InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Suffer The Fray ❯ Time for a Truce ( Chapter 26 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: I hold no claim to the characters of InuYasha...Rumiko Takahashi does. I only claim ownership of Shunsoke, and I make zero profit from writing this.

A/N: Here is your amazing swift update people! Thank you so much for all your wonderful reviews. Hearing your feedback helped me churn out this chapter so fast and I'm happy to announce that my individual replies to said reviews has recommenced! You can find them on my livejournal page: http://www.livejournal.com/reux_fiction

Infinite praise should be given to my fantastic betas- clnv & Dei. They save my writer-wannabe butt, haha. I can't tell you how many typos they catch...it must be in the hundreds by now... This fic wouldn't be as good as it is without 'em.

Something nudged his foot. Inuyasha inhaled deeply through his nose, but couldn't catch the scent of his visitor past that of his metallic blood. The gentle rubs were slowly growing more insistent and he pulled his tattered focus together to try and figure out just what was nagging him.

It touched him again, velvety softness brushing against his toes and he twitched when warm air wafted across his skin. He felt it move closer and the dirt around him crunched under a significant amount of weight. Despite his vulnerability, Inuyasha didn't fear whatever was clearly inspecting him. There was a cautious vibe in its movements and he knew it was more afraid of him than it was curious. He kept his eyes shut against the bright sun and when the creature moved again, kicking a bit of dirt onto his haori, the sun was blocked by its bulk.

With the sunlight out of his eyes, he risked cracking them open and discovered his annoying friend to be Shunsoke.

He lifted his hand out toward the horse's nose. "Shunsoke,"

The dapple-gray panicked at the movement and spun away. Spooked more than anything, he came to a halt a few yards away and watched the prone hanyou with perked ears. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and rested his head back on the ground. Only a couple moments passed before the horse started back toward him, hooves shuffling the dirt as he walked. The steel gray muzzle popped up in Inuyasha's peripheral vision as Shunsoke sniffed his hair.

Lifting his refined head, the warhorse snorted away the last of his nervousness and Inuyasha reached up to wipe his face. "Thanks. I appreciate the snot."

Shunsoke took a few steps back and wriggled the strong muscles of his upper lip as if to say, "You're welcome."

Inuyasha tried to sit up, but white-hot pain exploded in his belly. "Sh-i-i-i-t."

He reached down tentatively to palpate the wound and found it to be extremely tender, the blood finally clotted. It must have stopped when I was unconscious.

He was pretty sure that he was delirious when Kagome had departed with Akago, leaving him near death. The last memory he had before he succumbed to the darkness was her forlorn face looking down on him from Moryomaru's palm. Whether it was the blood-loss or his inu-youkai survival instincts, Inuyasha had passed out almost immediately after Kagome used her powers against him. Only by sheer, iron will had he kept lucid enough to speak, let alone remain conscious for those last few seconds.

Inuyasha blinked up at the mid-day sun-

Mid-day? We rode into this dump just after dawn...that means I've been out for more than four hours.

"Four fucking hours." He rolled his head to address Shunsoke. "They have a fucking four hour head start."

The horse merely blinked and cocked his hip to rest a hind leg, his tail swishing with boredom.

"Yes," Inuyasha continued speaking as if Shunsoke had actually answered him, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You're absolutely right. We have to get moving now if we're ever going to get to the Western Lands in time to save her."

Just live.

Inuyasha wouldn't let himself think about what exactly Kagome had done to him. It wouldn't do him any good to dwell on something like that when he was so close to dying.

Kinda just kills the morale to have your sacrifice undermined by the woman you can't live without.

"Huh," he gave a soft laugh. "That's exactly what I was trying to tell her. I'd rather die than see her go...again."

Okay, I lied. I am thinking about it...

"Fuck!" He glared at Shunsoke, who just happened to be perfect reminder of Kagome's more annoying qualities. "Why does it always have to be what Kagome wants? Hmm? Why the hell can't it be what I fucking want?!" He slammed at fist into the dirt. "Shit, why didn't she just cut off my balls and stomp on them?"

It sure as hell felt like she did. He released the tension in his body and sagged back into the dirt. I don't understand why she won't let me protect her.

Just live, my ass.

"Doesn't she know I'd do anything, anything to keep her safe?" Inuyasha gazed at the horse imploringly. "Doesn't she understand that I don't just want to protect her, but that I need to? It's not something I can consciously stop myself from doing?"

He shook his head. "Of course she understands. That's why she couldn't look me in the eye. Instead of helping me fight those assholes, she used the last of her power to cut me off at the knees."

The horse nipped at a fly on his chest.

"Why, you ask?" Inuyasha glanced at him. "Oh, because she's a selfish bitch. That's why."

Shunsoke chose that moment to turn his head to look out behind his left flank at something in the woods, revealing the matted bloody hair around a shallow gaping wound. The arrow that had inflicted it was surprising absent. Obviously Kikyo hadn't put as much behind the shot as he'd thought.

"You took a hit for her too. You should know exactly what I'm talking about. Just live..." He snorted. "She would rather have me live in shame than die fighting. Does she really think she could love me if I was content to live with my honored shredded like that? She'd hate me if I didn't try to regain it, which is why she's dreading when I come to get her. Then she'll have to deal with the reality of what she did to me."

Shunsoke turned back to the sound of his voice and stamped away impatiently at a fly on his foreleg.

"Yeah, I know. She loves me." He flexed his sword hand and found he was still holding Tetsusiaga. That was good because he really didn't feel up to crawling around to find it. "I guess somebody forgot to mention that when it comes to my life, what she wants is irrelevant. It's what she needs that matters to me. And now she's in the fucking lion's den with nobody but Rin to help her."

Yeah, I'd take a weak human girl over an inu-hanyou any day too.

Shaking his head, Inuyasha willed away the pain that ignited in his belly and slid the rusted fang into the sheath hung at his waist. The effort to achieve that small feat left him shuddering with cold sweat and panting like he'd just run a five-k marathon.

How the hell am I going to drag myself into that damn saddle?

He coughed when he glanced back at Shunsoke. "That little shit really fucked me up."

Nowhere close enough to kill me, but still...

The horse snorted.

"Ha ha. Very funny." Inuyasha scowled at him. "Now get over here."

Shunsoke just looked at him.

"C'mon," he made a soft clucking sound and gestured the horse closer. "Shunsoke, come here."

A lone gray ear flicked in the hanyou's direction before the horse begrudgingly sauntered closer. He stopped when his front hooves nudged Inuyasha's ribcage and dropped his delicate muzzle to snuffle the hanyou's haori. Then, very tentatively, Shunsoke took the high-tensile fabric between his teeth and gave a gentle tug.

"Yes, that's the general idea." Inuyasha glanced at the left stirrup, which dangled nearly three feet off the ground and knew that even just grasping it would be downright agonizing. Taking as deep a breath as his stab-wound would allow without pain, he reached out and laid his hand on the horse's left knee. "See, I'm not hurting you. There's nothing you need to run away from, alright?"

Although he'd stiffened and his entire body coiled like a spring to flee if threatened, Shunsoke remained rooted to the ground. The mild tone of Inuyasha's voice assuaged his fear and he relaxed into the contact quickly.

Inuyasha took it as a good sign and continued to murmur quietly as he dragged himself parallel to the horse. Crisis averted, Shunsoke remained entirely blasé about all the scratching and scraping the hanyou did in the dirt. Inuyasha dropped his head to the ground when he was positioned beneath the stirrup, sweat soaking through his haori and running from his forehead in torrents. Every muscle in his body quivered painfully and with every breath he took, a paralyzing shock swept through his chest. It was almost enough to discourage him from going through with his plan, but once his mind was made up debating was over.

He clenched the muscles of his jaw to help him focus through the pain, to focus on the stirrup dangling above him like salvation. Moving before his body had a chance to convince him to stay prone; he lunged up and snatched up the stirrup. A groaning growl exploded from his throat as he continued to push his way past the agony and began to use the stirrup leather as a rope to climb into the saddle.

Shunsoke sidestepped at the sound and braced himself, leaning to the right against the weight pulling at his body.

It was extremely slow going. Inuyasha had to stop every time he dragged himself closer to his goal in order to let the pain wash over him like a tidal wave. The effort succeeded in breaking open the cut on his palm from when he'd fought Kohaku and he hated that he was getting blood all over Kagome's saddle. He tired to keep it from smearing on her quiver, but only managed to keep her rosewood bow free of the viscous liquid.

Snatches of black flashed in his vision when he was finally able to grasp the saddle's pommel and he knew he only had a few more minutes before he lost consciousness again. With one last pull, Inuyasha threw his right arm over Shunsoke's back to grip the opposite stirrup leather. He strained to toss his right leg up over the saddle and was close to vomiting from shock when he finally managed it.

The dapple-gray shifted under his new cargo and snorted as he adjusted to the weight. Without any direction from his passenger, he swung around and began to walk into the woods surrounding the village.

Inuyasha didn't pay any attention. He was too busy keeping from falling back to the ground and losing consciousness. Lying on Shunsoke's neck, he rested his face against the horse's silken mane and let his eyes fall shut only when he was positive he wasn't going to fall. He knew that Shunsoke would instinctually seek out water, whether it was a natural source or man-made. It made things easier for him, so he just went along for the ride.

It only would give him plenty of time to figure out how to rescue Kagome from her own stupidity.

The woodlands overlooking Inu no Taisho's fortress were dense, vines and moss netting together to block out the sun in between the canopies of the trees. The forest floor was thick with grass, growing right up to the base of the massive tree trunks surrounding it. Birds of all sorts called to each through the branches, while insects crawled, swarmed, and buzzed around every possible surface. Larger creatures, predator and prey alike, moved silently through the brush and kept their survival as the utmost priority in their minds.

As the hours passed and sky grew dark, inhabitants of the day retreated to their nighttime sanctuaries as the dwellers of darkness came alive. Specially equipped to exploit what was usually the disadvantages of night, these creatures rushed forth to take claim what had been taken from them by the sun. All the sounds and movement of the day-hunters were given a new, sinister twist by the predators of the night, striking fear into all that bore witness to them. Using that fear, they took control of anywhere and anything.

There was one place, however, that even the nocturnal beasts avoided. Something much more deadly resided there and although it hadn't moved for days, its presence alone was enough to chase away even the most determined killers. It stayed so still that any lesser creature may not have even noticed it sitting beneath the enormous tree on the grassy plateau.

And on this night, it finally moved.

Blanketed by darkness, something caused it to lift it's head and open a pair of glowing amber eyes. Those eyes cut through the night like a knife, locking onto the being that had been audacious enough to disturb it. The sharp intake of it's breath shot a shudder through the air that sent even the most primitive insects into hiding. The growl that followed inspired silence for miles in every direction and the rolling anger of his aura blew the foliage around him like a strong wind.

Sesshomaru's body hummed like an electric current as a result of remaining stagnant, but his control was so great that he merely slid gracefully to his full height beneath the tree's branches. Stepping out from the shadows, he focused his gaze on the dark winged shape floating across the night's sky and felt his hackles rise.

Moryomaru has returned and is no longer alone.

Despite the lack of breeze in the air, the Daiyoukai could still detect the scents of the creature's companions. The unmistakable stench of Naraku's spawn was there in the form of Akago and he knew the graveyard odor belonged to the miko, Kikyo. Sesshomaru inhaled deeply and was surprised to find the other young miko, Kagome, among them. Her scent was warm with the vibrancy of life...and so thoroughly smothered by Inuyasha's scent that his eyes nearly watered.

So, the half-breed had it in him after all. Scent-marking was the first step in claiming a female for a life-mate and knowing Inuyasha's ignorance of all things inu-youkai, Sesshomaru was sure his hanyou brother was clueless as to his actions toward her.

Abandoning that particular line of thought and the amused lilt that went with it, Sesshomaru continued to sift through the scented cloud left in Moryomaru's wake. He filtered each individual's scent one at a time to make sure he'd accounted for them all, but one scent remained when he was done. It was a female scent that he was well acquainted with and yet at the same time knew nothing about. It had remained the same sweet and flowery smell, but there was also a new, stronger facet to it that had come from finally reaching adulthood.

Rin...

He let the scent assail his senses and flood his body, stirring something within him that had never been touched before. It was puzzling to find a part of him that he didn't understand completely and it unnerved him. The last time he'd felt such an emotion was after his father's death, shocked that such a thing could come to pass.

It also revived the strong, nearly irrational protective instinct within him to the point his body trembled to kill anything standing between them. It was bred down into the very cells of his body to guard any female he thought of with esteem. Revering a female was one of the first reasons a male inu-youkai used to decide whether or not to claim a female and due to the fact that males out-numbered female inu-youkai twenty-to-one, losing one was tragic.

The fact that he'd already staunchly defended his claim on Rin did not escape his attention.

Had he really attached himself to her like a mate? His mind filtered back through the memories of their times together before and his lack of self-preservation when her safety was in question. He was the highest ranking inu-youkai; his duties were not regulated to just defending his family's honor, but also to insure the stability of his father's treaties and alliances as well as maintaining order in the more primitive strains of his species. To think he'd been so careless with his life made him pause.

Was Rin really more important to him than Inu no Taisho's legacy? More important than his own life?

The implication rattled him as he watched Moryomaru descend within the walls of his father's fortress. Sesshomaru ignored all the warning snarls in the back of his mind and finally moved, propelling all the pent up energy within his body into his swift legs as he ran through the forest. The rage that had been slowly simmering over the last few days rippled through his muscles as he ran, but he didn't allow it to consume him. Doing so would be careless and for the first time in his life, he couldn't figure out what he was angrier about- the fact his father's fortress had been desecrated or that Rin was being taken within those walls where evil lurked.

The small shred of doubt dug its claws into him and Sesshomaru couldn't shake it. He'd never before gone into battle doubting his skill and did the only thing he knew would silence it. Decision made, the vicious irrationality that possessed him whenever Rin was in danger swept through him like a whirlwind, dashing away any of his former doubts.

He would bring her back. He would kill all those in his way. He would exterminate the vermin running wild through his rightful property, Inu no Taisho's barrier against him be damned.

He could settle his mental confliction when it was over...if he didn't kill himself in the process.

"Well, Kikyo, you've really outdone yourself this time." Naraku chuckled as he gazed down at Kagome sprawled on the unforgiving marble floor of the hall. "A totally drained miko and three shards of the Shikon no Tama."

"If you think I'm just going to hand them over, then you-" Kagome's retort was violently cut short by the tentacle that shot from Naraku's arm to wrap about her throat.

He cocked his head as he lifted her off the ground, grinning when she clawed at the appendage and kicked out her feet trying to get air. "You always were an amusing thing, Kagome."

Dragging her so that their eyes were level, he reached out with his other hand and tore her pocket open to take the three glowing shards. He made sure she watched, face strained, as he produced the nearly pitch black Sacred Jewel and added her three shards. The power that pulsed off of it was heady in its resonance and all he needed was one last shard to make it complete. He turned it in the light from the fire roaring behind him and marveled at the amount of corruption he'd filled it with.

"I think it's time for me to have a little conversation with Kohaku."

Kagome bucked hard in his grip at the boy's name and his irritation had her flying back into the stone tiles of the floor. Her body slapped hard against it as she gave in to a wretched fit of coughing. She clutched her throat as she pulled herself into a crouch, eyes boring into his with what looked like rage.

He closed his fist around the gem. "You don't approve?"

She tried to speak, but only a rasping sound came out of her mouth.

Naraku smiled, shaking his head. "I guess you're right. I should probably just rip the shard right out of his back and have Kagura deliver his rotting corpse at Sango's feet. What do you think of that?"

"I-I'm...go-going to...kill y-you." Kagome choked the words out venomously.

"Yes," he nodded soothingly. "Of course you are." He gestured to Kikyo, who knelt off to his right. "That's why I had her make a little intervention on my part and the fool that you are, you fell right into her trap."

Kagome's wide brown eyes shifted from him to the miko hiding her face behind the black curtain of her hair.

"Oh, yes. Kikyo was the mastermind behind that little scheme. My boys had nothing to do with it."

"I'm still...going to kill you."

Naraku sighed and turned away from bedraggled rat of a girl to level Hakudoshi with a weighted stare. "I trust that you will have disposed of this by the time I return?"

The lavender eyes that stared back were completely devoid of emotion. "Yes."

"Good." His navy haori-draped frame began to dissolve into his familiar black mist. "Don't forget to let Akago have his fun with that whelp of Sesshomaru's."

Hakudoshi watched him go and waited until Naraku's cloud had gone over the horizon before he spoke. "Fucking bastard." He glared at Kanna, who stood emptily beside him. "I'm going the kill that little shit, Akago, the first chance I get."

Her voice was soft, barely a whisper. "That would be inadvisable. "

"I know it would because you'd fucking tell Naraku before I had the chance to do it."

When she remained mute, he glared over at Kikyo. "I'm not even going to waste my fucking time with you. You'll be dead before daybreak. But you," He lifted his stump of an arm in Kagome's direction. "You I'm going to do nice and slow."

He started toward her, a mad gleam in his pale eyes, but stilled when a bolt of lightning ignited the night sky through the ornate plate glass windows lining the hall's walls. Kagome watched nervously as the sky seemed to suddenly go berserk, lightning raining down around the fortress with what seemed like an enraged intensity. The thunder that should have followed was noticeably absent, along with the rain that normally accompanied a storm. An electric tingle raced down her spine as she moved closer to the wall.

It was the same sensation that had woken her when they arrived at the fortress.

There's a barrier around it!

A muffled thud sounded to her right and Kagome turned to see Rin sprawled at the foot of the massive marble staircase leading to the upper floors. Akago appeared on the landing above, glaring down at the girl as she groaned and tried to get up. He sneered as he followed down the steps and strode toward her, kicking her hard in the stomach when he reached her.

"I told you to shut up!" Lifting his gaze away from her crumpled body, he spotted Hakudoshi. "What is going on?"

The older sibling just glared at him and held his only hand out to Kanna. She obediently stepped forward and handed him her mirror. He took a single glance and shoved the looking glass back at her. "It's that fucking mutt, Sesshomaru!"

Kagome forced herself to keep silent when all she wanted to do was scream 'You're dead now!'

Akago's lavender eyes narrowed. "I thought the barrier around this place kept him out."

"Obviously not!" Hakudoshi looked like he was going to blow a circuit. "He's just marching the fuck in!"

"Stop shouting, you idiot." Akago crossed his arms in thought.

Hakudoshi was about to scream back when the enormous steel entrance doors rattled on their hinges. All eyes in the room swung around to affix themselves on the creaking doors, the tension in the air thick enough to suffocate them should they try to breathe. The rattling stopped and in the silence there was a soft laugh echoing through the hall.

"I told you..."

Rin's voice was deranged from trauma and pain as she lifted her head, hair hanging around her face in a shaggy mess. "I told you he'd come."

"I said," Akago took two steps and backhanded her so hard that her lip split open as her head snapped back. "Shut up!"

Kagome leapt to her feet and began to run toward her when the doors rattled again, this time accompanied by a brilliant blue light that spilled in through the cracks along the floor. She hesitated and watched with huge eyes as the steel began to crack like thin ice on a lake, splintering small slivers onto the marble tiles. The blue light died down and they were once again plunged into silence.

Hakudoshi's face twisted into an insane snarl, lips curled back angrily. "Fuck this!"

He stormed toward the doors just as the blue light returned and Kagome's brain finally registered what it was. That's Tokijin's kenatsu!

She bolted across the room, ignoring Akago's shout and snatched up Rin by her armpits. She dragged her around the stone banister's wide base and into the small alcove it created with the wall. Kagome managed to lie on top of her just as the doors exploded inward, sending enormous pieces of broken steel sailing into the hall.

Glass windows shattered as the fire in the hearth blew out. The art that decorated the walls was shredded as the kenatsu blasted into the room. The elegant and strangely European furniture that was set about the hall was destroyed. What had once been an entertaining hall fit for a royal palace was now demolished like a town in Chechnya.

Kagome risked lifting her head as dust fell from the ceiling to coat the room and was suddenly drowning in Sesshomaru's swirling aura. She put a hand to her temple in attempt to pacify the pain and squinted through the haze at the tall form occupying where the steel doors had been standing just moments before.

"Sesshomaru..."

The young miko nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of the hissing whisper. She whirled around, shielding Rin, and her eyes fell on Hakudoshi. The shock of seeing him pinned to the wall and nearly severed in half by a jagged piece of the door had her lifting a hand to her mouth to stop from retching.

Blood was splashed on the wall like he'd been imploded and spread on the floor as if it was being poured there. His legs were bent in a way that spoke volumes to their lack of connection to the rest of him. He was clutching the steel with his only hand, gore splattered on his clothes as his entrails hung from beneath the deadly metal. His lavender head was bowed and when he raised it, still more blood drooled from his lips.

"Sess...Sesshomaru..." The corner of his mouth twisted with an insane grin as he baited the Daiyoukai to attack. "You can't...kill me..."

Kagome tore her eyes away and focused them instead on Inuyasha's elder, full-blooded demon brother. He was the same as she remembered him, dressed in his pristine haori and hakama with the little red, hexagonal design. His armor was no different, with its spiked pauldron and beautiful blue and yellow sash holding Tenseiga. His shimmering fur ruff still wrapped about the shoulder of his remaining arm, whose handing was gripping the hilt of the lethal Tokijin.

The striking features of his face gave way to his youkai heritage by the crescent moon on his forehead and the twin stripes gracing his cheeks. The stripes outlining his hardened tourmaline eyes gave them a lethal sophistication and the chilling expression in their depths made her wonder what exactly she was looking to have changed in him.

And then she noticed the crackling aura outlining his body and frowned. Sesshomaru never manifests his aura like that... Lightning flashed through the gaping opening behind him. Kagome felt like slapping herself.

Duh, the barrier is attacking him.

"You...can't...kill me!"

Hakudoshi's crazed shout had her tensing to the point her back began to spasm as Sesshomaru continued to stare at him. The tension abated on a tiny bit when his eyes finally moved to scan the room. Apparently not finding what they were looking for, he cut them back to the mutilated demon.

"Where is she?"

"You can't...kill me! You can't. Kill me. You can't. Kill me."

Sesshomaru's deep timbre resonated coldly through the room. "Where is she?"

"You. Can't. Kill. Me!"

"Oh, shut the hell up!" Kagome jerked her eyes to a pile of smashed furniture that began to move. The top panel of an ornate desk was shoved upward and crashed the floor to reveal Akago.

The demon child boldly strode across the room to stand beside his impaled sibling. "We all understand that Sesshomaru can't kill you, but guess what?" He held up his hand. "I can."

Hakudoshi's delirium seemed to finally find focus. "What are...?"

Akago reached out and laid his hand on Hakudoshi's forehead, the only part of his body that seemed to be devoid of blood. "Killing you, that's what I'm doing."

Kagome watched Hakudoshi's eyes widen as what she guessed was his part of Naraku's heart was returned to him. His mouth moved like he was trying to speak, but no words escaped. It was only a few seconds before his chin fell forward to rest on the jagged metal attaching him to the wall.

Hakudoshi was dead.

Akago took away his hand and wiped it on the navy leg of his hakama, a grin playing at his lips. "I have wanted to do that for a very long time." He sighed and pivoted on his heel, eyes meeting the Daiyoukai's. "Hello, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru didn't bother to offer him a response other than the raised blade of Tokijin.

The boy scowled. "First Inuyasha, now you? What? Didn't your father teach you any manners?"

Kagome's jaw almost hit the floor as she glanced at Sesshomaru.

The only thing about him that changed was the slight swirl of blue energy surrounding Tokijin. "Where?"

"Well, there just so happens that there are three females in this room." Akago raised a lone brow. "To which are you referring?"

Kagome had completely forgotten about Kikyo and a quick glance past Sesshomaru's fur ruff found the dying miko leaning heavily against the wall. She didn't know how she was going to get both her and Rin out of the fortress, but she knew she had to try. Kagome stood slowly to make her presence known to Sesshomaru. In keeping with his usual nature, the powerful inu-youkai didn't acknowledge her.

Sesshomaru's aura began to swell beneath the electricity clinging to his body, a pulsing red energy that matched the intensified energy swirling around Tokijin. "You know."

"Ah, yes. I guess I do." Akago turned his head and locked eyes with Kagome.

She glared at him as she blocked Rin from him, but risked locking eyes with Sesshomaru. "Rin's behind me, Sesshomaru."

The eyes that so strongly reminded her of Inuyasha's settled on her emotionlessly. He simply stared at her for a moment before sending her a subtle nod. "Go. Now."

Kagome didn't hesitate, spinning around taking an enormous hold on Rin's kimono. Hauling the dazed girl to her feet, she dragged her behind her as she dashed for the open doorway just as Sesshomaru released Tokijin's kenatsu at Akago. The blast shook the ground beneath her feet, but she managed to half-carry, half-pull Rin with her without falling.

"Fool!"

Akago's shout echoed through the battered hall just as Moryomaru's bulk smashed through the cavernous doorway and dove straight for them.

Kikyo made her decision and made it quickly. She used the very last of her body's strength to push away from the wall and step into Moryomaru's path. Her movements were measured and precise as she slid in between him and the two girls, calmly raising her long bow.

Pulling back the bowstring, she sighted down the arrow's length to stare down the beast roaring toward her. His empty human face transformed just before he reached her, shifting into that of a dragon's. Kikyo didn't let the sight of his razor sharp fangs daunt her as his talons reached out to sink into her flesh.

She kept him in her sights even as she began to fall back under his weight and when his jaws lowered to administer the killing blow, she smiled.

"Now you die."

"Stay low, Kirara." Sango gave the nekomata a gentle squeeze where her hand was buried in the creamy fur. "Miroku still isn't steady by himself."

The enormous, saber-toothed cat gave a gentle growl and kept her altitude just above the tree line.

"Do you really think it's wise to leave Inuyasha and Kagome behind?"

Miroku's gentle tone made her hunch her shoulders defensively and she winced from the pain it shot through her tender joint. Shaking it off, she kept her eyes trained on the horizon in the direction Kagura had taken. Nothing he could say was going to make her change her mind, so she ignored him.

"Sango," he laid a gentle hand at her waist. "Did you hear me?"

"Yes." Irritated, she tensed under his touch. "I heard you."

He shifted closer. "Then why didn't you answer me?"

"Because they can take care of themselves."

The waspish response silenced him long enough for him to sigh and move closer so her back brushed his chest. His cursed hand slipped under her right arm so he could gently grasp her shoulder as his left arm snaked around her waist and anchored her to him. She stiffened and tried to pull away, but even with his recent wounds he was still remarkably strong. Unable to fight his hold, she relented and leaned back into the comforting shelter of his arms.

She blew out a tense breath. "You shouldn't be moving. You don't have your balance yet."

The warm breath of his chuckle floated over the nape of her neck. "Why don't you let me worry about that and tell me what happened with Kohaku?"

Sango had absolutely no warning when the tears ambushed her. What is wrong with me? She tipped her head so she could see the vague profile of his face in her peripheral vision as his lips pressed a kiss to her neck. Why am I trying to shut him out? I'm committing the same exact fault I accused him of when this journey started out!

Her blurred vision dropped to the pouch strapped around her hips- she'd made out of the shoulder bag she used to carry her slaying tools. Shippo lay curled within its folds, tucked up against the warmth of her body. It amazed her that he could still make himself so small when he'd grown so much.

Sango gazed down at his peaceful little face and choked back a sob. "I'm sorry."

"No," his mouth murmured just behind her right ear as he took in the smell of her hair, "don't be."

"How did you know it was about Kohaku?"

She felt his lips smile against her skin. "Because I make it a point to understand everything about my wife."

Sango snorted softly. "I guess I don't make it that hard."

"Well, there's only one thing strong enough to make you push away your friends and family." His chin rested on her shoulder when she released a shuddering sigh, concern lacing his soft voice. "What happened?"

Sango bit her lip and blinked back the fresh wave of tears that threatened to fall. "He told me to forget him." Her valiant effort to fight the tears shattered when the pain of what Kohaku had implied truly hit her. "He told me to forget him and move on. Just like that."

Miroku felt her body shudder with suppressed sobs and felt a sudden flicker of ire flash inside him...at Kohaku. Somewhere deep below the field of his emotions, Miroku understood why the boy had done what he did, but he also knew that there were better ways then to callously demand she forget him. There was no doubt in his mind that if Kohaku had asked for Sango to allow him the chance to avenge him that she would have done it.
"I'm so sorry." His fingers gripped her tightly.

If Kohaku had tried pleading she would have acquiesced, but his bristling tactics had only achieved the opposite. Sango was going to chase him down for the rest of her days if that's what it took to set him free. Sango gave up the fight and leaned back entirely within his embrace. She dropped her head to his shoulder and turned her face into the crook of his neck. He could feel the moisture from her tears on his skin and frustration took its time to angrily screw his features.

He scowled as he realized what this meant for himself as well. As long as Kohaku continued to push her way, Sango would continue to follow and where she went, he would go as well. It was a discouraging thing to know that their one chance at a normal life was quickly slipping through their fingers.

Maybe it was selfishness on his part, but it didn't seem fair.

He'd known he wanted to be a husband and father even as a teenage boy, only the desire for Naraku's death succeeding it. Knowing what he wanted had never been an issue for him, no matter what Kagome liked to say. He enjoyed female company immensely and he was willing to do just that until he had found the one woman he couldn't bring himself to leave. When he looked back, he knew he'd loved Sango the first moment their eyes met and that only death itself would be able to pull him away.

The strength of such an emotion was daunting and it scared the living daylights out of him. It was irresistible and unnerving and he quaked in the face of his desire for her, mind, body and soul. He also knew that if he had let her in on even just a hint of his feelings, she would run away and because she wasn't ready to give herself to love, he clung desperately to hope and sought reassurance by continuing to do what was familiar. By doing that, his flirtatious ways had actually opened her eyes and he'd used that jealously as an underhanded way of gaining her attentions.

As devious as that sounded, he wasn't ashamed and he took the time to savor the way her eyes had watched like a hawk. It was sinister for him to enjoy seeing her suffer, but she in such a state meant that his dreams had come true. He knew at that point she could handle what he was willing to give and let her have it all. She'd been shocked and flattered and overwhelmed, but she hadn't turned him away. It was a major milestone and the pleasure it gave him was indescribable. After that moment, everything else seemed to just fall into place.

Except, of course, the part where they raised their children and grew old together.

"I know it hurts deeply, but he was only trying to do what he thought was necessary. He loves you as much as you love him and he doesn't know of any other way to keep you safe, but I want you to remember something,"

She sniffed delicately. "What?"

"Naraku is the one to blame, not Kohaku."

"But I know-"

"Sshh," he held her down when she tried to bolt upright. "Just listen."

She pillowed her head back on his shoulder and sighed dejectedly.

Miroku couldn't help but smile. "I think that your emotions tend to take control of you when you're around Kohaku. You are always going to bicker about who should protect who because you are family. That's just how families operate."

"How would you know?"

Ouch. Miroku let the bitter remark roll off his shoulders.

"I may not have had a family growing up, but I do now." His fingers drew small circles on the soft curve of her hip. "I have you, my beautiful wife. Inuyasha is my brother in all ways but blood and Kagome's the loving sister I never had." He nodded toward Kirara. "I've got Kirara and Shippo too, so I may not have started out with one, but I have a family now."

Sango bit her trembling lip. "I'm sorry. That was so childish of me."

He laughed. "It's alright. It's the truth. I love that you can be so brutally honest."

She sighed shakily. "I just hate it when you pretend to be oblivious when you're more insightful than I am."

"Take heart, Sango. I enjoy frustrating the hell out of you."

"It's cruel and unusual."

That had him choking back an explosion of laughter. "But do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yes." She turned her face back into his neck. "I know that I lose sight of why Kohaku is the way he is. It's easy to blame someone when you can actually see or touch them. It's hard for me to look past the atrocities he's committed, even though I know it was out of his control. I know it's Naraku's doing, but the world isn't just black and white. You have to be able to filter through all the gray areas."

Miroku kissed her temple before resting his cheek on her head. "Do you feel better now?"

Her annoyance was palpable. "Yes. Happy?"

"Absolutely." He dangerously dragged his fingers up her ribcage to delicately tease the soft swell of her breast. "I've never been better."

"Keep it up and you'll find yourself back in the land of unconsciousness."

The smile on her face belied her threat and he began to trail kisses down the side of face. He met the corner of her mouth and she turned her head to give him better access to her lips. Lifting her head, she sealed them together for a lingering moment before suddenly jerking her head away.

"Do you feel that?"

"Feel what?" Miroku blinked with confusion. He had an idea, sure, but she would probably deck him if he voiced it.

"Try using your other head for a change, lecher." She rolled her eyes. "Shift your focus."

He grinned as he did as she asked. "Alright."

The grin was short-lived.

"That aura..."

"It's Naraku." She fisted a hand in Kirara's fur. "I know it."

The swell of evil moved swiftly, coming closer to them with every passing second. Together they turned their heads in its direction and were able to discern his dark cloud against the black canvas of the night sky.

Sango went on full alert, pulling away from him to actively ride the nekomata. "Kirara, follow that cloud as fast as you can!"

The giant feline did as asked and the cool air was suddenly whipping through them.

Miroku could only follow Sango's example and sit forward. "I don't think it's the best time to be hunting down Naraku. We're both only at half capacity."

"He's going in the same direction that Kohaku went and I have this dark feeling that tells me it isn't to deal out new orders."

Well, that definitely put in end to his complaints.

"Kirara," he laid a supportive hand on Sango's back. "Make haste."

They had stopped moving. Inuyasha inhaled deeply and pried open his eyes at the crisp smell of water. Just beyond the dark front hooves of Shunsoke was the rocky bed of a forest creek. The sight nearly made him weep...

Okay, that was a stretch, but he could honestly say that this was the first time he'd ever gotten emotional over something so perpetually mundane.

His tongue practically screamed in his mouth, sliding out to scrape along his cracked lips. It was torture staring down at the crystalline liquid as the horse he was sitting on gulped it down desperately, but he figured the guy deserved it. He'd been the one to do all the work to get here and it wasn't like he could tell him no. He wouldn't have listened. There was no like between them; Shunsoke merely tolerated his presence because of Kagome.

Inuyasha tried to move his limbs, but the length of time spent lying in the saddle had left them painfully cramped. The sweat had left a grimy film on his skin and the sickly smell was overwhelming. Forcing his arm to move, he laid his fingers against the wound in his belly. Despite the fact he hadn't really eaten a good meal in days and was severely dehydrated, his wound had begun to knit itself shut. It was still extremely painful to move, but stepping off Death's doorstep was relieving.

He returned his attention to the creek and sat up. His back was wailing by the time he was done and the prospect of actually swinging his leg over Shunsoke's hip to get down was disconcerting. He tried to measure the distance from the saddle to the ground and sighed.

"Fuck it."

Pitching forward, he allowed his body weight and momentum to throw himself over Shunsoke's shoulder. The gravelly sand was unforgiving, bruising his side as he landed with an unceremonious thud. The horse side-stepped away and continued to drink as if having his riders throw themselves from his back was an everyday occurrence.

Inuyasha ignored him and forced his stiff and aching body to move. He crawled to the creek's bank and drank deeply, cherishing the feel of the cool clean liquid as it ran down his throat. Taking in his fill, he stared at his battered reflection on the water's surface. Dark circles framed his dry eyes and were complimented by the ugly slash across his cheek. He pushed up onto his forearms and started to drag his legs underneath him in an attempt to get to his feet.

Using a nearby rock to steady himself, Inuyasha staggered to his feet despite the burning ache in his calf. He stared down into the water and was surprised at just how much blood was plastered to his clothes and dried to his skin. He looked ghoulish with the pale skin, hollow eyes and unkempt hair; a strong representation of one of Kagura's undead warriors with all the blood painted on him.

When he was sure he could stand without collapsing, Inuyasha slowly waded into the water and submerged himself when it deepened. He flattened his ears to his head to keep the water out of them and settled just beneath the surface, relishing the soft burn in his lungs. He relaxed as he tread water and let the cool water work its rejuvenating magic. Despite the fact he was starving, his body felt refreshed and alert. A strong rub with his hand was all that was needed to wash away the blood from his skin, but his clothes would need a more thorough scrubbing.

He rose from the water when he swam to shallower water, pulling his kosode and haori both over his head as he exited the creek. Tossing them on a nearby rock, he gave himself a shake to dispel the excess water clinging to his flesh and bent to examine his wound. While Akago had probably been aiming for something more vital, his tiny katana had only managed a shallow depth and it had allowed his inu-youkai to heal with little trouble. The slit itself was small, surrounded by a large mottled bruise that covered three-quarters of his left flank.

"I've gotten worse wounds from Sesshomaru." Inuyasha knelt to the ground and lifted the torn leg of his hakama, examining the small piece of wood still lodged in his leg. "Kagome should know," he jerked the wood out with only a flicker of a grimace. "She was there."

Having relieved the fire that bit into his leg at the slightest movement, Inuyasha sat down on the bank with his legs in the water. He disentangled his kosode and haori and began to scrub away at the blood stains while Shunsoke grazed around him. It wasn't long before the once clear water turned ruddy. Once he got the garments as clean as they would get, he turned his attention to Kagome's horse and began to unsaddle him.

"I bet Kagome thinks I wouldn't be able to figure this out." He took off her satchel, quiver, and bow before loosening the cinch strap. "I don't just sit around watching people for my health."

Pulling the worn saddle from Shunsoke's back, he dropped it beside the rock where his clothes were drying. He dug around in her satchel to find the brush and once located, spent a good amount of time rubbing down the horse's sweaty coat. Shunsoke seemed to be pleased and when Inuyasha finally stepped back, reached out to nuzzle his hands.

"Yeah, that's right." He scratched the gray's forehead. "Truce?"

Shunsoke bobbed his head and returned to the grass.

"I'll take that as a yes."

He ambled over to where he'd dropped the saddle and lay down. Staring up at the moon in the night's sky, he guessed that he only had a few more nights before the new moon came around. Just what I need when I'm heading into a fight. He sighed and closed his eyes. I just hope I can get to her before that happens...

A twisting pang of hunger had him rolling onto his side and investigating the inner sanctum of Kagome's satchel. "I wonder..." He rummaged through all the bandages and creams, discovering a small zipper on the inside lining. Sliding it open, he reached in.

"Bingo."

Inside were two small bars- granola-something Kagome said- and one of those candy-on-a-stick things that Shippo was nuts about. It wasn't much, but he'd take what he could get. He greedily downed the two bars and reclined back into the saddle with the sucker. Rolling it around on his tongue, he pulled it out to stare at its colorful design. "I guess Shippo knows what he's talking about. This isn't half bad."

It disappeared quicker than he wanted it to, but he simply discarded the stick and settled back in to get some sleep before he continued on his way. Relaxing into the ground, he was straddling the border into the dream world when a large shadow passed overhead. Instantly awake, he remained where he was to create the illusion that he was asleep and waited. It only took a few moments for it to return, this time spooking Shunsoke into the nearby trees.

Inuyasha let him go and tensed when he felt eyes upon him. Whatever was creating the shadow was large and it hesitated before slowly coming down from the sky. The closer it came, the easier it was for him to discern the dragon shape's body and twin heads.

Ah-Un?

Inuyasha watched the dragon land quietly and immediately begin to graze in Shunsoke's wake. What the hell does Sesshomaru want? The question hung in his mind as he saw a small form jump from the dragon's back. A knowing smirk crossed the hanyou's lips and he banished it as the tiny creature came ever closer to his still body.

Jaken stopped beside him and frowned, leaning over to peer cautiously into Inuyasha's sleeping face.

The hanyou's amber eyes snapped open. "Boo."

"Ah!" The imp fell head-over-heels as he tried to flee, managing only to plant himself even more firmly in the dirt. He gathered himself quickly and began to dust off his clothes. "That was uncalled for!"

"Sweet is what that was."

He glared at Inuyasha's chuckle. "Fine, have your fun."

"Thank you. I will." He waited until his laughter was spent before getting to the issue at hand. "So, what brings you around here?"

Jaken raised himself to his full height and puffed out his chest, tightly clutching his Staff of Two Heads. "I have been sent on an urgent mission by my Lord Sesshomaru to bring you back to him immediately."

"And what is so urgent?"

The imp seemed to suddenly scowl. "He requires your help in removing a barrier around Inu no Taisho's fortress."

"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha didn't have to feign his surprise. "Needs my help?"

Jaken seemed surprised and saddened at the same time. "Don't make me repeat it."

Inuyasha recalled the conversation he had with Kohaku. "Is this supposed barrier the reason he cannot get to Hakudoshi at our father's place?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Inu no Taisho seems to have erected a barrier that bars his full-blooded son from the fortress without a blood blessing from his hanyou son." Jaken leaned on his staff. "It seems there was a barrier of the opposite effect bordering the Western Lands, but Lord Sesshomaru has granted you passage."

"How generous of him." Inuyasha sat up. "Has Kagome been taken there?"

"That I do not know, although Naraku's presence has been confirmed. I have been searching for you for two days."

The hanyou got up and put on his still-damp kosode and haori. "Alright, let's go."

"Excellent." Jaken ambled back toward Ah-Un.

Inuyasha glanced at the saddle and thought of the horse of which Kagome was so fond- okay, I'll admit that he kinda grows on you. Shunsoke would instinctually follow his internal compass back to the place he called home and Inuyasha could only hope that he would return to Kaede's village. He didn't want to think of how disappointed she would be if she never saw him again.

Trusting the horse to make the right decision, he picked up Kagome's quiver, with her bow safely tucked inside, and her satchel and slung them over his shoulder. He strode over to the twin-headed dragon. "So, how fast can this tank of a dragon fly?"

A/N: Comments from the peanut gallery are warmly welcomed. ^_^