Chapter 3: The Encounter

The sun begain to peak over the horizion in the distance as the young girl stretched and yawned. As her arms continued to stretch outwards she suddenly felt her hand meet something soft. Her chocolate-brown eyes slowly creaked open only to see that her fingers had danced their way into InuYasha's silver locks. He had ended up falling alseep and laying only an arms reach from her.

"Wow...I'm actually glad he got some sleep. He looks so peaceful laying there. It's been so long since I've touched his hair I forgot how soft it is...ya know considering they don't even have shampoo in this era...I wonder what would it feel like if he had some..." Her face began to get warm and Kagome began to feel a little flustered.

"Geez, get ahold of your self Kagome...what are you thinking...maybe he'd let me wash it for him? We could go to the river and we could get in the river togeth- whoa stop right there!" Her face was now a shade of red slightly lighter than his Kimono. She slowly moved her hand away from his head and had to fight the urge to rub his ear. She stood up and began to walk to the river and looked in at her reflection.

"What's gotten into me...surely now isn't the time to think about stuff like that...Not with today being the day that demon is suppose to show itself. Maybe that's why I'm thinking about InuYasha...if something was to go wrong today...it could be the last day I get to see him...Pull it together Kagome...don't think like that...He always manages to come out on top. Always." She splashed a little bit of water on her face to help her wake up and had to fight back a yelp.

"That water is just a little colder than I thought it would of been." She sighed and looked up into the early morning sky. Today was the day Sesshomaru pegged as the arrival date. She took a glance behind her and noticed InuYasha had repositioned himself. He was now slightly curled up and Kagome noticed his crossed arms. She looked down at her arms and noticed she still had his kimono on.

"He might be cold! I'll cover him in his kimono." She took the kimono off her shoulders and walks silently over to InuYasha. She knelt down and began to drape it over his torso when his eyes slowly creaked open. She smiled sweetly and his gaze.

"Sorry if I woke you up. I noticed I still had your kimono and I figured I'd give it back. Plus, you looked a little cold." She lightly spoke to the half awake hanyou. He only responded by quickly pulling Kagome into his arms and wrapped her in the kimono. She looked into his eyes and he into hers.

" There ya go again. Thinkin' of others before yourself. It's a little chilly out this morning but I have more clothes on then you. We can't have you getting sick now can we?" InuYasha playfully spoke to her in a lower tone. Her only response was a simple smile and light laugh. The two laid like that just looking at the stars still lightly visable in the morning light for what seemed like a blissful forever. InuYasha was the one who broke the silence.

"Kagome, I've been thinking." InuYasha spoke with a slightly doubtful tone in his voice. She turned her head to look at InuYasha.

"Oh? Now there's a scary thought. What about InuYasha?" Kagome replied after slightly giggling from her prior response. His amber eyes slowly fell to meet her gaze.

"It's now or never. Just let it out and get it over with. Come what may." His thoughts rushed in his head and his cheeks slightly bushed.

"A-After today...when this is all over with. How about we take a trip?" His words getting caught in his throat as he spoke. She sat up to face him.

"Where would this trip be to? Have you already asked the others? Are they okay with it? I mean I guess we do deserve one after Naraku and whatever happens today." She spoke to him with a calm demeanor. He sat up at the same time as her and again their eyes locked. He broke the eye lock by looking away from her.

"I don't mean with Miroku and the others. I mean just the two of us.." His words slipped out with no hesistation this time. Kagome's eyes widened and she was in shock.

"Did he..did InuYasha really just ask me that...I...is this for real?" Kagome was lost in her thoughtsand InuYasha broke her away from her thoughts once again.

"I mean if you don't want to you don't.." He started to speak as he began to stand up. His movement was stopped when Kagome grabbed ahold of his hand. She looked up to him with tears forming in her eyes. InuYasha's thoughts immediately assumed the worse.

"Oh great now see what you did? Way to go you made her cry. Why would you ask her something so stupid-" This time it was InuYasha who was cut from his thoughts.

"Yes." Her reply came very swiftly. His eyes widened and he kneeled down in front of her.

"What...what did you just say?" He asked just to clarify he wasn't hearing things wrong. She smiled and tears began to stream down her face. She wrapped her arms around him and pulled herself into his chest.

"I said yes InuYasha. Yes I'd love to take a trip with you. Just the two of us. Can I ask what brought this up though?" She pulled away slightly just to see is face. His eyes began to trail her face. Her eyes, then her nose, to her mouth and back to her eyes.

"It's just. I was thinking we haven't ever got to do anything since everyone joined us. We've never had a chance to talk about stuff. I just feel like we need privacy to discuss things. I was thinking maybe the Hot Springs a little ways from the village..The one you like so much. I know Keade said there was a hut around that area." She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at him.

"O-Okay! Works for me InuYasha. Seems like you've put some thought into this and I couldn't agree with you more. Let's make sure we let the others know before. Just so they don't come looking and think somethings wrong." Her smile was met by InuYasha's smile. The pair stood up together Kagome's arms still intertwined with his own. They looked up into the sky and noticed a shooting star.

"Make a wish InuYasha!" Kagome exclaimed as she closed her eyes. He looked back into the sky. "I don't need anything else now. You're perfect." The morning then began to liven up with everyone waking up and eating breakfast. InuYasha started at his bowl and spoon.

"Uh...Kagome what did you say this stuff was?" He asked picking up the spoonful of crunchy oats and milk.

"It's called cereal. Try it InuYasha. You never know. Maybe you'll like it more than instant noodles." She replied while taking a bite of her own.

"Doubt it. Oh well. What harm could it do just to try it." InuYasha hesitantly took a bite. He then took another bite. Followed by many more and eventually emptied the bowl cereal and all. She giggled and asked if he enjoyed it.

"It was good...but not instant noodles good." InuYasha replied as he set the bowl down. The others simply laughed at his response and the morning continued. They cleaned the mess and walked to the hill Sesshomaru had occupied all morning. As they made it to the top of the hill they noticed. In the distance a great body of demons. Demons that they've never seen before.

"Guess that must them huh?" InuYasha barked out. Everyone eyes began to scan the mass of demons looking for the 'Red Haired Assassin'. InuYasha began to get angry.

"Damn it. They're all demons from across the water but none of them have red hair. Hell, almost none of them have hair!" InuYasha spoke out. They decided it was best to meet them on open ground and moved to an open flat of land. The mass of demons began to close in on the group.

"Miroku, Sango, Kagome...you guys cover our backs. Sesshomaru and I will handle these low class wretchs." InuYasha said with a cocky toothed grin. Everyone nodded and Kagome walked up to InuYasha.

"Remember InuYasha. You just be careful! Both of you." She spoke calm and collected while both brothers looked at her and looked away. The Tokijin and Tetsuiaga were both held in front of the brothers.

"Heh. Never thought I'd see the day that I fought along side you Sesshomaru." InuYasha snickered as he looked over to his older brother.

"Sorry about your arm by the way. Guess I never really thought about it til now." InuYasha spoke while turning his gaze back to the demons. Sesshomaru simply scoffed at his brother's comment. The demons were now right on top of them but their advancement stopped.

"What in the world are they waiting for?" Miroku asked aloud puzzled. Just as he finished his statement the demon mass split into two parts. One dove straight for the brothers. The other for Kagome, Miroku and Sango.

"Watch yourselves! They may not be strong by themselves but in this great of a number they can be dangerous!" Miroku yelled out as he threw a sutra at the incoming horde. InuYasha scoffed and raised his sword.

"Dosen't matter how many there are! They're still going to die. Windscar!" InuYasha yelled out as a vortex of demonic energy was released from Tetsuiaga and began to tear through the horde of demons. Sesshomaru followed his younger brothers lead and unleashed his dragon strike attack. Sango attacked with her new Hiraikotsu, Kagome with sacred arrows, Miroku with his staff and sutra. Within 15 minutes of non-stop fight the horde was dwendling down to a handful of demons. Just as victory seemed to be in their grasp the ground began to shake and thundering footsteps echo'd through the air.

"What the hell is that?" InuYasha questioned as he released another windscar at the remainder of the horde. A giant Oni then walked out of the tree line. Inuyasha snicked and lunged at the demon and swung Tetsuiaga. To everyones dismay the Oni caught the fang.

"He caught...he caugh it?" InuYasha stammered out as Sesshomaru then swung the Tokijin at the Oni. It caught Tokijin as well.

"Dragon Strike!" Sesshomaru bellowed out. A blast of blue demon energy emitted from Tokijin but disappeared just as quickly.

"Leave it to your sword to crap out when you needed it most. Let me and Tetsuiaga show you how it's done!" InuYasha exclaimed as he powered the blade out of the Oni's grasp. Inuyasha's feet slid along the ground until he got stopped and then lunged back into the air. He held Tetsuiaga upwards and then quickly and forcefully brought it back down.

"WINDSCAR!" He yelled as he brought the blade down. The demonic energy began to release from the blade but Tetsuiaga was again caught.

"Wh-what?! What happened to the windscar?" Inuyasha spoke attempting to free the Tetsuiaga once again but to no avail. Kagome could only watch in dismay. "What happened to their attacks? I saw both the Dragon Strike and Windscar form and then they were just gone...could it be...!" She then noticed something about the Oni.

"InuYasha! Sesshomaru! You guys have to get out of there! I think this demon absorbs demonic energy! His demonic aura is filled with remants of both the Dragon Strike and the Windscar!" She exclaimed as loud as she could.

"Y-yes! Lady kagome is right. How did I fail to notice that?" Miroku spoke as he reached in his garbs to grab another sutra. The Oni then slammed both brothers together. The Oni then slammed them into the ground and held them under its hand. Tetsuiaga and Tokijin both landing behind the Oni. As he held the brothers down the Oni held it's finger up towards Kagome. Suddenly Kagome and Miroku both noticed a swirling mass of demonic energy at his finger tip. Kagome dropped to her knees and tears filled her eyes.

"With both InuYasha and Sesshomaru stuck under his hand...and me out of arrows...what can I do...I'm sorry Inuyasha..." Kagome's eyes began to leak as she noticed the giant mass of demonic energy rocketing towards her. She pinned her eyes shut and turned her head in anticipation of the agonizing pain about to befall her but it never came. She cracked her eye open and noticed the demonic energy split around the three of them.

"No way...it missed? But how-" She spoke and then was promptly stopped when she noticed the Oni was split in two and had black flames on both sides of the wound. The two sides split clean and toppled over freeing the brothers under the hand. She quickly rushed over to InuYasha and helped him up.

"Are you guys okay? What happened to the Oni...I'm going to assume neither you did it?" Kagome asked InuYasha. While she was relieved that they were both alive, she was also curious as to what happened to the Oni. InuYasha stretched his arms letting the bones crack as they popped.

"Hell if I know what happened to him. Neither of us could move under it's hand. That's the closest I've ever been to Sesshomaru and it was weird." InuYasha spoke as he looked to his brother who was walking towards both swords. InuYasha spun around.

"Don't you even think about trying to take Tetsuiaga!" He barked to his older brother. Sesshomaru simply looked up at InuYasha.

"Shut your mouth. I don't want the fang of our father. It rejects me anyways, remember?" Sesshomaru scoffed and slid Tokijin in his sash. Inuyasha pulled Tetsuiaga out of the ground and put it back in it's scabbard.

"Yeah, Yeah. I suppose your right..." InuYasha's words trailed off as the wind began to pick up and with it a new demonic energy flowed closer towards them. Kagome grabbed ahold of InuYasha's kimono and pulled herself upto his back.

"What...what is that energy? Surely, that's not from just one demon right? No way...that's...that's too much!" Kagome spoke with fear in your voice. InuYasha grabbed the hilt of Tetsuiaga and looked down at his hand.

"No way...Tetsuiaga is shaking from this aura?" He stiffened his grip on the hilt but the shaking continued. "Is it Tetsuiaga shaking...or is it me? What kagome said is true though...This demonic energy if this is coming from a single demon...we've got trouble." Sesshomaru and InuYasha withdrew their blades.

"It's here!" Both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha spoke in unison. Out from behind the Oni halves walked a figure. As it got closer Kagome noticed it looks like a male. He appeared to be around the same age as Inuyasha appeared. He was roughly the same height but was more built. The sword in his right hand looked alot like Tetsuiaga. The only real differences between the two blades was Tetsuiaga has the white-fur like guard and this sword was just a single curve from blade to hilt. She also noticed his piercing blue eyes. "Hate to admit it...but whoever he is...he's is rather attractive...he's no InuYasha though." Then it she noticed.

"Guys...his hair is red..." Kagome stumbled on her words this time. She let go of InuYasha's kimono and started slowly back-stepping. "Red hair...a sword like Tetsuiaga...and that demonic aura...Myoga was right...we're in trouble...lots of trouble..." Kagome noticed his eyes then focused in her direction and she couldn't hide the fear that now filled her body and mind.

"Why is he looking at me like that...InuYasha...I'm scared..." Kagome was now in full retreat. She was now backpedaling so quick that she lost her footing and fell backwards. InuYasha took notice of Kagome fear and raised Tetsuiaga.

"Don't you even think about laying a hand on Kagome, you bastard!" InuYasha yelled as he rushed the man. He swung Tetsuiaga into the ground with as much force as he could muster. The red haired man just side stepped the blade. His eyes then shifted directly to InuYasha. In one swift motion he had buried his blade on top of Tetsuiaga's blade preventing InuYasha from lifting Tetsuiaga and he had managed to land a vicious right hook against InuYasha. InuYasha slammed into the ground and was quickly followed by the man delivering a knee to InuYasha's chest. Kagome cringed as she heard the air violently explode from InuYasha's lungs in the form of a desperate gasp. The man stood up and removed his sword from it position over Tetsuiaga. He held the blade pointed directly at InuYasha's pain stricken face.

"If anyone moves..." The man was interrupted as he spoke by Sesshomaru attempting to rush him. As Sesshomaru attempted to move the red haired man was now behind Sesshomaru and delivered an elbow right to the back of Sesshomaru's neck. The blow caused the older brother to almost instantly faint and fall next to InuYasha. He then held his sword above both brothers.

"Let's try that again. If anyone move they die. I just have a few questions." The man spoke as his blue eyes again focused Kagome but also glancing between Sango, Miroku and Kagome.

A/N: Sorry this chapter was so late! I had some things come up and took away most of my time. Things are settled now so hopefully chapters will continue to flow out on a regular basis now. If you're enjoying the story let me know. If you're not enjoying the story let me know why not. If you have ideas for the story well guess what? Let me know. Thank you for taking your time to view/read my story. As always Read, Review and Criticize.