InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Heart Blood and Soul ❯ One long chapter ( Chapter 17 )

Thank you Leomae, Crystal Renee, Eekolie, GothicBlacre, JEM46, Annie mea, Crissy69 for reviewing

Leomae: Your fears of Ryu being stronger than Inuyasha are set aside, it will be explained in this chapter just what having Inutaisho's blood in his system means.

Crystal Renee: I was almost afraid you were going to read the whole story in one setting, that would not have been good for your brain. But thank you so much for the reviews!

Eekolie: *bows rather shyly* Thanks for the applause, I try. And Vana just desires to say something. Vana: *waves euthanstically* Hiya!

GothicBlarce: Yes, very evil match, which is why they are so perfect for one another! You have to give the two of them that; they are the darkest pairing in the series.

JEM46: Don't worry, school has been what's keeping me from writing these chapters.

Chapter 17 -One LONG ass chapter-
Ookami followed after Aran, Maeko's mate, through the forest, heading to his village. Ookami felt Kaida tighten her hold on his fur as the wind whipped around them, making her hair fly around, sometimes blocking his sight for a second or so. He raced on ahead, trying to keep the neko in his sight.

Kaida nestled closer into Ookami's back, trying to figure out how long they had been traveling to the village. It was about dawn when Ookami had lifted her up and the argument about Ookami going into his full form so she could continue to rest woke her up. The argument had been ended quickly when she had muttered and snuggled deeper into Ookami's embrace.

Ookami had agreed, albeit reluctantly, to stay in his human form after Aran reminded him that as a full wolf he would draw attention. So now they had been running since that moment and it seemed dusk was setting upon them.

Kaida yawned, feeling tired from having to hang onto Ookami, even though if she had let go his hold on her legs would keep her from falling.

She felt Ookami slow down, before stopping and setting her down, growling for Aran to stop. The cat demon turned around and sighed. "Why did you stop wolf?"

Ookami growled at the nickname and nodded his head to Kaida. "She's tired and probably hungry. We've run all day, and even though it's suppose to be a two day journey we haven't made it there yet."

Aran rolled his eyes, motioning to the hill. "Just one more hill. The village and the lake are on the other side of this hill. We can get food there. Now come on!"

Kaida raised an eyebrow but said nothing about Aran's behavior as Ookami picked her up bridal style, walking at a leisurely pace as to not disrupt Kaida. Kaida decided to take this time to dwell on Aran's behavior change; the childish behavior that seem to overtake him was undeniable.

Ookami notices Kaida's behavior and stopped, leaning against a tree. "What's the matter Kaida?"

Kaida looked into Ookami's brown eyes and sighed. "Aran's behavior. Isn't it strange?"

Ookami shrugged, jostling her in his arms. "Sorry. But no it's not. He's getting to see his mate. He's happy. You know how that is right? Don't you remember your mother before she came in contact with Inuyasha?"

Kaida smacked her forehead. "I'm really too stressed out. Of course he's excited about seeing his mate again."

Ookami chuckled as he started walking again, setting Kaida on her feet. They gazed at the settlement that was just below them, taking in the lake that rested to the left of the rather bustling village. Kaida narrowed her eyes, trying to see where Aran had gone off to.

Ookami chuckled at Kaida's clueless expression. "They are right down there." He said, pointing at what appeared to be nothing but a blur for Kaida. "Come on, lets get this underway so we can get out of here."

Kaida merely nodded, following after Ookami very slowly. As she entered the boundaries of the village, she noticed Ookami's tensed body and she laid a hand on his biceps, feeling the muscle contract under her touch.

Ookami didn't know why he was tensing, maybe it was just the instinct of being around so many humans. He may not look like a hanyou, but when monks like Miroku or the like looked at him, it was as if they knew what he was hiding behind the youkai attribution.

Ookami felt Kaida's touch land on his bicep and involuntarily flinched, not expecting the comforting touch. He felt her lean into him and stretched his senses to try and figure out what was making her so tense, but could find nothing. Instead he allowed her to draw comfort from him, as he drew silent comfort from her presence.

When they reached the center village, Kaida was greeted by a hanyou version of Satya. She did not posses the tattoo on her forehead, but she still had the same facial features. "You must be Kaida." The woman spoke, her hand wrapped in Aran's.

Kaida bowed in respect, glaring at Ookami to do the same. "And you are Maeko-san, are you not?"

The inu-hanyou chuckled. "Yes, I am Maeko, and I hear that you are in need of my body. Or so my pre-incarnation says." Kaida nodded, looking the woman in the eye. Maeko didn't let Kaida say anymore as she held up her hand. "Let us do this body switch. I am sure you are familiar with the procedure."

"Yes, if you mean the soul exchange."

Maeko nodded, motioning to the shrine in the center of the village. "The village priest will perform the soul exchange. You must be first-"

"I know, our bodies must be submersed in the mixture that will extract our souls. This done our bodies will then be placed where the soul exchange will occur, placing your soul in this clay body, and my soul in your body." Kaida looked at Maeko with impassive eyes as her mind brought forth the memories of what placed her in this situation. "Am I not correct?"

Maeko's eyes widened slightly at how cold Kaida's voice had turned and resisted her urge to embrace the child. Aran tightened his hold on her, wrapping one arm around his mate's waist. "Yes, that is the procedure that the priest told me about."

Kaida nodded, stepping away from Ookami's comfort. "Well, then, lets get this finished."

Ookami placed his hand on Kaida's shoulder, drawing her back to his chest. "Ookami, let me go." Kaida hissed, but her voice held a pleading tone to it. "I just want this to be over."

Ookami nodded, letting Kaida go, but not before reminding her of something. "I'll be right here waiting for you. If you need me, all you have to do is call." <A/N: *twitches* so much clichéness. *twitch*>

Kaida said nothing as she stepped away, following Maeko into the shrine, never looking back, because she knew Ookami was going to be there to help her live with these memories again.
*~*~*~* <Sesshomaru's castle>
Sesshomaru's head shot up as the smells from Ryu's room came back. He wrinkled his nose and looked confused as he stood up, walking to his brother's room. Sesshomaru opened the door, knowing his brother and his brother's mate had stopped their mating for the moment.

The smell of sex assaulted the nose of the taiyoukai and his gold eyes fell to the futon where his brother laid, stroking Kagome's back lightly.

"What do you want Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha asked, looking up at his brother with a lazy eye. A lot had changed between them in these few days; they had fallen into the role of brothers, accepting that both of them were fathers.

"Follow me. There is a scent in my castle, one that I recognize." Sesshomaru said, stepping out of the room to give his brother the privacy he needed to put some cloths on.

Inuyasha stepped out of the room a moment later, dressed in his hamaka and haori. He nodded for Sesshomaru to go on with his exclamation. "It seems that for a short while all contact with Ryu's room was lost. When it returned, I detected a scent that was very faint, but still, it reminded me of someone."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes, waiting for Sesshomaru to say who the person was. When it became apparent Sesshomaru would say no more Inuyasha decided to persist. "Who is the someone?"

"Our father."

Inuyasha blinked slowly, before leaning against the wall, his head in his hands. "Are- are you sure? I mean, if it was our father, why would he want to see Inu-Kana, Ryu and Shippo?"

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow. "That's why we are going to ask them, little brother. So we can find out that sort of information."

Inuyasha sighed, following after Sesshomaru. His mind traveled, wondering how he could have missed the cut off from Ryu's scent. Was he really that caught up in watching Kagome sleep? Or, was he realizing that Ryu was actually mature enough to be out on his own.

Sesshomaru didn't bother knocking on the door; instead he opened the door to find all three boys sitting down in a semicircle, gazing at different things.

Shippo was gazing at a red bag like it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Inu-Kana was feeling the material of the fire rat, running his hand over the coarse fur. And Ryu, well Ryu was gazing at his wrist where a scar was forming.

Inuyasha looked over Sesshomaru's shoulder and raised an eyebrow. He scanned all three boys before drawing their attention with a sharp cough. "Where did you get these things?"

All three youkai snapped their heads up, looked sheepishly at one another before looking back at their fathers. Their faces resembled the looks of ones who had been walked in on while gazing at hentai. Inu-Kana came down from his shock the first. He placed his new robes to the side and looked his father in the eye.

"The truth? We were given them by our grandfather."

Sesshomaru's mask fell slightly, the mask he had planned on keeping in place since he had lost his mate. "Your grandfather?"

"Yes, I sense that Inutaisho-sama's aura still lingers in this chamber. Most peculiar." Myouga muttered from his perch on Inuyasha's shoulder.

Inuyasha looked down at the flea, knowing that meant they were safe from danger at least. "What do you mean, old man?"

Myouga coughed, drawing all attention to him. "Well, it's quite simple, though peculiar. Inutaisho-sama returned in spirit form to help the boys around. Inuyasha, you know how you had to surpass your father in skill?" Inuyasha nodded, wondering what Myouga was getting at. "Inutaisho-sama came here to help Ryu, Shippo and Inu-Kana gain the skill to defeat Naraku themselves. This is their time to fight. The first generation will not fight. Something will stop you from doing so. It has already started with Tama-san becoming pregnant. This hindrance will pull Kouga to be more careful. The real fight will rest in the hands of these children."

All three boy youkai looked at one another, a sense of responsibility resting upon them. Sesshomaru turned his gaze back to them. "What did father give to you?"

The question drew attention back to Sesshomaru, the three boys having to snap out of their thoughts. Inu-Kana held up the fire rat robes, and Shippo held up the bag filled with cherry bombs.

Sesshomaru turned his gaze to Ryu, the only male hanyou. Ryu turned his blue eyes up to his father and uncle before he stood, attaching dokkasou to his hip. "Father, I want to show what grandfather gave to me. I want to test it."

Inuyasha's eyebrows shot up but he nodded, resting his hand on tetsusaiga. "Okay, I'll fight you."
*~*~*~*~*
Sango walked through the forest, trying to locate some sense of direction in the dark area. Since Tama had gone back to her den to wait and give birth the two humans were left without much a sense of direction other than where they were going. She looked back to see Matsu following behind her, using his staff to knock away the brush that blocked his way.

"Sango-san, do you have any idea where we are going?"

Sango shook her head, looking back at her grandson. "I know where we are supposed to be going, it's just the problem of getting there."

Matsu sighed and sat down on a log that had fallen over, figuring they could rest for a short while. He looked up at his grandmother as she scanned the trees, trying to decipher something. He chuckled at the image she made. "Grandmother, rest. Though you say you don't need rest, you truly do. We are lost and a youkai will certainly find us."

Sango thought for a moment, and then relented. "Fine. We will rest here tonight, but tomorrow we need to find our way out of this forest."

"Why not find it out tonight?" A voice asked.

Sango turned and gasped at Inutaisho standing in the middle of the forest, dressed as regal as he was when she witnessed him all those years ago. "Inutaisho-san. What are you doing here?" She asked, looking him over with a critical eye.

"You are lost in the forest. Your senses are not as strong as they use to be, taijiya. I also owe you for helping my son defeat Naraku the first time. Please, I will escort you to the Western Castle."

Matsu watched with learning eyes as his grandmother bowed to the youkai, slinging hiraikotsu over her shoulder. Matsu followed suit, bowing low to the dead taiyoukai.

Inutaisho looked at the two humans and nodded for them to follow him.
*~*~*~*~*
Naraku smiled a cruel smile at the things he saw through the mirror. It was being held by a girl who looked just like Kanna, except she had gold eyes instead of the emotionless silver-blue of Kanna.

Kikyo looked over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "I figure you have found your prey?"

Naraku chuckled lightly. "Yes, so Sango is alive, but her memories have returned. And my link to her seems to have lessened enough for her to be in control."

"What do you plan to do, my mate?" Kikyo asked, winding a hand into the folds of Naraku's kimono.

"Nothing at the present time. Things are so much better to take away after you have grown attached to it. I will focus on Kaida and Ookami for now."

He nodded for the girl to flip images to where Kaida was being lead into a small tub, a demoness that bared strikingly similarity to Sesshomaru getting into the other tub right next to her.

"Interesting. It seems they have discovered how to do the soul exchange. This might prove useful." Naraku looked up to the shoji door. "Baka!" He ordered.

The oni that had kidnapped Rin appeared behind the door. "Yes, my lord."

"I want you to go to this village and stalk Kaida and Ookami. When they are defenseless, both asleep, I want you to kill the wolf and bring the girl to me so I may kill her myself when I see the time fitting. Is that understood?"

Baka nodded, looking up at his lord. "Naraku-sama, what will I get as a reward?"

Naraku allowed a cold smile to cross his lips. "You may eat their souls."
*~*~*~*~* <A/N: Two things: firstly, if you don't remember who Baka is, go all the way back to chapter 11... i know that was two trillion years ago. Secondly: Yes I did take the soul eating idea from Yu Yu Hakusho.>

Kagome met the two hanyous at the training room's gate. She had a scowl imprinted on her face and her body language screamed anger. "What do you think you are doing? Neither of you are healed enough to be training right now."

Ryu raised an eyebrow at his mother's statement. "Mom, I'm not hurt. And I'm healed quite well. Father might not be, but I know I am."

Inuyasha sighed and stepped between his mate and son. "Kagome, go back to our room. Ryu wants to show me something."

Kagome huffed and crossed her arms. "I think not Inuyasha! If you guys want to train you can do so with me watching."

Inuyasha was about to decline Kagome and forcibly remove her from his presences, just so she wouldn't be in any danger, but Sesshomaru beat him to it.

"Miko, if you demand to be present then you must stay by me. You may not interfere with their fight. If you do, I will remove you without thought of consequences. Understood, Miko?"

Kagome nodded, glaring at Inuyasha as they walked into the room. Soon everyone was waiting for the two hanyous to begin their battle.

Kagome looked at both hanyous, gazing at how similar the two looked. She watched as they looked each other over, measuring the other up even though they knew how each fought.

'I'll stay hanyou for now. I have to see how much the grandfather's youkai blood has effected this form.' Ryu thought before he he struck out, his body twisting to follow his father's side step.

Inuyasha allowed himself to fall on the defensive, his body avoiding all of Ryu's attacks. Soon enough Inuyasha had let himself be trapped in a corner, and had watched with inward annoyance as Ryu fell right into his obvious trap.

Inuyasha growled, flexed his claws before pulling them up, attacking Ryu with his sankon tesso. Ryu's eyes widened and he tried to dodge the attack, but the sharp lights caught his leg, making him fall onto his back and slide across the floor.

Ryu looked up and only had a second to move before Inuyasha's next attack hit him. Ryu flipped over Inuyasha's head, gasping for breath as he drew dokkasou. Inuyasha smirked and caught the edge of dokkasou as it swung at him, but as his flesh held the blade he felt acid pierce through his skin.

Inuyasha yelped and jumped back looking Ryu over. "What the hell?" He asked as he noticed Ryu's eyes were now the demonic red and piercing blue of the youkai form. Two red stripes followed the curve of Ryu's cheek, as well as his wrists, much like Sesshomaru.

But that's not what what shocked Inuyasha the most, no it was Ryu's ears. They had slid from atop his head to real youkai ears on the side of his head. Something that never happened when Inuyasha had changed to youkai.

Kagome gasped at the feral grin that crossed Ryu's lips as he looked at the markings on his wrist. His fangs had grown a tad bit and become sharper.

Sesshomaru was even shocked as he looked over his now-youkai nephew. But then a pleased smile crossed his rather impassive face. "He has controlled it."

Inuyasha smirked. "So it seems." Inuyasha pulled tetsusaiga out, watching as it transformed into it's larger form. "Now lets see just how powerful your youkai form is." Inuyasha muttered under his breath.

Father and son lunged at each other, both swords crossing, waiting for the other to give in. Inuyasha watched as each time their swords struck the acid would leak onto his sword. Inuyasha knew he would have to either forfeit or lose his tetsusaiga to dokkasou's attack.

Inuyasha caught Kagome's eyes from askance and sighed, knowing he was worrying her with this seemingly unimportant battle. Inuyasha jumped away from Ryu's attack and sheathed tetsusaiga, muttering an "osuwari," which made Ryu fall face first into the ground.

A now-hanyou looked up at his father and growled, "Just because you were losing didn't mean you had to freaking SIT me!"

Inuyasha just keh'd and turned his back on Ryu. "You only were winning because your attack is so deadly. You were losing as a hanyou, so that means only your bases of skill has surpassed me. That means you have the potential to be stronger then me."

A deep chuckle filled the room and all the inhabitants looked towards the door, shocked that someone had gotten into the castle without at least one of them sensing something.

Sesshomaru however relaxed as he remembered that his father was lingering around, and that voice sounded vaguely familiar. Sesshomaru's gaze shifted over to the door where two humans stood in front of his father.

Kagome looked at the taijiya with wide eyes, taking in the way the chocolate brown eyes shone with happiness, something that could only mean one thing. "Sango, have you gotten away from Naraku's control somehow?"

The taijiya nodded, walking up to Kagome and embracing her, tears rolling down her face. "I've missed you so much Kagome-chan."

Kagome nodded hugging her best friend back, relieved that she had broken free. "So have I, Sango. So have I."
*~*~*~*~* <E/N: QUESTION! Does that mean that Kagome has missed herself? Come on Kaye, BE MORE EXPLANATORY-EN-ISH-ESQUE. Yes, that is purposely an absurd word. It should be: BE MORE CLEAR! Lol. Thank you for your time.>

Kaida stepped out of the shrine, blinking at the way the night light looked, her eyes not used to the hanyou night vision. When she opened the silver eyes of Maeko's body she was surprised to see Aran and Ookami advancing the pair together.

Each male instinctively went to their chosen mate, going by soul, not outward appearance. Ookami looked at Kaida with questioning eyes, before turning to Aran, bowing deeply.

"Thank you Aran-san, Maeko-san." He said before turning back Kaida wondering if she would do the same.

Maeko smiled at the two, resting her hand on Aran's biceps. "As long as it defeats Naraku. Or at the very least, helps put him to rest, lose his power."

Kaida shook her head. "No, we are going to kill Naraku. We will settle for no less. Ookami nodded his head in agreement, wrapping a protective arm around Kaida.

Aran, amazingly, didn't do anything to stop the contact. Ookami realized this all too quickly and his mind tried to process it. Hadn't Aran threatened him to not touch Maeko's body while Kaida inhabited it? Or did Aran and Maeko have the connection of the soul, where the body did not matter?

Kaida smiled, still trying to adjust back to hanyou senses. "Well, I guess we should be off. My mother and father must be worried sick. Not to mention my brother."

Ookami inwardly winced at the mention of Ryu, silently dreading the conversation with his best friend. He snapped back to the present at Kaida's insistent shaking of her head. "Are you sure, Kaida-san? It might be best if you stay the night."

Ookami looked at Kaida, waiting for her response, wondering what could be her reasoning for not wanting to stay the night.

"No Maeko-san. Without me imposing on our travel, Ookami and I can make better time. Besides, it would be wrong to impose on you."

Maeko shook her head. "It would not be imposing. And you have just gone through the soul exchange. Are you sure you are not tired?"

Kaida shook her head. "No, I am not, amazingly. But if you are Maeko-san, then by all means rest. Ookami and I should take our leave. Isn't that right, Ookami?"

Ookami looked into Kaida's now-silver eyes and nodded in agreement. "Hai, we should be on our way. We will hopefully reach our village by tomorrow's nightfall, if not dawn of the next day if we keep a constant pace without any stops."

Aran placed an arm around Maeko's shoulder. "Mate, if they want to leave it would be nonsense to stop them. After you defeat Naraku, you will return here, correct?"

Kaida smiled. "Of course, I give you my word."
*~*~*~*~*
Kagome had wanted to lead Sango away to talk and discuss what had transpired in these last years they had been separated, but her attention was draw to the silver haired man still standing in the doorway.

She looked back at her mate and Sesshomaru, and noticed that they were rendered speechless. She stepped forward, bowing to the man who looked at her with interest. "Hello. It seems that my mate and his brother are quite in shock at seeing you." Kagome felt strange stating the obvious, but until the man said who he was, and why he resonated death, she would resign herself to that.

The youkai raised a refined eyebrow and a brief smile crossed his lips. "I am not surprised. It not everyday that they see their father, now is it, daughter?"

Kagome blinked and looked between the demon in front of her and the two brothers behind her. Well that did explain the dead part. "You are Inutaisho? Why are you lingering? Has your soul not been reincarnated?"

Inutaisho chuckled. "I expected nothing less out of a miko. No, my soul has not been reincarnated. It will be soon. Very soon actually. Well, soon in the terms of the dead. In your living terms, I feel like it will be in a couple months that my new body will be conceived."

That statement caught Kagome's attention. As a firm believer of reincarnations, how could she not be interested in what Inutaisho was saying. "You mean, as a soul you know who your parents will be?"

An amused smile crossed his lips. "At this present time I can. When I become the soul of a new child I will forget, but yes, for right now I know who, I know where, I could even tell you how, but I don't think you would like to know that much." His eyes narrowed. "Besides, I feel as if I should talk to my two sons. They sure have grown in such a short time." Before he elaborated further he turned his attention to Ryu. "And you, you gained control of your youkai blood. I'm happy to see that my blood can calm you such as it did."

Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were brought out of their thoughts at that comment. Inuyasha blinked and Sesshomaru had to deny his own instinct to copy his younger brother's example.

"WHAT?!" They both asked at the same time.

Ryu looked down at the ground. "It's only temporary. Until I learn to do it with my own blood, grandfather's blood is helping me."

Inuyasha growled. "So that's how you beat me."

Inutaisho chuckled again. Kagome was beginning to realize that the old taiyoukai was a very happy person. "It was a fair fight, if I say so myself. You as a father must learn to accept that your son will one day surpass you. That is the only way we evolve."

Inuyasha snorted and Sesshomaru looked skyward. "I must agree with my master Inuyasha-sama, Sesshomaru-sama. Ryu-san and Inu-Kana-san will one day surpass both of you in skill. And Ookami-san will do so with Kouga-san." Myouga said from his mysterious perch on Inutaisho's shoulder.

Before Inuyasha could even comprehend to ask when Myouga had arrived, Shippo's snort stopped his train of thought. "What about me? Or does the kitsune not count?"

Kagome smiled sympathetically. "Shippo, you know you are the oldest. Your skill is just different. You can do things that Inuyasha could never consider doing. Like the transformation. That is a very good gift that your father will never be able to do."

Shippo sighed and leaned against the door frame. He smiled lightly. "I guess that always has its perks."

Sesshomaru looked at his father. "How long do you intend to linger, father?"

Inutaisho looked indifferent as he replied to his eldest, "I don't know. Possibly until Kaida returns. Maybe until Rin is returned."

Sesshomaru tensed at the sound of mate's name and his impassive mask dropped.

"Who says she will return?"

All the demons looked at the taijiya with interest, Sesshomaru with pure unbridled hate. "What do you mean, exterminator? Do you not believe us capable of defeating your master?"

Sango stiffened, but Matsu laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, one meant to calm her. "Naraku is not my master. And though I believe you are capable of defeating Naraku, it is his minions I am afraid you might not be able to defeat."

Sesshomaru glared. "Then we shall die trying. Because when we face him, I refuse to surrender. There will be only one battle. And we will either all die and allow the Shikon no Tama to fall into his hands, or we will win." Sesshomaru walked forward, brushing past his father. "I am retiring. It is good to see you, father. Hopefully you will stick around."

Inutaisho did not comment on Sesshomaru's cold behavior, knowing it was all an act. He watched as Kagome kissed Inuyasha before turing and pulling Sango behind her, glaring pointedly at Ryu, Shippo and Inu-Kana to not get into any trouble.

The three boys grinned and walked off, glancing at their grandfather one last time. That left Inutaisho and Inuyasha alone in the training room.

"So, my son, I see you have gained control over tetsusaiga and managed to have a family. And quite a pleasant family at that. But I ask, where is that wolf, the father of the one who is courting Kaida?"

Inuyasha sniffed the air lightly. "In his room. It is well past midnight. And Kouga's mate is not with him, she has fallen pregnant."

"Really, brother, you make pregnancy sound like a disease." Sesshomaru said as he reentered the room. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.

Inutaisho turned to his eldest son. "And you as well, Sesshomaru. You seem to have grown quite well since I visited you last. Rather heartless, but luckily you came around to Rin."

Sesshomaru, never one to spill his soul, said nothing as he drew tokijin. "Are we going to fight?"

Inutaisho grinned and drew his sword as well, watching Inuyasha transform tetsusaiga. "Of course. I've kept you waiting much too long."

Sesshomaru allowed a smirk to escape. "Indeed."
<E/N: HE SAID INDEED! AAAAAAHHHHHHHH! Lol. You people won't get that, I don't think. But I do! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! .... I'm okay.>
*~*~*~*~*
Ookami looked out into the dark sky. Dawn was about to come. Only a couple more hours. Maybe only one hour. He turned his head to where Kaida was resting on his chest, using his tail as a blanket.

She had lied about being tired. She was exhausted and they were only about 10 miles outside of the village, not even a half-hour away. He sighed and allowed himself to fall into a light sleep; he sensed no danger anywhere close by.
*~*~*~*~*
The oni smirked from its position in the trees. The wolf didn't smell him. Naraku's magic really was amazing. His master could hide scents from canine youkai. That was truly an amazing feet.

Baka looked back down at the cave that held the two canines and a small grin graced his lips as the wolf finally fell into a light sleep. All he had to do was kill the wolf and return the girl, then Naraku would be pleased. Very pleased.
*~*~*~*~*
Ookami snapped awake just in time to avoid the claws that would have ripped his chest open. He dodged and rolled, placing Kaida below and then behind him.

The oni looked at the two canines through his one eye and smirked. "A wolf and a dog. How touching."

Ookami growled and adjusted Kaida onto his back, knowing she was still too drained to fight. The constant travel and then the soul exchange was too much for her. He didn't want to risk her fighting in her state so he just tried to dodge, hoping to find a safe place to let Kaida stay for awhile, while he killed the oni in front of him.

Ookami felt the oni hit him with his massive arm, somehow finding them as Ookami had been thinking. Ookami had to adjust Kaida quickly, so she wouldn't crush against the rocks.

He cursed lightly as her eyes opened, knowing if she were awake she would try to fight. He jumped backwards, running his claws lightly over Kaida's thighs, hoping to distract her.

Kaida grinned slightly and nuzzled closer to him, her claws finding the base of his tail. Ookami hissed and tried to pull his tail away. That would not be good if she started playing with him like that. Not now anyway.

Baka grinned as the spike in Ookami's scent. "Your bitch turning you on?"

Ookami growled. "What's it to you?"

Baka's grin faded into a scowl. "Nothing. I just want your full attention on ME!" He swung his arm at Ookami and the wolf had to dive under the oni's legs to escape.

The second Ookami's feet hit the ground he took off for the cave entrance, hoping to run away, something he rarely did. As he reached the outside he caught sight and scent of Aran. Before he could use the breath to ask anything the neko spoke.

"Transform and run! This is one of Naraku's men! I will block him off, he has magic in him and strength that is beyond comprehend. Do not worry about me. Get to your uncle's castle and warn them all that the battle is coming. Naraku does not intend to have this draw out. He wants the jewel and he will not back down when you meet on the battle field." Aran shot Ookami a pointed glare. "GO! DAMN WOLF!"

Ookami nodded and sped off, transforming as he went, begging that Kaida would hold onto him by instinct alone. The only thought going through his mind at the time was. 'This is not good.'
*~*~*~*~*
Inuyasha chuckled as he leaned against the wall, his haori pulled off because of the heat the three youkai had worked up fighting each other. "Sesshomaru, you were always throwing me in rivers. I think you enjoyed having to brush my hair as a punishment."

The impassive inu-youkai snuffed and looked away. "No, I just enjoyed watching it frizz up. Besides, your ears were always cooler and fun to play with." The last part was whispered but Inuyasha and Inutaisho heard it.

Inuyasha reached a hand up to pet his ear. "Yeah, you messed 'em up enough." He muttered the next part. "Never knew it was out of jealousy though."

Inutaisho shook his head at his son's behavior. No one knew the truth, but the two boys had been quite close as children. The thing that had torn them apart was his death and then the untimely death of Inuyasha's mother. Sesshomaru had offered to take the two of them in, but the Lady of the Western Lands knew it would just cause hostility towards Sesshomaru's new reign.

After that, where Sesshomaru had failed to save Inuyasha's mother because of a war that had broken out, the two brother's had become hostile towards each other. Never to the brink of hating one another, but a sense of jealousy. It had only grown because it went untreated.

Now that the two were on good terms, Inutaisho held some hope that the brother's relationship would somewhat return to the way it use to be. <A/N: It's an original take on the Inu-Sesshy conflict! And he was jealous of Inu's ears! But yeah, that spawned from reading one too many AU where they were on good terms with one another. And besides, you know Sesshy is just trying to train Inuyasha later on in the series.>

All three youkai's heads shot up at the same time and they looked at one another. "Ookami." Sesshomaru and Inuyasha said simultaneously.

Inutaisho nodded, following the two outside just in time to see Ookami jump up and over the wall, something that made Sesshomaru raise an eyebrow until he saw that Kouga had removed the barrier.

Kouga reached his human formed son first and was holding a sleeping Kaida in his arms while his son caught his breath. "Hey! Dog shit! When did you think of showing up?"

Inuyasha said nothing as he took Kaida from Kouga's arms and raised his eyebrow at her appearance. "Who is-?"

Sesshomaru and Inutaisho were looking at Kaida's new body with fond eyes. "Satya. This is Satya's reincarnation?" Inutaisho turned questioning eyes to Ookami who was shaking his head.

"Naraku... attack... battle."

Kagome, who had appeared with everyone else- even a tottering Jaken- rushed beside Ookami. "Breathe, Ookami. Now what are you trying to say?"

Ookami looked up and met the concerned eyes. "Naraku has created new monsters. One of them attacked myself and Kaida while we were sleeping. Aran, the mate of Maeko- who's body Kaida is using temporarily- we left him fighting the monster. He told me to come here and tell you that Naraku wants the jewel. Naraku will not surrender and the first time we meet on the battlefield will be the last. He's not holding anything back."

With the message delivered, Ookami allowed himself to faint, his own exhaustion and travel catching up to his body.

The tension was thick as Ryu lifted Ookami onto his back, the message the young wolf had just delivered hanging over all of them. The battle was going to happen, and soon.

End Chapter

HOLY SHIT! I HAVE NO IDEA HOW FREAKING LONG THAT IS BUT YA'LL BETTER BE GRATEFUL! Wow, there is like one more chapter before the battle starts. As you notice this chapter just pretty much tied everything together and resolved a freaking lot. Well, now it's a week off without any internet connection, none! *tears* Hopefully if I don't come back with a permanent tick above my right eye the next chapter will be finished. *crosses fingers* Let me live through this vacation. Oh yes! AND REVIEW!

E/N: I'd like to alter that a bit Kaye does have Internet for 5 days this week, so I need to send this off so she can update. Ta, now! ~ V.