InuYasha Fan Fiction / Yu Yu Hakusho Fan Fiction ❯ Forbidden Pain 2 ❯ Chapter 4

Enjoy.

 

Chapter 4

 

Kagome didn't know what to think. She had been dead seemingly on too many occasions before. When Inuyasha killed her and her youkai can forth in this time. When Sesshomaru killed her `to test a theory'. Painful but could have been worse. When she killed herself. When Sesshomaru killed her because she asked not to go along with what he asked. Very painful. When Sesshomaru had the white wolf kill her… Even thinking about it literally caused her pain wherever he had injured her. But she was going to try to think that she was supposed to be happy in her life, Yoko had said so, his children had…Even ningen Shuichi that still annoyed her but was true. This shouldn't be her burden, she should be dead, resting but is alive and shouldn't have to.

She figured if she gorged the jewel out of her body and tried to burn it when she was far away from Sesshomaru, he would sense it, because he probably could already, just some how… Then he would track her down, slay her, his family…Then bring them back to life and do it a few more times. So she was stuck doing whatever he told her to do. She stood inside of one of his massive homes in the countryside away from humans in a room head down looking at the ground as he spoke.

“You have a mate and I respect that, but never once think that he is above me wench is that understood.”

“Yes Sesshomaru sama.”

He looked at her briefly. “You will do as you are commanded next time this arises.” He walked out. “Stay in this room and rest until I tell you otherwise.”

Yoko stayed at the bottom of Sesshomaru's house at the entrance along with his two sons and Shuichi holding Katsumi, sound asleep, hungry. He saw Nijuu anx to wonder around after being growled at not to and Zokusai with a very plain expression on his face. After about three hours a youkai wearing white garbs with a blue color and blue sash came from a side room and stood in front of them. He had white hair, pale skin, amber eyes, orange markings on his face and a crescent moon on his forehead.

“The mixed breed and the juvenile kit will follow me now.”

Zokusai stood seeing one of Sesshomaru's sons, to the amount, three or more, he had no idea, and waited for about five minutes until Sesshomaru himself came down the stairs standing in front of Yoko. He was taller than his father by a few centimeters.

“You do not understand the true meaning to why you hate kitsune.”

“Then tell me.”

“This Sesshomaru has to do nothing he does not want to. You are on my lands in my home and you will respect that.”

Yoko still looked at him. “Why won't you tell me. I realize sama that you have to do nothing you don't want to but when it comes to my mate-“

“-your mate is something that I own before your mate. She is mine first and you will do well to learn that.” It was quiet for a few moments. “Do not come to her until I realize her from the room she is confined to and the kit the mixed breed has will be feed by another. Feel free to come and leave the estate as you please with respect.” He turned walking up the stairs again. “Zokusai.”

Zokusai wasn't sure what to do. He knew…He didn't know what Sesshomaru was calling him but suspected since the only thing they ever did was train…He went ahead and followed the dog demon without a glance to his father and after a while found himself in what appeared to be a large training room. He looked at Sesshomaru still silent.

“Do you know why you were killed.”

Zokusai closed his eyes briefly putting everything else aside, cleared his head and looked at Sesshomaru. “I have only hunted in my kitsune form and have not trained as I should in it. I have never fought a demon of that size.”

“Your father has not taught you this.”

“He has tried on numerous occasions, I have not caught onto it yet as I should have.”

“And of when you were in Russia.”

“I have not figured out how to use my fire abilities to warm myself and I slowed greatly and eventually could go no further. As well I was not accustomed to fighting humans. Though easily killed once their stupidity was shown their sparatic ways bothered me.”

“For your duration here you will continue to learn to control your emotions that hindered you during battle if a simple human could cause disturbance. As well your father will train you in your true form and I will have your mother with time aid you with your fire abilities.” He unsheathed Tokijin and attacked at Zokusai, officially ending their `talk'. “Is this understood.”

Zokusai didn't even think of it now as he quickly avoided everything. “Yes lord Sesshomaru.”

Kagome didn't know what to think. She didn't like someone, anyone but herself feeding her offspring, but then again she never claimed them and the less they were around them the better. She could feel it, she could feel Yoko… She sat on the floor meditating still, not working very well if she was thinking all of this, and knelt seeing Sesshomaru entering the room.

“Is your energy stable once again.”

“Yes master.”

Kagome didn't know what he was doing. She heard something making noise in his hand as he walked but couldn't see it. It was something…Metal. Perhaps chains. But aside of that it was silent in the room. She kept quiet and soon felt pain in her side below her ribs feeling his claws dig deep into her as she bit her lip trying not to shout out keeping it in. After a while she felt something inside of her, his hand removed and Sesshomaru outside of the door.

Nijuu felt a shiver go down his back as he jumped over Shuichi in sparing. He spoke seeing his father enter the dojo they were in.

“Hey Dad did you just feel that?”

Yoko had felt it before it began but had no idea of how out of tune he was being a spirit kitsune. “How can you not tell what you are sensing and at other times have such accuracy.”

Nijuu smiled jumping on the rose whip Shuichi had made jumping onto a wall pushing off. “Don't know Dad. I mean I try to do what you've told me to do just don't really know how to. I wanna learn though Dad.”

Shuichi stopped once Nijuu kicked him into a wall temporarily tired of playing, or `sparring' with him. “Has Zokusai returned from wherever Sesshomaru has him.”

Yoko had already trained him once a day for the past eleven days and wasn't about to tell them. “No. But your brother won't be fit for traveling if the dog tells us to leave at once.” Yoko growled. “Nor will your mother.”

Nijuu looked up at his father. “Dad if Sesshomaru can tell we're Mom's kids then why couldn't that white wolf? They're both S class and stuff.”

“Sesshomaru has more abilities than we might ever know of and probably had- Has more years to him than the wolf to refine his senses, something else you both need to work on.”

Shuichi looked at Yoko. “How do you suppose I do that.”

“You smell.”

Nijuu smiled. “Dad Shuichi has to tell you something now.”

Shuichi sighed seeing Yoko raise a brow. “Thank you, Nijuu.” He saw Yoko looking at him. “You should tell Yusuke what is going on. Before I came to your, cave, I was at their house. Yusuke knew that you had left and that you were looking for something or someone. He honestly has no idea that Kagome is still alive. And if he is informed when the time comes he can greatly assist us, even during, in killing the two remaining youkai that are behind this.”

“The Toushin will not leave his mate though he would want to fight. HE can not take Souta or Kieko because they can not fight and would hinder us and Kieko would forbid Katsumo and Shio from leaving.”

“Most likely true, and I have thought of these thing but at least tell him Yoko. Let him decide for himself. At least do not keep him in the dark.” Shuichi saw the look in Yoko's eyes. “Yoko?”

“Then you may go and inform Yusuke. You have three days to return and you will not use any ningen transportation of any sorts.”

Shuichi closed his eyes. “All the way to Osaka from the north of the country- I'm leaving.”

Nijuu contained his excitement. “Can I trail after him Dad?”

“You will stay here and do well to learn how to use what abilities you have.”

Zokusai sat hassling in a corner, tired, wounded, seeing a large white dog transform back into his humanoid state and walk off without a word. One of his sons. Who was younger than his father but more powerful. After taking care of his many injuries and cleaning himself his head snapped to the door sliding closed and briefly closed his eyes.

“What is he doing to you Mom.”

Kagome entered wearing a kimono and looking worn, tired, exgusted. And ill. She looked at him briefly and spoke as she knelt drawing a bucket of water.

“What are you confident that you can do with your fire abilities.”

Zokusai was fine with himself being broken down and built back up. HE wnted to become stronger, more in control…Regrettably like Sesshomaru. But his mother… She was getting broken down and not built back up. But he couldn't do anything about it. Sesshomaru knew each time the fought now that he aimed to kill him but was far too weak to do so.

“Just to make a simple flame. The rest I can do, sometimes, not always, not efficiently.”

Kagome looked at him holding onto the bucket. She walked over to him and gave him the bucket.

“Douse yourself with it.” She watched, knowing that Zokusai wouldn't want to being kitsune and especially fire. “Practice on making a flame. You're starting from scratch.”

Shio sat on the steps of his parents house, having being corrected numerous times that it wasn't his house until he paid for it, tossing a ball back and forth with his runt of a brother Souta. He smirked thinking to himself.

`If he ever went to Makai he'd be scared and start crying upon seeing blood first on someone. And if somehow he came across a demon on his own the boy wouldn't know what to do…' He made a face. `He'd be dead. I really need to get my Mom to let him train.'

Souta laughed `running' after the ball. “Shio what's got you thinkin' so much? I wanna know.”

Shio smirked at him. “Nothing runt. When's Mom getting back from work so I can eat and when's Dad coming back from Makai with Katsumo.”

Souta smiled holding onto the ball. “I don't know. What does Dad do in Makai? He doesn't work like Mommy does.”

`Mommy wants him to get a job but for him to do so, submitting, heck no.' He smiled at him. “Just some things. That's all-“

The boy shouted. “-Shuichi I see you!”

Shio stood on the steps keeping Souta back behind him seeing Shuichi stopping his run in the near distance. When he approached he spoke.

“What's with you? Lost the bike.”

Shuichi quickly caught his breath. He was glad he took as many portals as he did, because there was no way he could even make it to Osaka in three days running straight.

“I need to speak to your father Shio, and I know he's in Makai. Do you know when he's coming back?”

Shio was going to milk him for information if his father wasn't going to tell him. “It's about that massive energy he sensed two weeks ago or so.”

Shuichi nodded. “Yes.”

“Is it urgent.”

“You're not going to trick me into telling you what you want.” Shio cursed only causing Souta to be wide eyed covering his own mouth. “Now you're in trouble with your mother.”

Shio sighed. “Fine fine. You gonna get him or wait?”

Shuichi wouldn't fair well in Makai exgusted. “I'll wait for a few hours then go for him. Could you give me a glass of water please Shio.”

Shio spoke from inside knowing he could still hear him. “Your energy has increased from the last I saw you a while ago…What's, going on. And I'm not even trying to cunn you out of it I really wanna know if you're supposed to be ningen or whatever.”

“What I have to speak to your father about.” He looked up some as Shio gave him the glass. “I sense your brother.”

Katsumo walked up from out of the forest seeing Shuichi, felt his energy up from last time, and for him by a lot, and spoke before going further.

“My father isn't coming back for a few days. Did you need for me to get him before he's too far off.”

Shuichi nodded. “If it isn't too much of a hassle. Thank you katsumo.”

Yusuke ruffled his sons head getting him to smile and push him back as he heard the phone hang up in his house, Souta by no doubt. `Weak brat.' But he smiled. `Rest well friend.' He spoke walking up pushing Souta to the ground ignoring him getting a laugh from Katsumo and a louder one from Shio. “Shuichi what's with the face.”

“Kuwabara died?”

Yusuke nodded. “About three weeks ago. No one could find you, so we obviously couldn't tell you.”

Shuichi closed his eyes. “Did he get the same thing his sister had.”

“Yeah. His was quicker though, less pain.” He smiled. “He's was fine with it, just that he could never be the number one thug of junior high, high school, or our old town.” He looked up at Katsumo, now taller than he was, but lanky. “Take your brothers somewhere that's not here or near and if I catch you in hearing range I'll get you two” Yusuke pointed to his older two. “to do human tasks for a week with no training or Makai and you Souta will have to train despite what your mother says.”

Shuichi chuckled to himself seeing. “Sufficient threat that you could easily carry out.” It was quiet until they cleared out far enough, signaled from a nod from Yusuke. “So not to explain twice, what do you already know.”

“That Yoko ain't coming back, there's been a still increasing amount of demon activity that I don't know the cause of. A number of factions have been rising and most recently, two weeks ago around there was a major fight somewhere in northern makai Japan with a ton of energy expelled. By time I got there, there was nothing, and I mean nothing out of the normal.”

Shuichi nodded. “To make things simpler, I went to Australia on vacation…”

Kagome opened her eyes. It had been five days since she had food. She was living off of the water that she used with Zokusai's training. She had no idea what Sesshomaru was trying to do with her, why, perhaps yes. She had learned in the past that he wasn't sadistic and everything, everything was done for a purpose. This one she just didn't know. She was too weak to pose a threat or protect anything, yet he had commanded her not to be weak. He would only let her leave the room to go to the dojo, when she was told, then back, when she was told. And food…

When she did get it it was measly and far inbetween. She quit meditating along side of Zokusai not thinking about his state of health as well. Maybe this is what Sesshomaru wanted of her.

“Are you focused?” No response. “Good. Do it now.”

Zokusai stood, soaking wet as the room began to be covered with ice. He easily raised his own body temperature and formed flames on his hands and went through the movements and after an hour melted all of the ice in the room. He lowered his body temperature and looked at his mother.

“Next time you'll do it in forty minutes and for now that will be your goal-“
She looked up seeing Sesshomaru at the door and kept her head lowered.

Sesshomaru looked at Zokusai. “You will spar with Taifukai again, half of the allotted time in this form, the other in your other and the wench will stay in here encasing the room in ice once more.”

“Yes Sesshomaru sama.”

At first listening to Shuichi was a major shock after about ten seconds into the retelling. But then…

Anger, furry, pain, concern. But mainly…

Shuichi nodded. “And they're at Sesshomaru's still.”

Yusuke nodded as well. “I know where you and Yoko were bothing thinking, but this is my responsibility as well.” He growled to himself. “And I'm glad that you eventually decided to tell me this bit of information.”

“I wasn't fully aware of everything, just Kagome being alive, until Yoko summoned me… Yoko only told me to tell you this, but I would like to know what you are going to do. Because he is right. There is no way you could take Kieko.”

“But the moment I get into this she's put at risk.” Yusuke nodded. “Okay. Let me know when you're done with the bitch and I'm going liked or not.”

Shuichi was dumbfounded. “I- You're serious.”

“I'm a battle demon Shuichi and I haven't had a battle since Kagome died. Since we thought she was dead for good. I love my mate without a doubt but I can not do this to myself for the rest of her life.” He smirked. “Besides Katsumo and Shio need to get their asses beat down by someone else and worked back up.” He smiled. “Like old days except this time we're all demon…Well… Everyone but you.” He smiled. “Hell my blood is apparently so potent I know for a fact the only one who can smell even trace amount of human blood in them is Sesshomaru. Yoko even told me that I made pure breeds with a ningen.”

Shuichi smiled. “Very well then. Will you be leaving temporarily Kieko and Souta here?”

“Kieko's going on a business thing in London for a few days. I'll just tell her to stay longer… A lot longer and work at the company there with Souta.” He smiled big. “Hey look at this.”

Shuichi watched as the markings all over Yusuke's body faded into his skin. “Impressive.”

“Yeah. Turns out that I can suppress them without using much energy at all, just have to have a high enough energy level in the first place to do it so that cuts down on a lot of the makeup cost this house has. Can even do the hair, but that takes more energy so it's not worth it.” He laughed. “Those two'll have to toughen it out with Clinque products until they're a high A class or something.” He walked off. “I'll tell them all when Kieko comes back from work then Kieko separately then the those two separately.” He growled some. “And warn Yoko that if Nijuu continues as he does…”

Shuichi smirked. “He's making him, learn, now as we speak.” He ran off. “I'll see you soon Yusuke.”

Yusuke smirked shouting in the distance. “See Yoko has your ass getting a work out as well!”

Nijuu perked up once his ears caught onto the sound. “Ningen's back!”

Yoko growled at him. “How is it that despite what I do you are still like this.”

Nijuu jumped up to his feet from eating with his father. “Dunno. Not like I know what a spirit fox is anyway. I mean you've told me but that doesn't help and you keep doing stuff… I just wanna be carefree and mess with people.”

`Kitsune.' “We will spar after Shuichi enters.”

Shuichi entered seeing the two sitting and Nijuu's tail wagging as he turned to Yoko and spoke. “He said to go to him once Sesshomaru lets Kagome go and he will be going with us along with Katsumo and Shio.”

Yoko sighed hearing the news and from Nijuu's excitement. “Shio and Nijuu together, is never a good thing. Where will Kieko be during this time.”

“In England. Yusuke has apparently check out the place where she will be and does not find it a threat and senses very few youkai in the area. And they will stay away from a woman marked as his and a small, though in his words `worthless brat' that is in essence his blood.”

Yoko nodded. “You informed him of everything.”

“Deemed fit. Was my time sufficient enough?”

Yoko smiled some standing up to spar with Nijuu. “No. I have grown a plant in the corner. Try to turn it back into a seed within an hour. This Yoko will not have you become lax.”

Kagome woke to a full plate of food for the third straight day in a row. There was no doubt in her mind that they would be leaving soon. She felt… She had her energy and was basically healed for the most part. Maybe today. She hadn't seen Zokusai in a week and she suspected it was now just Sesshomaru once again training him. And she was the only other person, maybe even aside of his mate, to which knew why he trained Zokusai as he did. And she was eternally thankful for it. Even if the dog was arrogant, egotistical and a pompous ass who thought he was better than everyone else she still thanked him, was grateful and in debt to him. She was nothing now, before…It would have been different. He didn't have to do this, yet he was.

And Yoko. She sighed kneeling hearing him enter and looked down.

“The mainly human of your group has informed the Toushin of current events and you will be traveling with him as well. This does not mean you lack your duty to me wench as well as responsibility. Stay in Japan unless you get information to lead you other places. Since you are being tracked, hunted, you will hunt them. Find and kill those after you.” He walked out. “Zokusai has been resting throughout the day and you all will leave by dusk. Go to your mate.”

Kagome stood once the door closed and walked out. She hadn't noticed before but it was one of Sesshomaru's smaller places. Only a square kilometer of building with a few small side houses. And of course a massive amount of land. She eventually made it down to the dojo they were in seeing Nijuu once again jumping around Shuichi, this time having to do it faster.

`The ningen is actually improving.'

She watched for a while figuring Yoko was with is daughter and sat down watching. After some time passed, and was bombarded by Nijuu asking months worth of questions Yoko entered with his daughter awake giggling at random things. She looked up at him noticing how he was looking at her then looked down again. Sensing the oddness in the room Nijuu spoke up.

“Uhm…” His tail wagged. “Why are you both feeling exactly the same thing but displaying it differently?”

Yoko sighed. “Why can't you do exactly this when you're told.” Nijuu sheepishly laughed. “Sesshomaru released you from his house.”

“To go find who's after the shikkon directly and not hide. He knows Yusuke is coming with.” She saw Shuichi raise a brow. “He didn't show it.”

Nijuu smiled. “I sense Zokusai and he's got five tails-“

Yoko cut him off. “-how can you sense the number of tails he has when his energy is suppressed.”

Nijuu smiled tail wagging. “I just keep track of him that's all.” He saw the glare his father was giving him and eyes widened. “I don't really know I just can feel it sometimes…A lot of times.”

Yoko sighed as Shuichi smirked. “Difficult trying to train a miniature version of yourself is it not?”

“I've trained you I can train Nijuu-“

“-Hi brother!”

Zokusai entered wearing pants and a shirt with a small tear in it. He ignored his brother, saw the look his father was looking at him at with then turned to Shuichi.

“Ready.”

Yusuke looked up seeing Yoko holding something and Nijuu, jumping about as normal. His eyes widened slightly.

“Yoko. Shuichi failed to mention that you knocked her up again.”

Yoko glared at him slightly. “She is my mate and she was pregnant with kits why would that be something of concern Toushin.”

“Can't I even speak my mind without you damn people taking it as offensive now adays?” He saw the smirk on Yoko's face and sighed. “Damn fox. Fell for it again.”

“It's what I do. Are you prepared. I trust you sensed our approach enough.”

“Yeah we're good. Kieko's just waiting for a taxi to take her to the airport with the worthless one. What are you going to do about baby girl here.”

“Shuichi has already spoken to Kieko who has agreed to take her for the duration until all of our return.” Yoko chuckled some. “I am a kitsune and he acts more like a kitsune than not. What do you expect.”

Yusuke smirked some. “Yeah bet she'll love the baby ears and buying more cute hats all over the place and walking her in parks.” He scoffed. “This better not take too long other wise the girl'll wind up as worthless as Souta.”

Kieko came up hearing something from Yusuke but couldn't hear it all and smiled. “Hello Yoko. Did, Yusuke just tell you Souta can't come along?”

Yoko smiled. “Of course Kieko. He was most informative I wouldn't dare dream of putting him in harms way nor would your husband.”

Kieko smiled taking the small kit seeing her immediately wake up. Her eyes brightened and yipped some.

“Yoko she is adorable! How cute! I can finally dress up a girl! And I can tell you're stifling a laugh Yusuke not my fault you wanted boys and you got boys that's all on you mister.”

Yusuke smiled at her holding the girl yipping at her. “Downgraded to mister.” He snubbed. “Allright then Kieko.” He saw Nijuu jumping around. “Hyper over there gave Souta a seed that'll grow as soon as he plants it. It'll let Yoko or Shuichi know if something's up with you three and by an odd chance we can't just feel it.”

Kieko nodded sticking a finger out for Katsumi to hold onto. “This will be so much fun! What's her name Yoko?”

“Katsumi.” He saw her look up at him. “It's a family name before the last sound was of your sons.”

She nodded. “Little Katsumi.” She smiled in seeing her look up at her from hearing her name. “You all be safe okay! And if you have a chance when you're in ningenkai give a call and Yoko I'll put Katsumi on the phone too kay?”

Nijuu trotted past. “Bye Kieko!”

Kieko looked at him with a wave. “He pulled a prank didn't he. He's got that look in his eyes just like you Yoko.”

Yoko smirked. “If it's one thing he can do well is be what kitsunes have been known for throughout the years.”

“So what did he do-“

“-damnit Nijuu get your ass back here now!”

Kieko shouted seeing Shio running after him towards the Makai portal. “Shio do not curse is that understood!” She shoved Yusuke. “And you need to stop cursing around them so that they don't think it's okay.”

He kissed her immediately calming her down. “I apologize Kieko.”

Katsumo walked up next to them and bowed slightly. “Mother.” He nodded at his father. “Shall we?”

Yusuke spoke after giving Kieko a hug and seeing her, Katsumi and Souta off in the taxi with a smile. “What did Nijuu do.”

Katsumo spoke smiling. “He made him take a shit in his own pants.”

Yusuke laughed aloud as Yoko chuckeled speaking. “that's a new one for him. Good.”

“Once we figure out where we're going may Zokusai and I spar father.”

Yusuke nodded. “Sure thing, but you know that if he's been in Sesshomaru's place for three months he's caught up to you, at least.” He saw the look in Yoko's eyes. “Meaning ole fox here knows something we defiantly don't know.” He turned to Katsumo. “Did Shio at least change pants?”

Zokusai sat next to his mother next to a small set of mountains near the makai portal. He saw her look ahead still.

“Why is Sesshomaru training me Mom. I know you know and I could tell his son didn't.”

“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.” She felt his gaze stronger. “I don't know what it means exactly but it is something that should be welcomed, even if you don't really understand why.”

“Why won't you tell me though.”

“Because you're too young to understand and I know you despise that answer, but when you're old enough to know and that could be in two months two decades two centuries you'll already know.” It was quiet for a while. “Being realistic…When this is over and if I'm still alive I wanna disappear. Where no one knows what I am… I've had a lot of time to think since we were in Sesshomaru sama's home. I want to be able to claim you in the future Zokusai. And this is what it is all about. Not now. Then. For a better one where you can call me Mom and I will respond, and I can have two sons and a daughter. But for now you're his son. And at times I know you resent me for it and Nijuu just doesn't understand. And I'm fine with it. It would probably make it easier for me if you did hate me all of the time.

But I'm only mortal, we're all going to die at sometime and I just want yours to be as far away from this moment as possible. Because there will be a time when I can have a son like you, because you won't be who you are now, then, nor will I.” She stood walking off. “But I do love you, Zokusai.”

Yoko exited the portal last seeing Kagome walking back to where Shuichi was leaving Zokusai in the distance. Yusuke picked up on it as well and put a hand on Katsumo's shoulder.

“Give him time…Is he okay Kagome.”

She looked at Katsumo, Nijuu and Shio already long gone doing…something she rather not know. “Just leave him alone for a while.”

Yusuke smiled at her. “At least you're out of dog's house. You, doin' okay?” he saw Yoko walk off with Katsumo to train him. “Okay enough.”

She looked up at him. “No, but you already knew the answer.”

Yusuke figured to give her a little time. “What happened with Zokusai.”

“I told him the truth and he's processing it.”

Yusuke looked on at her. “I've never seen him like that ever. I mean the boy's a deep thinker to the max…But…” he looked at Kagome. “You told him that he's your son.”

“I told him I loved him, and he had never heard that before in his life.”

“And some other things you're not going to tell me.” He saw a small smile on her face. “Can still do that.” He was quiet for a while. “Did dog tell you how this was going to end.”

“Yusuke you are a friend but I wish Shuichi wouldn't have told you about this. Not just because of your safety, because I really don't want anyone around me. But… When Sesshomaru knew Shuichi was going to tell you he gave me a fail safe device, because he knows you're more powerful than Yoko, meaning he has no confidence in Yoko even though he likes you less.”

“What is it.”

“I'm not going to tell you, I wouldn't even if he didn't tell me not to. But…To answer your first question, I'm just, tired. Look forward to the future, no matter what it brings.”

Yusuke gave her a small side hug. “A future you're in. I'll figure out what it is and either stop you from using it or it using you.”

Yoko came back from sparing and training the youths, to according to him Yusuke and Kagome still were-

He shook the notion of his mate as a youth out of his head and went back to the cave. It wasn't one of his. He wasn't about to have Uremeshi's, anyone not blood to him inside of one of his caves. At times he didn't want Nijuu and even Zokusai inside. And now… With even more he'd have even less time with his mate alone than before, which was almost next to none. He wanted his scent all over her body after he figured out what she was thinking about.

Yusuke looked up seeing Nijuu and Shio playing some type of speed game with stones inside, but at Yoko seeing his eyes briefly glitter. “Yoko you can have sex all you want but in seeing this cave and the size of it I doubt you want everyone in here seeing Kagome stark naked.”

Shuichi looked at Yusuke. “His eyes glittered over for a moment again I see. We can leave you two alone for some time if you'd like. It has been quite a span for you.”

Yoko smirked. “I like letting that look be known, because in most cases it would be a sign for you to leave.” Yusuke laughed out loud while Shuichi chuckled to himself. “You'll be able to tell once she comes back in with Katsumo, yusuke.”

Yusuke looked on seeing his eldest son walking ahead of Kagome with a slight blush on his face and his eyes closed as he sat down near Zokusai who was already asleep. Yusuke laughed a bit to himself already knowing what it was as Kagome walked inside to the opposite end of the cave with nothing across her face, sat, and slept. Shuichi nodded understanding before hand, just from being a part of Yoko for such a time. Shio, though, sniffed around looking up from the game and spoke.

“Hey what smells really goo-“

Nijuu put his hand over his mouth quickly laughing to cover up the last syllable. Yusuke spoke slightly lower hoping Kagome couldn't hear that far away, but didn't put it past her.

“Let's find a larger cave tomorrow ne?”

Yoko smiled. “If you'd like for me to rutt with my mate so much Yusuke you can take the children and leave.”

He waved his hand. “Fine fine. So what do you think old man is the best way to figure out where these people are at? Become undead?”

“Precisely.”

“After at least twenty four hours worth of rutting that is.”

Kagome walked towards the middle not liking it. She was in heat and in mist of a group entirely compromised of males. More than she had ever been around in her life probably that weren't trying to kill her. And the only other thing she did as she walked was to get the thought of rutting with Yoko out of her head. She smiled though, unable to hide it. She knew for a damn fact Yoko didn't know a damn thing of what she was thinking when she was in heat or when it came to mating.

Shio dropped back some from Nijuu next to her. “Kagome? I haven't asked but since it's coming from you…Why do you smell really good? Is this normal for you or something?”

Kagome heard the snickers from some of the children and chuckles from the rest. “I'm in heat.”

Shio blushed some. “Uhm so does that mean…Uhm…”

Kagome ignored him and continued to walk. She wanted for this time to be over, and quickly.

Not finding a cave for the next two nights they decided to rest for a while in a secluded section of a jungle, to which kagome immediately left the group clearly still in sensory, and smell range, to be alone. Yoko looked on and decided, knowing she wanted to be alone, to go and follow her. Something was odd, more than normal, and he just wanted to be around her.

`And she knows she tortures me far more than I could ever torture her when it comes to her being in heat.'

Kagome looked up at him waiting for him to speak. He found her sitting against a tree waiting for him to say something.

“What's wrong and telling me nothing is wrong would be lying to me.”

Kagome prayed Sesshomaru wasn't that cruel, even if it felt, literally right now, like he was. “Thinking.”

He sat down, picked her up and inhaled into her hair growling some. “We can stay here for a few days, if you'd like that is.” He smiled at her. “It's going to be fine Kagome. We will not be defeated this time.”

She turned around and looked at him for a while. “If you say it, I trust you,” she kissed him. “Yoko.”

Shio woke up and blushed immediately knowing what the sounds were. He saw his father had noticed his reaction, blushed more and went back to sleep. Yusuke spoke to Shuichi, both staying up not sleeping.

“You, remember when…Well you've heard them go at it before right?”

Shuichi looked at him. “They are quieter than when we stayed at the shrine in Osaka and unfortunately at times I did happen to wake up in the middle of it. But they're more quieter in general, Yoko prides himself on trying to elict the most sounds out of her and this…”

“You mean the one shout we did hear from her might not be because of pleasure.”

“But Yoko would never hurt her.”

“Maybe it's some weird thing they do-“

Shuichi and Yusuke both stopped. They were talking about how their two friends were having sex. Yusuke looked at Shuichi.

“Yeah you can go to sleep if you want. I got no problem staying awake.”

Yoko watched his mate sleep. It was one of his favorite activites to do with her….First being simply holding her, second being rutting, this third. But…

`Something's wrong with her that she should not have tried to cover up. She's never this quiet when it comes to rutting. And the one time that she did shout out I could have sworn she was in pain.' He stroked her head. `And then I stopped. Don't try to lie to me to protect me love, the world doesn't have to be on your shoulders. I love you, I don't want you to just, be compliant because it's less confrontation-`

Yoko paused his thoughts hearing a small whimper escape from his mate sleeping on top of him as she tried curling up some. He couldn't tell if it was from pain or another bad dream. When she woke in the morning, quiet, avoiding eye contact, he sat her up on his lower stomach at his waist so she would have to look at him and spoke.

“Do not try to avoid things by putting sex in front of me Kagome because I will stop as I did once I find out.” He looked at her closer. “Why don't you want to tell me?”

She looked at him speaking calmly. “I don't like hiding anything from you Yoko but some things I don't have a choice in, and not about following orders, but just that I can not say.”

“He got some one to put some type of spell on you so that you can't say this to me.” He saw her nod and felt his spirit drop. “Kagome…”

Kagome sensed it and looked at him feeling bad. “Please don't- “ She stopped herself knowing he would worry about it. Instead she gently kissed him then brushed under his chin, something she learned that soothed him. “Yoko there are a lot of things I would like to tell you that I don't. Some by choice, some not by choice.” She kissed him again. “And I know I have nothing to fear from you but I'm still…” She kissed him instead of saying the word. “I tried telling someone to test it out.”

Yoko received another one of her kisses. “Yusuke.”

She kissed him again. “I couldn't control what I was saying after a while, and when I tried again I felt really ill. I didn't even know he did it to me, but now there's no purpose in getting upset.” She kissed him again. “It's done.” She saw the look he was looking at her with. “I care for you Yoko,” she leaned down on him wrapping her arms around his bare chest head in the crook of his neck. “but I'm sorry.”

Yoko wasn't sure what to make of it and thought as he put his tail over her bare legs and an arm around her gently stroking her back for a short while. He had always known, even more the first time they rutted, which wasn't how he would have liked at all.

“You're a lot smaller than I am.”

“You're bigger than I am,” she let out a small sigh and sat up walking to the pile where her clothing was. “let's go.”

Yusuke looked up noticing Kagome coming out of the jungle, as normal leaving Yoko's scent on her. She started walking with Katsumo and Zokusai and shortly later Yoko came out of the jungle. He spoke.

“Yo punk kids. Go ahead.”

Nijuu looked at him. “Uhm…”

Yusuke sighed. “Walk? Understand?” When they were ahead enough Yusuke spoke. “What's going on.”

“Kagome spoke to you earlier when you first came into makai.”

“Yeah. She said…” Yusuke looked up. “That I am a friend but she wished that Shuichi didn't tell me about this. Not just safety `cause she dosen't want anyone around her. And when Sesshomaru knew Shuichi was going to tell me, he gave her a fail safe device, because he knows I'm more powerful than you, meaning he has no confidence in you though he likes me less.” He paused. “And as she continued speaking I looked at her asking if she was okay, seemed uncomfortable or something. But she went on sounding a bit odd, first of all because she never talks that much at once and the more she spoke… I don't know. But she said she wasn't going to tell me and that she was tired. Said something else then excused herself a bit quickly.”

Yoko didn't have enough information. “Sesshomaru had someone to place a spell on her. She can't say certain things without, pain. And I'm not sure if that's all.”

Yusuke continued to walk. “But the thing is she's secretive regardless that at least I can't tell what she'd hide normally for our own good or because he won't let her say it.”

Yoko looked ahead at her, Shuichi slightly in front of them. “I'm worried that it goes back further-“

Yusuke looked at him pausing slightly in a step. “-where.”

Yoko growled ahead. “Underneath us.”

Nijuu's ears perked up and growled back. “I can't sense that Dad but when you brought that up I had a shiver down my back. There's something else out there. All I feel is…not like us?”

Yoko sighed. “Nijuu says there's something not like us out there.”

Yusuke chuckled some catching up with the rest along side of Yoko. “Yup, Nijuu. Can sense more things than everyone around him most of the time but doesn't know what it is or where it is, just that it's -“

Yusuke looked ahead feeling a vibration in the ground and before anything else could happen the ground beneath the ones ahead broke open. Nijuu immediately jumped, just before, to the side out of range landing on the edge of a major crater in the ground, deep, and briefly looked down regretting it.

There was a deep pit in the ground with a circle of teeth and a large purple tongue. It had to be a demon, but he couldn't see anything else of it as his brother, mother and friends feel down.

But Kagome, on even more alert, formed a small ice pole as soon as she felt the ground shake. She knew Nijuu, as much as he jumped, would be safe, but the rest of the children would need more assistance. The ground opened up beneath her with the sound of an earthquake and she quickly grew the pole straight down causing the creature…A large mole youkai to shriek in pain getting its lip speared. Zokusai got onto the pole at various stages of length and kicked off of it grasping onto the side of hole and quickly climbed up and out. Katsumo looked up at her, standing on top of the ice pole on a small sheet of ice.

“We can't jump that far.”

Kagome couldn't jump that far either. Seeing Yoko and Yusuke in the distance she quickly, as the mole demon closed its mouth breaking the ice pole, she quickly grew out another ice pole, very long, the width of the hole and dropped it from where she was jumping onto it hanging on, swinging up standing on it with Yusuke's sons and going to the edge of it. The mole demon let out a noise of some sorts and went back under ground. By time she made it to stable land Yoko and Yusuke were already there. She looked into the hole as Yoko spoke.

“She tunneled someplace else. Not coming back.”

Shio looked at him. “Then why?”

Yoko spoke. “Nijuu focus now where do you feel that at.”

Nijuu put his hands up in the air. “Dad I don't I can just feel it now I told Mom as you growled to me.”

Yoko closed his eyes. `I need to train him constantly.' “Fine.”

Nijuu made a face. “Apologize Dad…Am trying… and now I don't sense it at all like it went away. Really far away or at least heading towards it but not, gone.” He looked up at Yoko. “What does that mean?”

Yoko looked up at the setting sun. “We keep going, you hunt at night then continue on.”

Kagome sat against a tree with Shuichi on the other side of it napping. Everyone else was out hunting. It was the closest thing she would be getting to time alone, since the human would wake the moment she stood. She could tolerate him fine, but she still didn't like him. She said she would hunt and let it die, but that wouldn't serve any purpose in seeing as how she wasn't going to eat anything and told it to Yoko boldface. He knew the last time she had eaten, but why she wasn't eating…

`Same reason I can't say anything to you Yoko.'

She continued to think for a while seeing Shio returning followed by Nijuu gnawing on a bone. He had cleaned himself. The boy was entirely too focused on hygiene, which was good, but not that much. He didn't even like blood in his mouth for too long. She smiled a bit at the thought of Nijuu with dirt on him finding out minutes later-

She quickly stood which woke Shuichi. “What is it Kagome.”

Nijuu spoke. “I got that same feeling again…Do you know what it is Mom? Maybe that's what you're sensing.”

“It's moving around quickly, they are.”

She created an ice ball in her hand quickly encasing it with fire and closed her fist quickly making five of the same size and threw them straight up above her as she jumped up into a tree. As something moved out of them one was hit with a small noise and she quickly grabbed, it, cutting a part of it's body off with an ice dagger doing the same to another part. When Shuichi heard Nijuu growling at it, them, and the blood that fell from the tree where Kagome was he spoke knowing the type of demon around them.

“Shadow youkai.”

Kagome quickly flipped to a lower branch of the tree glad the other fire ice balls had lit something so that she could see better. And the youkai had less of an advantage. She quickly kicked one out of the tree getting on top of it only to find it going out from her feet. She looked around. If Shuichi wasn't saying anything then he didn't know how to defeat the eith-

Nijuu growled. “They're not attacking so this is a distraction.”

Shio didn't like it. “From what.”

Kagome sensed it ahead. “Get down now.”

Kagome dove with Shuichi getting him out of the way rolling, stood up to see a path burnt to a crisp. Quickly. Not sensing the rest around but sensing the other part of their group in the distance she created an ice bow with one arrow firing it only to hear it shatter in the distance as her eyes widened seeing more shadow demons around, some starting to take solid form, and pushing them, kicking them. As a plume of water crashed straight into her.

Yoko looked up seeing Yusuke approaching in the distance after eating. “Kagome's fighting something.”

Yusuke came up to him. “What I was going to tell you Katsumo keeps saying something is pushing him but can't see a thing, can't sense a thing.”

Yoko clawed at something in front of him nearly missing Yusuke.
“-Shadow demons-“

Yoko let out a loud grunt almost blacking out. He shook his head finding himself on the ground and sniffed. Lightning. Not sure of how that was possible since he sensed literally nothing around him he saw Yusuke getting up looking not well either.

“What the fuck was that.”

Yoko looked around. “Lightning, and I can't sense anything-“

Yusuke quickly jumped to the side as Yoko jumped out of the path of a shoot of water aimed straight at them. Followed by a shoot of fire Yusuke couldn't avoid and another shoot of water that slammed Yoko through a number of trees. When it stopped he caught his breath coughing out some water and quickly jumped into a tree out of the way of a bolt of lighting when his ears locked onto a yelp from Nijuu. He had no idea of what was going on, but that there was a wide mass of energy forming at the end of Yusuke's finger.

“Jakai gun!”

The red glow of energy cleared out a massive path of trees and hit nothing on the end except for a few stray demons. Jumping out of the way of another flume of water Yusuke growled pist.

“What the hell is doing that?”

Kagome chocked on the water quickly freezing the bottom portion of it pushing off to the side before she felt her back break on a tree. She landed quickly coughing up water and jumped to the side of another one. She wouldn't have the ability to freeze all of it. The thing was at a major advantage in the distance…

Kagome took off running. “Shio be alert. Nijuu.”

Nijuu quickly caught up to his mother, that he noticed wasn't trying to go quickly. “Yeah?”

“I'm going to fire arrows at it. It can tell they are coming and will destroy them but then you will figure out where they are at since you are quick and attack, quickly, making sure not to stay around it for long and do not jump into a tree if you can help it…Because you're very loud in them.”

Nijuu nodded and went into his kitsune form hoping it would aid him. Apparently not even his mother knew what they were facing…Why wasn't anyone else coming? Thinking of it now he couldn't sense anyone else. He quickly saw his mother's arrow go past him and it shatter in the distance and something glow. He changed directions seeing a flue of lighting go into the air the same time a flume of water went straight. And another ice arrow shatter and him change direction again getting closer. And quickly another ice arrow meaning his mother was doing her best to fire and track him- As he jumped to the side of a flume of fire-

Nijuu let out a yelp getting pushed to the side by something then kicked and figured it was the shadow demon getting into a solid form. He saw his mother fire another arrow seeing the glow again now directly in front of him-

Kagome dove down cursing herself even more not able to tell that the shadow had attacked Nijuu and got on top of his much larger form than herself and covered him creating an ice shield to buy them a little protection as a plume of water went straight at them. She pushed him to get him moving and froze the water, that close to the creature and turned to Nijuu.

“Attack now.”

Nijuu went back to his humanoid form quickly and ran forward weary of biting it and instead used his claws and slashed at it only finding, time and time again that his claws couldn't make it past the creatures tough exterior-

Kagome spoke to him diving with him again getting him out of the way of a flume of fire. It went clear across her back, but since she wasn't in its path long enough she could neutralize it some.

“-I told you attack and leave quickly.”

Nijuu got up to his feet as Kagome rolled off of him jumping to the side of a bolt of lighting, not even knowing he sensed it that quickly. He spoke seeing the creature gone out of sight again and his mother shaking her head getting up to her feet. She had gotten hit by…Either water- Water. He didn't smell fire or- He knew she got hit.

“The thing's got some tough exterior I couldn't claw at it no matter what I did.” He saw Shio and Shuichi running at them, avoiding water flumes at them. “What is it?”

Shuichi ran past them following Shio having seen what Kagome was trying to accomplish in the distance. She would fire the arrow this time and Shio would try attacking it.

“Are you sure it's one entity Nijuu.”

“No.”

Shuichi continued on. “Let us follow Kagome then. Apparently she has a plan of attack to at least expose it's weakness.”

Yoko looked ahead keeping focus all around him. It's attacks he couldn't sense. He jumped to the side quickly of a bolt of lightning seeing Katsumo and Zokusai running ahead after it. Not wanting them after it alone he went ahead after them, noticing the longer they ran the further they got from the creature.

`We can't run straight at it because we can't even see it.'

He closed his eyes briefly listening, for the creature, and to nature. He grew out the grass tying the creature down from where it was standing on top of the grass that cried out for help and struggled some jumping aside from a flume of water. It was incredibly powerful-

And it flared it's fire around itself letting it know where it was for the other three to find it and attack as it burnt away from the vines. He ran up seeing the creature as Zokusai growled claws ineffective and Katsumo's punches only bothering it. But when Yusuke hit it-

Kagome turned hearing a loud roar of some sorts and continued on aiding Shio to get closer to it. She spoke to him, following in the trees.

“Aim for soft areas like the eye. When you can get closer attack with energy around your fist to make the impact stronger. Jump away quickly.”

Shio nodded firing in the distance unable to see it and saw the glow as it moved away and followed as Kagome shot another arrow, quickly jumping out of the way of a flume of water. Shio saw the breaking of ice, fired again at where he thought the glow would be and saw Kagome fire an arrow quickly afterwards and ran after using a bit more energy, charged his hand and connected. The creature, to which he saw was about twice the size of Zokusai in kitsune form was still massive in its own way, with either three or four heads, some letting lighting, water and fire out of their mouths… But when his fist connected it only dented the ruff exterior getting a grunt. He quickly started punching in the same area when he let out a yell feeling himself electrocuted. The creature had sent a bolt of lighting on itself, which didn't affect it.

Shio was forced to the ground in pain shouting and soon found a foot on top of him and blacked out.

Kagome saw as she jumped out of the way of a flume of fire and quickly made it out of the trees getting his attention. “Shuichi get Shio out of the way.”

Kagome quickly jumped above Shio holding her arms up quickly and let out a grunt as she was forced into the ground holding off a very flat foot. Shuichi formed a dull rose whip wrapping it around Shio's legs and quickly whipping it back towards him pulling him back as Nijuu dove with him to the side out of the way of a plume of water. Kagome shouted seeing under the creature at them.

“Now!”

Shuichi nodded at Nijuu to go. The kitsune ran under the creature taking an ice sword from his mother that she had dropped for him seeing her energy around her trying not to be crushed and unable to let go at the same time. The sword was very cold, but in seeing the fire surround the creature and his mother not really effected he could understand why she didn't want him clawing it. He shoved the sword into the creature quickly going as deep as possible and putting more of his energy into his strength and slowly, finding the creature dense and his underbelly skin was still thick, moving along trying to gut it. Was seemingly something he did well.

Shuichi noticed the creature preoccupied with the two no longer attacking at him and the unconscious Shio. He grew out some plants, vines, that went into the exposed belly helping to aid Shio. He saw the flume of water go over itself and would have shoved Kagome off if she had not frozen it's foot. Causing it to shout in freezing pain and quickly put fire over itself again. He sent the rose whip around Kagome's waist having to stop sending plants into it's belly knowing she would understand and that Nijuu could easily jump away that quickly.

Kagome felt the smooth whip go around her waist and hissed in pain. “Nijuu when I shout abandon its underside and jump away.” She saw Nijuu nod, and wondered why it took the creature so long to use lightening on itself- “-go!”

Kagome felt herself yanked back causing her more pain from something else and saw Nijuu safe quickly jumped to the side. She coughed out some blood noticing the odd look Shuichi gave her and jumped to the side separate from him getting up to her feet. She spoke going after it following the blood trail.

“Stay with Shio.”

Kagome saw Nijuu running next to her, meaning he didn't know what to do. She didn't know what to do. Her arms were…She couldn't lift the creature any longer. Nijuu could using a lot of his energy, but she couldn't use the sword and cut into the thing and Shuichi wouldn't be fast enough to get out from under it…The blood coming from under it.

“Distract on of its heads. When it shouts out ram into it and knock it over.”

Kagome saw Nijuu flip arrogantly in front of the creature and kick the lighting on in its face and quickly avoid the bolt that followed. Kagome quickly put her hands to the ground where she could see the blood trail and froze it's blood up to it's stomach. The creature let out a massive yell having part of its inside unnaturally cold frozen as Nijuu jumped onto the side of the creature and kicked off of it, three times going against a tree quickly. The creature, still roaring fell onto its side and was about to get up when Kagome tossed Nijuu another ice sword and herself at a distance threw a javelin into it. After she heard a gurgling sound and saw Nijuu began to hack at its neck to make sure it was dead she cleared out of the area where Shuichi sat with Shio, waking up with a plant in his face, sat down and closed her eyes ignoring Nijuu until Shio woke up. When he did he felt a glare from Kagome and looked towards her-

“If the both of you refuse to listen to what someone tells you, you will be killed out here.”

Shio spat out some blood. “Yes Kagome.”

She growled to herself, sighed, sat against a tree and closed her eyes listening to Shuichi speak to her. “And of the others.”

“Yusuke's strong enough to punch through the thing. Once they stall it enough for him so that he's not electrocuted he'll kill it with ease.”

Yusuke's punch went straight into the creature causing it to let out some noise and quickly rose his energy to get strength to get his arm out. He jumped away seeing the fire curl around and go down upon itself as he heard a shout from his son and growled to himself. He spoke to Yoko.

“How can we get it not to do that to itself since only I can punch through it.” He saw Yoko jump back to next to him. “Well.”

Yoko looked at the creature. “I can quickly wrap vines around its left side, the legs keeping it in place long enough for Zokusai and Katsumo to knock it onto its side, where all of us can attack underneath it while you take out one of the heads since we won't have time to kill it.”

Yusuke nodded and saw the two boys nod in agreement as well. Yoko quickly grew out some branches and leaves around the base of its legs and held it in place as the boys at the same time both punched it then kicked back causing the creature to fall over. Yusuke quickly aimed for the lightning head, knowing that hurt them the most and by time the creature- that part of it was howling in pain it sent fire around itself causing the rest to jump away. After about five more attempts in succession, the fire head not letting Yusuke anywhere near it, the creature let out a breath of exgustion and allowed Yusuke to punch, quickly, about five holes at their necks until he was assured they were dead. Yusuke sighed.

“Let's go see how Kagome faired, getting stuck with the weak three.”

Yoko looked around. “The shadow demons are gone. They were spies.”

Yusuke smirked at him. “Well you said it would be good if we were alive.”

“Good on our terms. Now they know that the Toushin is slightly injured and a spirit fox that has killed himself off before is weakened and alive. Along with four young offspring and a fire ice youkai.”

Yusuke nodded. “Right.” He growled. “Stupid Shio.”

Shio looked up at his father with a sheepish smirk. “Hey Dad…”

Yusuke saw his son's legs almost completely crushed. “Should be glad Shuichi is giving you major makai drugs so that you're not crying like a baby.” He heard Shio moan in protest to his father as Shuichi continued setting his bones. “What happened.” He heard Kagome growl and smirked. “Shio you know what, you don't even have to say anything, because that in itself tells me you can't do as you're told.”

Nijuu whinned some seeing his father looking at him for an explanation. “Mom told me to attack once and quickly get out of the way, and I kept at it. And she told the same thing to Shio, who also didn't, listen.”

Yoko growled at him. “Follow directions, learn or die. Do not put your mother in harm because of your idioacray. If you weren't my son I would have killed you now, so you would do best not to say anything to me for some time.”

Yusuke saw Nijuu whine for a short while until Yoko growled something else at him. He saw Shio look up at Nijuu and smiled patting him on the back.

“Don't even think you're off easy.” He laughed some. “Just wait until you can walk again.”

Shuichi spoke still taking care of his wounds. “Was that a Chimera.”

Yoko spoke a bit tired having Kagome growl at him from not wanting to be moved or touched but did so anyway. `You'd sit through injury and pain because you're used to it.' “Stop.” Kagome growled at him knowing he'd force it if she didn't. She hissed as he moved up her shirt. “Yes what do you know about them.”

Shuichi continued. “Mythical beings with the more powerful ones having more heads to them. Immune to the abilities they posses having such common ones as lightning, fire, water, ice, to more rare even for a rare mythical being such as neutralizing abilities, illusion, nature, and others probably unknown.”

Yusuke spoke resting. “Nerd.”

Yoko saw the vine marks around Kagome and figured Shuichi had to move her quickly for a reason. But the massive bruise on her left side…Some were more main colors than others. He put her shirt down not having anything to do for bruises and went to her arms that had luckily, no thanks to Shio, fractured further. He propped her up onto his lap holding her placing two leaves into her mouth and growled lightly. When he felt her chewing he spoke.

“Chimera yes but where did they come from since they are indeed a myth.”

Yusuke spoke. “Either everyone lied to the two of you in school about myths or that physic who could make things real from books, or someone like him did it. But I can't smell anything completely human around here. Besides these Chimera obviously had limited intelligence so someone got them to do it, controls them somehow, and it wasn't the shadow demons.”

It was quiet for a while. Katsumo and Zokusai returned from a brook cleaning themselves and Yusuke, shoving Nijuu, went off to clean as well. Yoko spoke.

“Did you find anything.”

Katsumo shook his head. “Shadow demons then we headed for you two.”

Kagome listened on the conversation, upset that she knew Yoko wasn't going to let her walk though she was capable when it came for their time to clean, and thought about what had happened. The chimera weren't too intelligent, just attack them, move, defend. IF they were smart they would have understood her speaking out loud what they were going to do to it. The shadow demons were spies, but then who could get them to listen and not do what they want? And the mole earlier? Who would have to gain from getting the tama and how? They couldn't ask anyone, even if they were alive. NO leads, dead end. Meaning they would just have to keep walking around with no direction until they could corner something with intelligence and get it to talk… In the mean time Nijuu was returning with Yusuke, and since Shuichi wasn't finished…

Yoko lifted up Kagome seeing her flick him off and figured she was extremely pissed off at Nijuu and Shio and spoke to her once at the brook. “You haven't done that in quite a long time.”

“I can walk and I can clean myself.”

Yoko nodded. “You can, as can I for you do not fight me.”

Kagome ignored him and began to kneel to clean herself and sighed. Yoko was right behind her and would stop her, so that she didn't further harm herself. She knelt her head giving in once again feeling a strain on her legs and figured the fracture went straight down through her legs, just not as much. IT was quiet for some time.

“It's just Nijuu and Shio.”

“Yes.”

“Why do you have two different bruise patterns on your stomach.”

Sesshomaru was going to kill her again. “Trampled.”

“Kagome-“

“-you need to back off and let me do a damn thing for myself.” She glared at him. “Or do you see me weak now too.” She saw his expression and pushed out of his hold walking off. “Better yet, don't answer.”

Yoko whinnied. Kagome had never been upset at him, so the first time being that harsh…HE whinnied more, headed back and sat alone under a tree. Shuichi spoke softly to him as he left with Shio.

“If she said something to upset you this much, maybe she couldn't control what she was saying to you Yoko.”

Yoko was quiet, he hadn't thought of that, but her words, the glare behind it. She was almost always incontrol of her emotions and rarely let them show, even when she was in pain. She would rather act on controlled anger, but against him? He looked down by himself. He was confused and he did not want to leave her alone, like he did last time, which led her to think apparently even after he found her again that he hated her. To end it all and go and kill herself, because he couldn't say or even look at her. But he couldn't bring himself to say anything to her then, or now.

Yoko got up and growled at himself quickly going off into the jungle. `I told her I would never fail her again and I don't plan on letting her do this to herself liked or not I am her mate and I will not let her continue to do this to herself. I will not let you-'

Yoko continued running past and soon ran past some bile on the ground after dead youkai. `She wasn't trying to get away from me, the spell made her…Act as such towards me. Kagome…'

Kagome glared at Yoko as he walked out letting out a rather loud whine. And once the pain started to form she bit her lip. He wouldn't want to be around her now, she felt like shit. She had never felt him feel that bad before, hurt. And it was because of her. Just another forbidden bitch that only messed things up. She took off in the opposite direction wanting to distance herself as much as possible from someone she loved, would die for again without a thought, would love to live for, care for, would do anything…But could only hurt. She really would have been better off dead, because Yoko would have never known to feel pain such as-

Kagome quickly jumped off of a tree gritting her teeth from the pain of her fractured bones and slashed through one bird youkai and burnt the rest. She saw one crow youkai, maybe C class flying down at her and after a few minutes had slashed through it enough to kill it, putting too much of a strain on her limbs that cried for her to stop-

Kagome let out a small shout, collapsed, and vomited. It was mainly bile, some blood, no food. She couldn't eat too much without… She quickly got onto her legs that cried for her to stop, her mind that cried for her to die, her eyes that just cried. She noticed a small serpent demon looking at her and stopped running, praying that it latched onto her neck, had venom stronger than she currently was, and she died. Because she couldn't be in anymore pain than from doing that to Yoko by choice or not-

Kagome winced some seeing the snake quickly latch onto her arm drawing fresh blood. It wasn't poisonous. It wasn't going to kill her. She wiped her tears away quickly slashing through its body weakening it and pulling it out of her arm letting it slowly die and continued to run. After a short while she sensed the end of the jungle and let out a small cry not fast enough to dodge a stray wolf demon that slash across her stomach. Knowing she didn't have the strength to defeat it now she tossed an ice ball at it causing it to explode freezing parts of its face catching it off guard, ran off, found a place to hide, curled up and wept herself to sleep.