nijuu if I sense you being lax with your energy I will-“

Nijuu morphed into his fox form and nodded. `Won't happen Dad. I'll do what you say and fight and do good! Sounds fun!'

Zokusai growled trotting past him. `You've still to be in a real fight.'

Nijuu shoved him with one of his tails. `Whatever `I almost have four tails'. Why we grow up to get more experience unless you want me dead-`

Zokusai growled at him. `-I can arrange something rather quickly as laxadisacle as you-`

Yoko growled. “Enough.” He stared out of the cave. The only idea he had to where his mate was, because he would not believe that she ran away, was a lizard demon. “Out of millions.”

Zokusai looked around as well. “We could ask for a lead if something has been astir in the forest. Nijuu could ask Ragadiska since I apparently scare him too much.”

Nijuu laughed for a fox. “I remember that. But yeah Dad he'd know. We don't keep a lot of contacts and most are Zokusai's.”

Yoko trotted off. `You trust him Zokusai.'

“I don't trust often but he's so afraid of me that he won't lie. The one time he did.” Zokusai laughed getting to the front running off leading the way. “The one time he did you'll see for yourself what happened to him.”

A demon that looked like a mix between a panther and a bird of some sort sat inside of his small home in Makai reading when he looked up brushing his blue hair from his face.

“Come in.” He set the book down turning and laughed once. “So you're Zokusai's brother, Nijuu.”

Nijuu nodded. “Uhm yeah. He might come by later if I don't leave soon enough. He's a bit ways out.”

Ragadiska nodded. “Then hurry up and ask what you want.”

Nijuu stifled a laugh turning it into a cough seeing his left and right hands missing digits, and something else… “Well my brother and I have acquired some more lands since you've last run into him and we'd like to know if you know who's been trespassing on them. We're not as strict as some have and still are in `other parts',” he paused for a slight chuckle. “but we don't like it when people ruin on the lands we've worked for.”

Ragadiska looked at him still. “What area.”

“Right outside of the South country side Edo makai portal, that area. Some lizard demon but the thing ran away as we got there.”

Ragasiska nodded. “There was a very hushed notice sent out about two months ago. Someone's after some demon that apparently stole something of this guys, what, I don't know and I don't believe it because of how it was set up.”

“how so.”

“Like someone trying to hire out someone who was hired out. None of it was lower level stuff. Anyway the pack of lizard demons who were fit for the task were from all the way north, and I mean north, Sapporo. They came down here, took some demon and left from Totori to somewhere in Matsue.” He looked at him. “But you two's territory is in Makai outside of Osaka so I'd like to kno-“

Zokusai came in immediately cutting off another one of his digits getting a shout as he slammed him to the floor standing on his neck. “-do not even try to manipulate my brother tell me everything now or I will hunt down and kill your offspring and let you watch.”

Ragasiska noticed Nijuu's tail flop some but hassled for breath and looked at Zokusai. “Lizard demons from Sapporo were hired out by someone I don't know who to take a demon, small, maybe a slightly older child or a short woman, who was in Totori to Akita not Matsue.” He felt more pressure on his neck. “And, and then that demon they took, they're to transfer it out of Japan by human transportation to make it all the less gossiped of in Makai.”

Zokusai looked at him. “To where.”

“Vladivostok. It's Russian land but it's so close to Japan the youkai there are almost all Japanese speakers and there are a lot of Japanese humans there too.” He coughed up some spit. “Honest!”

“Lizard demon can't survive in weather that cold who's transporting in Akita.”

“I don't know!”

Zokusai kicked him in the head. “Nijuu.”

Yoko waited in a forest close to the small house seeing Zokusai leaving on two legs and Nijuu walking besides him, who immediately looked at him.

“Brother's mean Dad.”

Zokusai ignored him. “Lizard pack to Akita by plane to Vladivostok.”

“Russia.” Yoko thought for a while. “Nijuu if you can act right now when we get there you will act right and find out some information if we can't track through snow.”

Nijuu started running along side of him on fours. `Like what Dad?'

Kagome had to open her eyes. They had been closed, keeping herself `asleep' for the past two hours and she had no idea of where she was at. Looking around for herself didn't help either. Snow. Snow on the ground, in the sky, in her face.

In the truck she was in the back of. She couldn't see as far she she'd like, though she doubted she would see anything more than snow, but looked down seeing her hands tied extremely tightly behind her and her ankles chained together. She couldn't see the sky to tell where she was…Infact she didn't know if it was just dark because of how much snow there was or if it was night. After about three more hours keeping herself warm hoping she had done so unconsciously for her unborn, the snow halted only because they entered into a type of warehouse. Huge.

`But why in Ningenkai… Unless.'

Kagome felt the kits moving around again much more active, as normal. They could tell they were out of the cold. And she had to find someplace safe so that the kits would have a chance at life. She looked around and automatically knew it.

`There are ningen here. Meaning they're physics and I really do have to run now. They know I have the shikkon jewel.'

There were about twenty different humans around the area all wearing coats, most around the generator on the far side of the room with a few on the sides leaning against large crates and boxes. The two in the truck were demon who could easily pass as human, meaning no higher than D class or at least high A class so that they were a type that could hide non human features. As she spread her senses around she felt about thirty more demons, but figured they were below. Maybe a tunne-

Kagome was picked up by the neck and tossed onto the heated ground. She bounced once and sat up coughing up a small amount of blood making her stomach hurt. She looked at the front and back of the truck, no license plate. The boxes and crates had no writing on them, and the generator was too far away to read. A youkai with green eyes and bluish skin walked up to her.

“Hey there girly.” His smile faded as he kicked her in the face knocking her down. He grabbed the back of her head punching her in the face before kicking her in the stomach causing her to shout. “Feel like the shit you are don't cha?” He kicked her again. “Forbidden witch.” He walked off some spitting on her. “I want one thing and one thing only from you-“

Kagome shouted feeling herself kicked down again, legs held down shoulders forced down as a physic used a knife cutting her getting her shirt off. The youkai from before put his foot on her side where an old scar was.

“Right here. Or at least it was. Where's the jewel wench and I promise we'll kill you before your bastard babies are brought into this world to be hated.”

Kagome's eyes smallened getting the pain in check. “I don't know and I don't have it-“

“-if you don't know then you die!”

Kagome was punched in the stomach twice efficiently getting any fighting chance out of her as she coughed up blood. And feeling her sports bra slashed off of her bleeding her she knew what was to come. After her pants were torn off leaving a long deep slash down her leg she bit through her lip and wouldn't have shouted out in pain. She, unfortunately, was used to it. But her womb couldn't.

Kagome cried out in sheer pain feeling everything, hearing the blood dripping onto the floor. When he finished he kicked her in the stomach causing her to shout again. He pulled up his pants wiping off some blood and walked off.

“Kill her.”

Having come too far to die especially in a place she didn't even know where it was Kagome, quickly and painfully dislocated her shoulders over her head still on the ground leaning forward into a roll melting the chain at her ankles and wrist getting out of the way of attacks and knowing in the condition she was in now they would kill her. So she ran.

Yoko hadn't been to Russia in over two hundred years, and when he went he didn't stay long. He was a fox, he was fond of warm weather, though the purpose of his fur was for the cold. He shook his head. Back then he went solely because he hadn't bedded a youkai from the lands before and stayed for a few months to rutt and leave.

`And now I'm trying to find this desolate land with no trace of information to where my mate truly is and call myself a fool for not learning this snow barren land centuries ago.' He turned over his hind leg still running. Nijuu was fine, like him, Zokusai… He thought to him. `Can you make it.'

Zokusai growled at him. “Not for much longer. No one trained me how to use my abilities to keep me warm and I haven't figured it out yet. Of brother.”

`He's using his spirit to keep him warm, and as active as he is he's fine.' Yoko growled to the both of them. “There's a shed of some sort ahead. We'll rest there temporarily.”

Nijuu growled. “Dad there are people in there.”

“So then we kill them.”

Yoko led them inside changing into his humanoid form knowing the two were not efficient in non hunting killing in kitsune form. He jumped up into a window ledge, very thick because of the cold followed by his two kits. He looked inside of the large shed.

“Your mother was here.” He saw Nijuu look at him. “No one can hear us because of the snow storm.”

“But how can you tell? I just see blood and stuff.”

Yoko nodded in a direction. “Your mother has very efficient means of killing under most circumstances because she doesn't have energy to spare.”

Zokusai spoke. “I'll watch Nijuu.”

Nijuu growled at him. “I'm capable brother.”

Yoko looked for a while longer then jumped down. “You both watch the right side and the moment you walk in make sure no one but us leaves alive.”

Kagome had been running for about an hour. But she was leaving a blood trail being covered by the snow, and she was cold. Too much energy was lost, her kits were cold- the kits were cold and she couldn't sense a makai portal or see a human city. Or even find a cave. Not sure what to do she continued, now jogging forcing herself to before she had to go to sleep. After about ten more minutes she smelled oil, and in five more heard the sound of an engine and followed. After twenty more minutes she came into a very small village into the first building she came into sensing them all human and no physics and passed out on the wooden floor.

Nijuu shook himself not liking the blood on him but figured it was a side effect of killing. Zokusai turned from snapping the neck of a person held up by his hands and dropped the human body and turned seeing his father jumping up from a hatch.

“The tunnel didn't lead very far and was a dead end.” He looked around. “Did you have a chance to smell for your mother's blood before you fought.”

Zokusai growled. “There was too much everywhere.”

Yoko noticed Nijuu wondering around. “That's fine. Could you date it.”

Zokusai growled more. “No.”

Nijuu let out a yelp getting his nose cut on something and held it. “Uhm Dad? This smells like Mom's blood.” He waited for his father to come over leaving his brother. He still held his nose. “From about four days nine hours ago right? Something like that.”

Yoko put the blood on his fingers rubbing it. “Very accurate Nijuu even in the cold. Can you smell which way she went.”

He pointed whining some letting go of his nose. “That way…Uhm I can't tell directions in this heavy of snow but while you two were being all serious earlier I went outside and smelled the gasoline trail.” He smiled. “Mom's smart she made a hole in the gas tank so they couldn't chase her for long. But since they were going so fast it was thinned out. I picked it up for a while before it died out.” He looked at his dad unsure. “Unless…”

Yoko nodded. “Accurate Nijuu. Change and lead, after you bandage yourself.”

Zokusai growled at him. “Accurate nose poor fighting skills.”

He stuck his tongue out at his brother ripping the cloth from a dead ningen. “At least I know where Mom might be and so does Dad and you don't!”

Zokusai continued to growl. “Hurry up.”

Kagome woke finding herself where she had collapsed. Just inside of the door with it shut. No one had come in. She stood wincing and limped over to the other side of the single room hoping to find gause, clothes. She wasn't naked, just wearing shoes and a very large shirt tied around her at the waist. She was cold, the kits were cold, she wanted more clothing. Making it towards a large chest in the middle of the room after boiling snow with her hand in a pot and cleaning herself with the water she knelt some trying to lift it without agitating her injures-

Kagome let out a loud shout feeling her stomach rip, immediately fell down shouting. After a while the shouting intensified with the pain as she felt pressure through out. She bit through her lip getting herself to shut up and propped herself up against a wall, cried some seeing two blood covered ears in between her legs, focused, and pushed. After about an hour she willed herself not to pass out massive amounts of blood coming from her legs and cleaned the three kits, wrapped them in…Wool sheets she supposed, fed each one, saw herself still bleeding from birthing and tried standing only to pass out.

When she woke again she heard small whines and yips. Her instinct and heart told her to quickly tend to their needs, her lack of blood in her body forced her to do otherwise. She couldn't feel much below her legs but looked down seeing the blood flow still going.

“Like whatever flipping blood this danged body can make I bleed it out…And I'm injured.”

Kagome, not having any idea of what to do, ripped some of the shirts in the area trying to seal off her area, put clothes on and fed the kits. Extremely weakened she smiled at them. One was pure black with red eyes even deeper than hers. There was another silver/white one with amber eyes and one ear, this one the right, always turned down like Nijuu, and the third with brown eyes and an equal amount of silver and black through out…She smiled some more. Until she turned him over seeing a large white spot on his furry belly. She stumbled some begging for some food for herself and found human soup, two cans, stored. Figuring the person wouldn't be coming back for some time she ate the soup straight from the can, felt herself about to black out again and let it come.

When she woke up the next time, the kits were whining and yelping for her again, and blood was coming down her legs. She still hadn't stopped bleeding. She changed her bandages after taking care of the kits.

`Meaning I have to find a safe warm place for these three before I just, can't make any more blood to come out of my damned body.'

She picked herself up off of the ground, after what seemed like five minutes, then froze. She sensed someone outside, and smelled blood. Quickly Kagome hid the three back inside of the chest covering them with clothing, not too much so they could breathe, shut it, picked up some blankets covering it with them and opened the door to get away from the kits.

Only to see the entire village of twenty houses being burnt, one by one. Her eyes widened looking up. There was a youkai on top of the house she was in pouring a liquid, with another one holding a match.

Kagome quickly threw an ice ball at the head of the demon holding the box of matches crushing his skull and jumped up on the roof with an ice poll knocking the one with the kerosene off of the roof, jumping down using the poll as a javelin spearing him with it. She found herself in mist of a crowd of about ten demons immediately bending, flipping out of the way and began fighting. There was one in the distance tossing a flame onto a roof of another building from his hand speaking for her to hear.

“Guess you didn't get far enough to hide wench!” He tossed a flame onto the house where she was just in only seeing her tossing a flame at it centered around a hunk of ice collecting it over into a pile of snow. “You're crafty,” he saw her getting sliced down. “but you're also dead soon and by seeing your stomach a bit flatter than before, maybe more seeing the pregnant fat gone for most part…” He jumped onto the roof top dropping a flame. “I think I'll make sure to burn anything you would ever dream to bring into this world forbidden bitch.”

Kagome was knocked back into a flaming house and scrambled onto her feet blocking with an ice sword and smirked. She really was loosing a lot of blood. The house she was trying to protect was on fire. She was cold. But since she didn't have to be weary of her fire now harming the kits.

Kagome wiped the smirk along with a splotch of blood in her eye from her face. The smirk was from the constant blood loss. Her holding two massive flames in her hand was from near rage. No one dared to harm those kits.

Kagome quickly ducked out of the way of a dagger flipping back ripping her stomach more and incased in fire tossed two small ice spheres at the heads of the two closest to her. She punched one in the face getting slashed across her chest grabbing onto an arm freezing it knocking him down shattering the arm, tossed an ice ball at the head of the demon on the roof only to see dogging it and made a massive boomerang out of fire throwing it spreading flames everywhere-

Her head snapped to attention seeing part of the roof where the kits were falling in. Having no time to spare she quickly jumped up with an ice sword slashing through on kicking another back throwing it into a third, ran up to one slashing at his neck and turned around creating ice balls incased in fire on the ground kicking them off pumling the rest. The one from the roof, though…

Kagome growled. She couldn't look for him now, go after. She ran inside reaching up stopping a beam from falling on her and ran quickly opening the chest, picking up the three kits yipping as loudly as they could, which wasn't loud at all, and ran. She had no idea of where she was going, just prayed that there was a shed at the end of the village they hadn't burnt-

Kagome briefly closed her eyes in victory seeing an outhouse far out from the house in front of it. The fires couldn't reach it. She went inside hoping the fire youkai from before couldn't find her or hear the kits, curled up around them and closed her eyes.

Yoko had sensed Kagome fighting some time ago and couldn't run any faster. He had no qualms about leaving his kits, but could not. The cold was starting, almost, to affect him and his hind legs were getting cold. Zokusai already lagged far behind and Nijuu was in between them. He was far from stopping, nothing could get him to stop. But he was slowing down. Through the snow he smelled smoke in the distance and growled. They were getting closer.

“Zokusai.”

Zokusai was extremely cold, but too determined. He didn't like it when people messed with his mother.

“Father.”

“There will be a fire demon going past to your right in about two minutes in a vehicle of some sort. Kill him and stay in the vehicle for warmth until you can catch up.”

Yoko ran on seeing the jeep going past him and heard a shout and a growl a few moments later. Continuing on knowing Zokusai would be fine his dead run came to a halt.

He entered a village with about twenty houses, burning, with the only thing he could smell burning blood and fire, smoke. He couldn't feel Kagome, he could only hear the fire crackling, falling wood. He trotted to the middle of the village and growled loudly.

“Do not go into the houses Nijuu-“

“-But Mom-“

“-if a log falls onto your back and snaps your spine you are dead, do not.”

“But what if Mom's in one of these?”

Yoko growled to himself. “Just wait-“

Yoko's ears perked up and glued to it. He ran in the direction towards one of the houses burnt earlier and saw two sheds in the back clear from fire and heard it much clearer and far more worried, if possible, than before as he headed for the out house. He opened the door with one of his tails and whined.

Kagome was curled up, bleeding too much, around three small whining bundles. He barked for Nijuu as he picked up Kagome in his teeth.

“Pick up your brothers and follow me.”

Nijuu almost dropped the three small bundles the first and second time but soon was following his father having no idea of where they were going. Staying in the burning village would be warm, but someone would come back. And there wasn't a-

Yoko turned hearing Zokusai barking at them in the distance and ran up to him, then followed him `jogging' going as fast as possible.

“The fire youkai said there was a makai portal about five minutes drive in this direction, with a masking spell on it.”

Yoko followed Zokusai, looking down at his mate in his mouth. `Why do I still taste fetus blood from her. These kits are at least three days.'

Not able to do anything about it now he followed his son ever slowing down until he sniffed out the portal and went in. Zokusai growled on the other side, looking ever the same as Makai, slightly cool. He followed his father for five minutes or so into a cave that looked very small until he pushed a statue with his tail back a certain distance then forward again and a stone slab slid open. He let Kagome down and spoke walking off on two feet.

“Take care of your brothers.”

Nijuu whined some. “Uhmm…”

Zokusai growled at him. “Dolt…We're not supposed to be in here at all let's go.”

Yoko knelt in front of a still well kept garden of makai plants picking a number quickly returning to his mate. After cleaning her off he took care of a horrifically healed wound across her back and growled smelling old semen on her not his. He then noticed in between her legs and removed the cloths finding a constant flow of blood.

`She birthed injured and couldn't take care of herself. But this…'

Yoko took care of the rest of her wounds then went back. He had no idea of what to do, what caused it. Meaning he would have to ask someone…

Nijuu let the two boys, the silver and black one, play with his tail as he sat seeing Zokusai feeding the black and silver girl water. “How long are we supposed to wait here. And is Mom okay? When can we go back to Japan?”

Zokusai wanted to hit him but was exhusted. “Ask father since he's approaching.”

Yoko entered seeing the two boys, yipping trying to get to Nijuu's tail, and the girl, hungry, drinking water.

“Zokusai go to Ningenkai and bring Shuichi here to the den I showed you in Hakodate now. We'll be there when you bring him there.” Zokusai nodded, changed back and went off running. Yoko sighed. Nijuu was just playing with the kits. “Pick up all there again we're moving.”

Nijuu looked up at him. “Is Mom okay?”

Yoko growled at him. “Do as you're told.”

Zokusai stopped to sleep for one night. He knew there was no way his father expected for him to make it all the way from Vladivostok to Osaka from going through that fighting and the cold with no sleep. When he did make it to Osaka he wondered if he should call him or just hunt for him.

`But in seeing as how the ears and the tail thing don't blend in I can't really use a pay phone. There are lights all over this city.'

Zokusai went to his condo not sensing him there, then to his work. He smirked thinking of something his father had said to the mainly ningen when he was younger thinking he wouldn't remember and know what it meant later.

`Probably does spend more time with his hand then his girlfriend.'

Shuichi turned to the window thinking he felt something wearing jeans and a company polo in his office going over documents. He looked up again and raised a brow as he stood opening the window.

“Zokusai, what seems to be the problem.”

Zokusai looked at him. “My father sent me to collect you at once.” He spoke still in the window sill. “Take a plane to Sapporo since hakodate doesn't have an airport and make your way to that city. When you're there go to Makai and I'll be there waiting. Quickly.”

Shuichi saw Zokusai head out of the window jumping across roof tops and sighed as he closed the window heading towards the elevator. He didn't have a fox in him any longer but that fox still controlled his life if he wanted to.

`he didn't tell his son to add the threat that he could still invade my mind if he chose to and was near enough, at very inopportune times.'

Zokusai waited at the only portal he knew Shuichi knew of in hakodate, because his father had told him, and after about twenty minutes of waiting saw him emerge from the portal, growled and started running. If he thought he was slow in this form.

`Stupid ningen hasn't run in so long he's this slow? Much faith father.'

Shuich ran almost as fast as he could. Since running back to Japan through Makai from finding Kagome he had made it a habit, along with a threat from Yoko, to start training again. He had been very out of shape. And he was fine now.

`But if Zokusai believes that I am slow… I suppose I am without Yoko in me, but I am mainly human. He told me about a fourth to half of me wasn't, but still. I can't keep up with a full youkai, especially as trained as Zokusai is.'

Yoko looked up next to his mate praying she didn't wake up now. He could sense Shuichi and Zokusai. And he knew, still, that she really didn't like the ningen and would not be well waking seeing him. As Shuichi ran into the cave where Yoko was with Kagome yoko spoke.

“When we return you will start training how I feel fit is this understood.”

`Arrogant kitsune.'

`I can hear you Shuichi.'

He sighed. “Fine, yes. What happened to her.”

Yoko growled. “She birthed injured and won't stop bleeding from it.”

Shuichi looked her over not touching. “May I?”

Shuichi heard him growl and continued. “One of her umbically chords is probably inside of her still and wrapped around her F tube causing her to bleed. It's a common thing with non hospital birthing.” He moved her legs apart, looked around the room and rested his eyes for a few seconds on the plants he needed having Yoko bring them to him. He grew one into a hook and inserted it inside of her. “When did she birth.”

Yoko growled. “Maybe ten days ago.”

Shuichi pulled out two chords sticking the leave back inside of her making one edge sharp and cutting them both off. More blood came out. He took the hook leaf taking a small plant turning it back into a seed sticking it inside of her.

“Without surgery only burning the rip close will work. The plant will dissolve with little time.” He saw the blood flow tinkle out, and minutes later come to a halt. “There, that should do it.”

Yoko looked at his mate, out, eerily pale. “And about her persistent blood loss.”

Shuichi nodded. “Just time and rest. But she'll be fine.”

“Maybe I am glad you can't keep a girlfriend from as much time you spend with books.”

Shuichi sighed. “Thanks, I think.”

“Go train with Zokusai.”

Shuichi gave him a look. “You're joking, correct.”

“I'm not in a joking mood, train now.”

Kagome opened her eyes and would have cursed, if not for a kit suckling at her tit. She gave her version of a growl and spoke after Yoko removed the kit from her and dropped the only living one onto a pile of furs to sleep. She sat up knowing Yoko would have to force her down to keep her there and stood.

“You've been gone for about forty days, we found you thirteen days ago and you've been out at least since then.”

Kagome stood not caring, she was-

She growled at herself. She did not need to start thinking like that ever again. She took in a breath, closed her eyes, looked down at the none existent flap from pregnancy, knew all three were alive. Training now would only draw attention to them, and further injure her. She closed her eyes briefly again, sat down against a wall away from Yoko, and looked ahead.

Yoko looked at her for a while. He knew what Sesshomaru had told her.

“You don't-“

Kagome stood walking off without a word. `He'd have to leave his kits to go after me, and he knows I'm not going to run off with this obvious of a trail. Seeing me leaving. I'll be back.'

Yoko wanted to do something for her. `Don't hate yourself Kagome.'

Kagome stared at the demon bird at her feet. That she had beaten to death. There wasn't much meat left, just bones, blood. She wasn't really hungry. She knew that was a bad thing, but didn't really care right about now.

She also knew Zokusai was trailing her making himself known on purpose, and that really wasn't helping. She didn't want help. She wanted to be left alone.

`But there's no way that Sesshomaru does not know of this and every hour that I spend here.' She looked down. `I don't even have to think about it. That, and I'm a damn beacon. Might as well shoot them in the head and put them on a platter then continue to walk around with neon lights above my head.' She created a small ice sphere in her hand. `All because of this thing. And some stupid demons that can't even sense it in me. Which is a good thing, but still, stupid on their behalf's…Yoko probably thinks I'm thinking about going to Sesshomaru now, not…Just leaving. And if I even interpret his words as only them and not anyone after this' Kagome, pist, crushed the ice sphere in her hand causing herself to bleed, which didn't hurt at all. `stupid jewel…'

Zokusai looked at his mother from a tree in the near distance. He made sure she knew where he was, for her own sake. And he would have thought a world of emotions to go across her face, even body motion.

`But even when she crushed that ice, I didn't even see her muscles move. So much control…'

Kagome growled. `Now…'

Zokusai flipped down from a tree in front of her. “Why are you angry Mom.”

`A lot like Sesshomaru.' “I got my ass beat down and almost let his kits die from it.”

“You couldn't of changed it Mom. How'd you get your emotions refined?”

Kagome still looked down. “When I thought I was ningen I always had a smile and never even let my suposent mother see anything else. Even then people were bastards and since I was weaker than the grass you're standing on then I couldn't do anything about it. When I found out I was youkai…The first time I took a step as a youkai a bird that I thought was from ningenkai came and clawed at my face. And I was at my shrine. And I was scared of the thing, that hated me for the fucked up blood running through my veins. I showed fear. I was petrified that what I was told was true and that the whole damned shit filled world hated me. And that damned bird kept flying past sensing loads of fear towards me.

And my weak ignorant ass ran straight into Makai, got attacked, fought, ran again scared and stupid, fought, and went to sleep scared reeking of it and woke up with a spear in my chest. And I learned why. And I have never let fear shown on my face, in my posture, any way ever since. I rarely even say if I am scared or not because I'm either not or I'm unconcusious. And when I am you don't know. Emotions ruin you Zokusai. Sesshomaru dono knows that first hand he's a master of them rarely let them out.”

Zokusai looked at her. “Mom don't you want to be happy.”

“Happy and forbidden don't mix, I tried, I got beaten down raped and spat upon the second time. The first time I thought I was happy I almost threw up all the blood in this accursed body.”

“But Mom you're-“

Kagome continued in the same calm tone. “-Zokusai do not call me that.”

Zokusai didn't know what to say. “Mom I know- I know Mom that you want to protect me and everyone in that cave right now because you do care and love us and you occasionally do smile when you're around us. But not everyone hates you, we don't…We, just want you to stay.”

“I don't care if you want that, I do what I have to.”

Zokusai looked at her still. “I do love you Mom, and I know you'll never say it to me, but your actions show that you love me, us more than anyone just saying it…And I really do want you to stay. Nijuu and his annoying ways do as well. He's the one who never thought you were dead, wouldn't even go to your grave site because it was a waste of time, you weren't dead to him, just somewhere else. But I don't want you to be alive and dead. I don't care if Sesshomaru owns you now or whatever since he brought you back to life. I'll fight him and die for you if need be and I know Nijuu and Father will do the same. You're no one's slave regardless of what they say and yeah, because of him I can say this with almost no emotion.”

“Should work on that.”

“Why I want you here Mom, because I can out run you and force you to stay. Father may have given you space but I'd run.”

Kagome looked up at him. `And you have no idea of how much I don't want to run.' “And I can easily force you here.”

Zokusai felt bad but tried not to let it show. “Mom- Mom just stay. I don't know how you were taken, but Dad can protect you.”

Kagome looked at him, noticed the dew on his feet from the morning. She was weak.

`I can't even run from a kit.'

Kagome sat down where she stood, the lower youkai in the area would leave her alone. The low B class Zokusai was registered higher to them and would wait in killing her. Zokusai walked over to her sitting in front of her.

“Is Sesshomaru going to come here.”

“He'll send someone after a while.”

Zokusai still looked at her. “Why'd you stay? You really could have forced your way through me.”

Kagome looked down still. “Because I'm weak, and I do want to be not miserable, even if it is extremely short lived…”

Yoko looked through the trees seeing his mate next to his only son with working intelligence. He had gotten through to her. She wasn't going to run off, but she wasn't going to fight when Sesshomaru sent someone after her. He would fight them, it, her, him, but she wouldn't. He let them to the tiny clearing themselves and went to the cave where his daughter was, the only one who survived.

`Emotions aren't a weakness Kagome.'

Nijuu leaped around Shuichi. “Boy that was fun how about fifteen out of sixteen? You might win this time huh huh?”

Shuichi sat against a wall in the cave exgusted. “Nijuu, it is impossible for me to defeat you in a spar. Aside that you're full demon and I'm far from it you never tire.”

Nijuu knelt in font of him. “Nu uh that's not true Shuichi when we were in the snow a while ago I was sleepy. And when Dad trains me I get a little tired.”

Shuichi sighed. `Take off work for an undisclosed amount of time for this?' “Nijuu, why don't we meditate for a while.”

Nijuu sat legs crossed. “Okay sounds great!”

Kagome had avoided Yoko as much as possible since. She wasn't sure why, but she just didn't want to be around him. And she knew it hurt him, she could give him a reason.

That she saw him as her biggest weakness and was sick of being weak. She could protect that weakness but why bother when she could dispatch it all together and leave, be rid of him. Love was weak, not a strength, it only hurt and she didn't want a part in it any further.

She had achieved a well status of lying to herself since she was `ningen'. She didn't know how much of that was true, if any of it was true, if it was all true. She walked through out the caves having avoided him for about four days now. She knew without a doubt she loved him, and that she hated herself no matter what he did, it didn't last. After awhile everyone telling her she was hated she didn't have to believe it, she didn't. Just hated herself…

Kagome sighed not wanting to talk, not liking to, and figured she would go feed Katsumi. She could sense when Yoko left the den just for her to do that. He didn't want to kill his daughter, because she might be so head strong to let her not feed just not to see him. She came into the den, knelt, let the small girl feed and laid her back down and stared at her for a while hearing her yip at her. Yoko could understand her because she his daughter.

`Might as well be a whore.'

A stupid one at that that kept getting knocked up. Because she was weak. She created the usual ice dagger in her hand and stared at it. She had to do this. Not doing so…She'd probably burn alive. She was accustomed to pain, but at that level she wouldn't get a chance to be used to it.

Kagome looked down feeling a slow rising pain, but before her eyes met it sucked in air. She looked down on her arm seeing the ice dagger going through her forearm. She pulled it out absorbing the ice seeing the blood pouring out, ripped her shirt and made a bandage. She felt a tear rise to her eye, it wasn't from the pain in her arm. But she didn't want to cry in front of Katsumi, where the twins could hear, smell. She stood. She didn't want Katsumi to get used to seeing her. She walked off to a different area in the caves. She sat down, curled up, and cried just like Katsumi was.

Yoko stood holding his daughter settling her just from his presence. He could hear Kagome through the caves. He knew no one else could and almost thought she thought he couldn't hear. He set his daughter down and walked off. He didn't care any longer if she avoided him and ignored him and left when she spoke to her. He couldn't stand seeing her like this.

Kagome continued crying not even sure why any longer if she knew in the first place. Suddenly she looked up through blurry eyes seeing Yoko at the entrance to the cave she was in standing there, sad. And she wiped her eyes getting up to her feet and about turned to leave-

“-Kagome why are you running away from me?”

Kagome turned to him tears streaming down her face. “I thought you hated me.”

Yoko whined some. That was one thing he was not expecting at all.

“Kagome out of all of the years that I have known you to exist I have-“

Kagome looked at him biting her lip, turned and ran off. “-I'm sorry-“

Yoko easily caught up to her within seconds gently restraining her. “I have never hated you love. Why would you even think-“

“-because the last thing, and you, you said it wasn't bad to be happy then I woke up and the two kits your two kits died because I can't even protect them long enough to disown them and I didn't even know I was just tired and wanted the one off and you were just, and then I left because-“

Yoko continued to hold her crying into his chest extremely irrational.
“-Kagome. I wasn't mad at you then or now but I am glad that you told me what you've been thinking.” He looked down at her crying. `I had never seen her cry before. Maybe one tear…G this tears at my soul, hers. It's the saddest thing I've ever seen in my life.' “And I do want you to be happy love truly. And you do have emotions, and it's okay to use them. You're far from weak because you're not weak. I love you, you're strong, determined, beautiful.”

After about an hour Kagome had cried herself to sleep in Yoko's hold. Knowing she hadn't eaten properly since before, he chewed some food, put it in her mouth then rubbed her throat. He spoke to her when she woke a few hours later, still in his embrace.

“What happened to your left arm.”

“I was just doing some normal stuff and was, thinking and I went too far. Didn't even notice until later.”

Yoko was worried. “I'll take care of it-“

“-Yoko I'm scared.”

Yoko looked down at her. He hadn't even heard her say the word before.

“I'm scared, I'm tired…I don't want to do this anymore.”

“Do what.”

“Running away, fighting, having Sesshomaru dono own me, getting beaten, being hated. And I know there's nothing you can do about it regardless of what you've told Zokusai and me, that it really was a nice lie…I'm screwed.”

Yoko still looked at her. “My status might not be enough to ward them off and protect you, especially in seeing as how I'm dead now, not all of them. But regardless. I will fight anyone who I suspect tries to lay a hand against you. You are my mate. Don't ever forget that.” He nuzzled her hair, also calming his nerves some. “thank you for telling me.”

“Apologize that I'm a wreck.”

He smiled at her. “Perfectly fine, infact.” He lifted her up towards him. “It's good to get it out of you, you're not perfect and you shouldn't have to be. Emotions give you strength.”

Kagome looked at him then down. “Okay.”

“Who took you from that far inside of the cave.”

Kagome still looked down. “I don't know. I was walking around, felt something odd, smelled a female and I open my eyes to have snow on my face. She was already inside before you left though.”

Yoko still nuzzled her head. `Usually only dogs, foxes, wolves and the sort react to this, she really is calmed down.' “Why can't they sense the shikkon in you. Why can't anyone.”

“When it's inside of me no one can, not even a miko. It being inside something already not stable and opposite of it, demon, counters it. And if someone some how can sense it, they'll only sense me. The demon spirts in it are restless, and my soul is in it. They'll just confuse them both for me.”

“Then all that has-“

Nijuu ran inside where they were with a massive cut across the back of his legs. “-There's a coyote pack outside of the cave! Zokusai and Shuichi are trying to fight them-“ he ran along side of his father. “-but there are many and most are more powerful than them!”

Yoko emerged from the cave seeing the pack of coyotes and instantly, even in their true form, recognized one. From the jagged scar across his left front leg encompassing it almost entirely. It was from when he had come back from India about three hundred years ago and went back to one of his meeting spots with Kurone to see him already in a mass of trouble. This coyote was younger then but the only one to have survived their assault running/limping off.

`He's commanded under Sesshomaru now.'

Yoko quickly strengthened the grass blades Shuichi had grown out around four of the pack of eleven holding them down as he ran past with a wooden sword, sharpened on all sides, slicing off their heads. In seeing this three of the coyotes turned into their humanoid forms jumping back. The one with the scar spoke snarling at Yoko in front of his two sons and Shuichi.

“Kitsune thief. You know why we are here her master commands for her return now.”

Yoko glared at the coyote. “You will die for trying to force anything upon my mate.”

Zokusai growled, Shuichi thought. `Yoko there's something in the forest. Your son's haven't noticed it and I can't scent anything this far away.'

`Run back with Nijuu and get my mate and Katsumi out of the den.'

Shuichi nodded and started running. “Nijuu.”

Nijuu turned licking some blood off of his mouth, not of his own, to see Shuichi running back towards the cave with a lesser rose whip in hand. He didn't remember what he could create when he was apart of his father, but knew it shriveled in comparison. He let out a small growl kicking a coyote back and ran off after Shuichi.

“What are we doing?”

Shuichi grew up some grass blades from behind him slowing the coyotes some. It was odd. Unless Yoko was in control of his body he had more abilities with plants now than before, just less power to them.

`And I had thought Yoko trained me in his mind incredibly strictly. Zokusai is nearing to be the task master Sesshomaru can be.' “You're going to guard the entrance to the cave while I bring out your mother and sister.”

Nijuu turned around with a small goofy smile on his face seeing two coyotes running at him, snarling. “Will do Shu-“

Shuichi's eyes widened and immediately stopped. A massive rock creature that no one had sensed emerged from the top of the hillside/mountain basically standing up and with one fluid motion stomped down with one foot.

And the cave collapsed.

Yoko turned briefly slashing an upright coyote with his sword seeing the cave no more than a pile of rubble. Not having time to think on it he continued fighting. His spirit would have told him if his mate were harmed. Either she wasn't in there or she was and was safe.

`But if that gravel demon wanted Kagome dead and Sesshomaru clearly does not…' Yoko's eyes widened growling knowing they all, but the coyotes Kagome, wherever she was, could understand him. “These aren't with Sesshomaru they're after the shikkon.”

Kagome watched as Nijuu, injured, and Yoko ran out of the cave… Nijuu, injured…

`Sesshomaru wouldn't send someone to injure him and let him warn us that he's coming. He's too efficient, even the people under him have to be.' She stood going after Yoko's daughter. `Meaning they're here for me to bring them to the Tama, and not the same group when I was in that snow barren place. But they are working for the same two demons.'

Kagome knelt down picking up the snoozing Katsumi wrapping her in the silk kimono quickly heading out of the cave. The coyote demons hadn't noticed her, nor had Yoko, the twins or Shuichi. Glad she wasn't found she continued around the back of the mountain/hillside not sure where she was going. The forest gave off bad vibes and running out into makai, with an infant, who she was, from a battle area, would be the dumbest thing she could think of to do right now. But before she could get a chance to think about it a tingle went down her back and looked up seeing some rocks moving about on the top of the hillside. Confused her eyes widened seeing some rocks tumbling down at her as the entire thing caved in.

She ran getting out of the way of the falling rocks and soon decided to try her luck into the forest. She ran ahead hearing the fighting draw nearer to her location and looked around as she entered the extensive forest and immediately knew what was out of place.

There wasn't a single lesser youkai or animal in it. Continuing she came across a small creek and almost paused in shock even knowing something was wrong with it. The fish in it were dead, floating up top. Nothing was alive in the forest, save Katsumi, herself, and the massive creature that had just stepped in front of her causing her to halt her run.

The youkai was a bit smaller than an inu in his true form, was pure white with ears pointed back and a tail down. And blood on it's mouth. He looked at her intently noticing her tense and morphed back into his humanoid form. The wolf walked towards Kagome causing her to counter step every move he made.

“Cute kit you got there. Impressive some kitsune enslaved you to be his wet nurse for his own offspring.” He continued, now trying to circle her. “Tell me where the shikkon no tama is and I'll kill you quickly.”

Kagome keep her eyes on him. She had never seen a white wolf in her life, but she had remembered what Kogua had told her. There was a reason she hadn't. They were too bloodthirsty and the other wolves ousted them from their packs when then tried to turn on them. And it lost a lot of lives, because they were powerful, very powerful.

“I don't know.”

The wolf chuckled some. “Fire and ice bitch you can not lie to me. I'll ask you again, where is the shikkon no tama and I'll kill you quickly.” He continued and spoke again with the silence. “Perhaps you have gone ignorant from your many beatings in life so I will reword it for you. I can tell that the shikkon no tama is in your body some where because it's the only place it could ever be and I am assured of it so tell me where it is in you now for a quick death or I will shred you into pieces wench.”

Kagome couldn't tell if he was telling the truth or not, but it didn't matter right now. She saw the predatory look in his eyes and set Katsumi down on the ground against a tree standing in front of her. There was no way a white wolf this old was anything but an S class. It gleamed in his eyes as he stalked her-

“Run.”

Instead Kagome raised her hands up creating an ice barrier that quickly shattered and grabbed the wolf's arm pushing him aside and with her other arm bending back grabbing at his belly only to be kneed in the back, picked up by both arms and tossed into a tree. She coughed a bit getting up as he spoke.

“Feisty.” He pinned her to the tree with both of his clawed hands through her shoulders deeply. “Tell me where it is in you at least so I don't break it-“

Kagome head butted the white wolf pushing off against him with her feet getting his claws out of her shoulders, tossed a flame at him and was about to form an ice bow when she noticed the red gleaming in his eyes. She tried throwing an ice ball at him only to have it repelled from his aurora, grabbed her by the head throwing her into another tree eyes still red. Kagome picked up Katsumi, watching quietly with intent eyes and ran as a shadow continued to grow over her steps.

Yoko didn't like it. He didn't know where his mate was, the coyotes were playing with them…And what was the involvement with the gravel demon? They were never active with anyone else's affairs, even of their own species. They didn't do much of anything.

He also didn't like that his mate wasn't having any fear or pain whatsoever. If she was trapped in the cave and knocked unconscious she would have felt it. If she was pained from attacks he would have felt it. But nothing-

Nijuu growled jumping past him in the air flipping a humanoid coyote over him to the ground. “Dad I sense that thing in the forest again real brief. No clue what it is though.”

Yoko didn't like that at all. He turned flicking his rose whip across the chest of the humanoid coyote facing Shuichi then back to his fight.

“What does it feel like.”

“Uhhh…”

Yoko growled loudly at him as he slashed across one of the coyotes effectively slitting its throat. “Do not play around as such tell me now.”

Nijuu jumped over another coyote pouncing on another, he'd come down from jumping, since he could jump faster than them, and figure out how to kill one, eventually. “What do you mean? I can't tell, from it's aurora or whatever I feel…Strength, a rush…Sorta like how I felt when I first tried hunting and knew I could do it-“

Yoko growled displeased. After all of these years teaching the kit he still couldn't feel out a spirit as he should. Though he supposed he was still a young kit and would have time to learn.

If he was still alive.

But Yoko wasn't going to get anywhere with him. He didn't know how he could feel it and not himself, perhaps for his worry for his mate.

`Give me a sign Kagome.'

Kagome ran. She couldn't hide, she couldn't stop, she didn't want to die. And the look in his eye just before he was about to transform, was nothing short of that of a hunter. He wanted to eat her and went after the chase. Which is why she didn't run in the first place when he had spoken. It would cause this-

`I want to live. I want Katsumi to leave more than I want myself to live but I want Yoko to live-` She ran getting a cut across her check from a dangling branch. `I can't do this on my own but Yoko said he wasn't S class yet because he doesn't have his ninth tail, because he can tell. And I don't want him to die and if I'm scared or I let out pain he'll be able to tell-`

Kagome jumped over a tree splinter from the massive wolf running behind her. She was a fool to think she had a chance at outrunning him. But she couldn't just put Katsumi down and fight. Going with the risk she whispered something to his daughter wrapping the silk over her, jumped up into a tree kicking off of it causing leaves to fall to the bottom and with a spare arm created a sheet of ice sharp as a blade flinging it across at the face of the massive wolf. Who opened his mouth crushing it. Kagome kicked off of another tree trying to toss a flame at his face landing in front of the tree from before and quickly placed the kit on the pile of leaves in the hole in the tree closing it off with thick ice and jumped aside as a set of paws landed at the base of the tree.

Kagome dove under the wolf setting fire to his underbelly with one hand and with the other created an ice boomerang and cut into his belly. The wolf let out a small growl of pain and before she could even get half way to his belly felt his tail that was far too powerful to block in any sort of way swat her from under him and straight into his mouth.

She opened her mouth in a silent scream as a single massive fang went into her through her calf gushing blood over his ivory fangs. She growled not about to give up when she felt the wolf start running. She tried burning his mouth getting no response and before she could try freezing his tongue noticed the wolf stop and quickly lower itself to the ground. By time she managed to rip her thigh turning around she knew why all the fish in the creek had died.

Yoko saw Zokusai and Shuichi manage to take out another humanoid coyote leaving three left. It wouldn't be difficult, yet he had a horrible feeling to himself and wanted to know where it was coming from. His mate, yes, but where was she.

“Zokusai go into the forest.”

Zokusai punched a coyote towards his father and ran off. But after a minute his mind still wasn't at ease. He was slashed across his arm dogging from his throat and skidded on the ground from a kick when he pulled his hands up from the ground. Pain, from dirt and grass… Dirt and grass that was dying in a path from the forest, almost as if in a stream of-

`It's acid.'

Yoko was punched back and before he could do anything else his ears hooked onto the sound of a scream, slashed at the coyote in front of him and went into his kitsune form and took off running.

Kagome had never felt so much pain at once in her life as the wolf dipped his snout into the creek that had more acid in it then water. As her very flesh was being burnt away. And he knew exactly how much to put her in without causing her to black out. Through her skin, slowly as it made her way to her muscles, in some areas already her bones-

The white wolf let out a growl feeling a pain in his lower hind leg quickly in succession followed by many more. HE quickly got his snout out of the acid creek turning to see a silver fox leaving a deep bite mark in his leg with already at least ten sets of claw marks in his hind leg as vines, grass blades, trees grew out quickly taking him down. He growled more with the forbidden one in his mouth still screaming as he felt himself forced down to the ground, with even a stream of manipulated lily pads with acid on them going around his neck. He heard the threat growl the kitsune gave to him, and if a suposent dead spirit fox dared to tell him what to do, he was sadly mistaken.

Yoko had run into his real form as quickly as possible upon hearing the scream from his mate. Of pure unadulterated pain to the types he was sure not even she had barred before. It was the fastest he had ever run in his life. But when he saw what the white wolf was doing to her…

Yoko snapped out of it once he realized the white wolf was on the ground almost ready to break free from all of his holding on him. He had gone into a rage. Pausing for only a moment to clear the red from his eyes he began to grow more onto him as he slashed into his sides. There was no way he had enough energy now as his mate still screamed in pain to infuse a death plant of any sort into him, he wouldn't even if he hadn't come from battle. The S class just had more energy, was bigger than he was. The grass blades weren't sharp enough to pierce his skin manipulated trees didn't pierce his flesh and energy either and his claws weren't doing the job fast enough-

Yoko quickly jumped back seeing the white wolf suddenly let out a bark/growl as he broke through all of the restraints with reminiscent still over his body. He saw a tinge of red filter out of his eyes as the blood of his mate pooled down his mouth with her missing flesh as well. And some cursed way she was still conscious, thriving in pain.

As his ears picked up something coming towards him he jumped ahead missing a paw swiped at him as he slashed with his own paws before he was knocked into the ground letting out a small yelp feeling the acid beginning to form onto his paws-

As a black fox jumping onto the back of the white wolf fangs encased with fire as well as paws ripping, burning into his flesh. The white wolf let out a howl quickly rolling onto his back freeing Yoko causing Zokusai to jump off to the side. He landed on the ground seeing the eyes of the most powerful predator in the area locked on him, acid creek behind him, and lunged at him only to find him stopped. The wolf crashed to the ground with a slew of vines around his tail keeping him temporarily stilled. Time for the black kitsune to run under the wolf jumping up latching onto his exposed underbelly with fire paws and a mouth of fire. When he heard the vines snap, the ones around the legs never standing a chance in the first place, he immediately unlatched himself about to push off when a paw hit him aside with another coming down onto him oozing with acid knocking him straight down pinned to the floor.

Yoko got up to his paws batted through a tree hearing a loud yelp followed by a string of loud whines. Determined he tried growing out the vines again to still the massive white wolf long enough to attack it, and back off lest his tail force the same thing that happened to his son still whining in pure pain. He restrained the tail and one front paw and quickly changed focus and jumped up tearing with his fangs at the base of the tail growing vines that ripped at his belly. He soon was thrown off of the wolf knocked into a tree with only a growl from himself when his worry increased even more.

Kagome wasn't shouting any longer or trying to struggle. He couldn't feel her pain any longer-

Not even going to think that he avoided the tail and the paws only to see another silver kitsune dart under the massive white wolf and with preciseness he didn't know he possessed bit into the belly through everything. And with something in his mouth jumped down and ran with it until it snapped. The white wolf let out a yelp having some of its insides ripped out and saw the blood quickly oozing out of his body beneath him.

Shuichi jumped across as best as a mixed blood kitsune could catching Kagome when the white wolf yelped dropping her from his fang vice grip. He hissed in pain feeling the acid trying to attack his skin-

Shuichi stopped mid air immediately landing when he noticed it. “G no.”

Yoko growled. The white wolf would die, but with time that he didn't have. He had also slowed down some, but by far not enough. He jumped up biting at the base of his tail preventing it from batting Nijuu from underneath the white wolf effectively finding any organ, biting it and running with it. When he finally fell down onto his side Yoko latched his fangs onto one side of his neck and Nijuu once again on the underside of his neck until enough veins busted and the smell of death continued through out the area- Yoko whined loudly. He hadn't noticed until the white wolf was dead…

Shuichi heard a sad howl and knew what it meant even if he didn't understand it, though he did. He turned seeing Nijuu still in kitsune form looking as if he was permanently stained blood red sitting next to his brother, injured from the coyotes, with one large acid eaten out hole in his body that even went through the ground. And he turned back to see Kagome…

Shuichi almost had to turn away. Most of her skin had been eaten away and on the side that wasn't in his mouth, the bone was exposed, and in most places had begun if not already eaten through. He should have noticed the smell of death from her earlier and wondered how Yoko didn't notice until just now, but he was probably enraged or fighting it. It didn't matter now-

Shuichi felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as if someone with power were approaching. With more power than the now slain white wolf. He could sense all of the white wolf, but this…

Suddenly the dead bodies of the coyotes in the distance and the white wolf, Zokusai and Kagome had been cleaned as well as the blood on the land. And soon their bodies were healed with a stroke of magic that flooded the land. Yoko walked over to the body of his mate finding himself healed as well and sat again next to her keeping his head down.

A youkai wearing white traditional pants and top with black armor and a yellow sash walked through the forest stopping next to Kagome's body, just as a flood of magic encompassed the area. Kagome opened her eyes with a gasp of air only to be picked up and pinned against a tree.

“You will do well to do as you are told if there is a next time or I will find a more painful way for you to die than the last two times.” He pulled his claws out of her neck and walked off. “Come-“

Yoko growling at the demon the entire time not caring if he didn't stand a chance now, morphed back into humanoid form stepping in front of him. “Sesshomaru you have no right-“

Sesshomaru slammed him into a tree speaking with deadly precision letting some of his poison from his claws begin to form at his claws. “-Kit I brought this wrench life and I can take it away how I chose when I chose and how often I deem fit and if you chose to continue to prohibit the wrench from doing as commanded then you will only suffer to watch her die in more painful ways time after time.” He threw him down. “I own her.”

Yoko got up to his feet seeing Kagome, whole once again but without energy and exgusted, walking behind Sesshomaru, like a slave. He'd figure out a way to kill that dog, learn how to protect his mate and never fail her again.

Nijuu had jumped into a creek from a forest no where near the one they were just in. He wasn't a fan of being dirty and especially not covered in blood. He saw the coyotes and the white wolf leaving in the distance and figured once again they were with Sesshomaru. He wondered how Zokusai had survived his training sessions… Did Sesshomaru kill him and bring him back to life? Just the thought was enough to make him sad. Once his fur was sufficiently clean he morphed into his humanoid form and washed as well. He went back to where his brother and father were and smiled at the only person there.

“Shuichi my sister is in the forest close I'm going to go get her then we go back okay?”

Shuichi looked ahead. “You and I need to tell your father to tell Yusuke.”

Nijuu trotted off speaking fairly sure Shuichi could still hear him. “Why?”

Shuichi looked around at the forest. The trees with weaker spirits didn't come back to life, whole again from being broken.

`I had no idea that Sesshomaru had so much energy, an aurora, and now witnessing this…' “Because once Sesshomaru leaves our company, or shall I saw once he orders us to leave we won't be able to take on all of the demons that we come across. Yusuke is simply more powerful than we are, you are, your father is. He's S class, we are not.” He saw the look Nijuu was giving him kneeling next to a massive block of ice. “But look at the causalities. If Sesshomaru had been someone else, we would have all been dead.”

Nijuu smiled some. “So does that mean you're gonna come with us for now on? You did say we.”

Shuichi didn't even notice it. “I suppose so. Work…hasn't been up to standards as of late and if I do have to show up then I can always go for a few days. Perhaps you'll need a human in your group if the physics come back.”

Nijuu smiled. “Good! That means you can still be my training buddy!” HE saw the face Shuichi failed to hide and laughed some. “Great! This is great Shuichi!... But how do you get my sister out of here?”