Disclaimers: The characters and universe were created by Rumiko Takahashi.

Important: Any similarities that can be found to any other fan fictions or works are COMPLETELY unintentional.

Due to the enormous amount of InuYasha related fan fiction, I must put this to make sure it's clear I have not intended any cross over to any other fan work.

I'm sorry for any similarities. Please enjoy my work as a separate piece of fandom literature. :D

[a/n: Sorry for the super long wait. It's been taking me a while since I've been writing an essay for class. I have working on this through my breaks. I hope it lives up to your wait : 3

I will try to get up another chapter or two before the end of my reading week. : DD ]

Chapter Four: Heartbeat

There was silence, no one seemed to move or breathe. The figure began to shift on the rooftop, moving along the tiles with no effort. As we saw his profile, I saw the line of one sword that clanged against his armor. The large orb which held the hilt seemed to have a glow of its own. The purple hue that escaped it did nothing to ease the tension. The power of the sword was unmistakable, the sword was as strong as its master and just as demonic. The creature slid from the roof stop in one graceful leap, landing on the ground amongst the crowd. People began to shuffle away from it and as it drew closer. It was only then I was able to see its features. Its silver hair was pulled into a high ponytail which seemed to flow behind it as it walked. The demon took on a human form, appearing to be a male of his late twenties, early thirties. Life had not taken its toll, for no lines of worry or age seemed to pull at his skin. The only lines that were prominent on his features were his dark brows and two long purple markings which sliced his cheeks. The large plates of armor he wore were almost silent as he walked. His eyes seemed to skim the crowd for a moment, examining the 'potential threats' he saw. He didn't seem baffled or the least bit concerned. His eyes landed on me for only a moment, the golden orbs seeming to pierce mine and look upon my fear. He made his way forward, his eyes then meeting the panthers which seemed to be containing their fear. "You show me no respect for showing up in my territory. Have you not learned your place?"

His voice was sharp and definite. The blue haired panther woman stepped towards him… it seemed like an act of defiance. She was smirking, but no such gesture was returned from the larger demon. "We thought you would never step foot near these humans. Have you put your differences aside?" she asked him coyly.

"These people want my head as you do, it was your revolting scent that drew me here."

The demon's hand shot out, taking the demon woman by the neck. Her fellow felines seemed to hiss loudly and move forward, tightening the circle in which already had been situated. The other leaders of the panther tribe seemed to hiss and snap at him but the demon lord didn't seem to notice. My eyes were locked on him, fearful of even the smallest gesture. "I know why you are here… Do you think I am a fool?"

The panther woman struggled in his hand, a hiss escaping her as his hand seemed to begin to glow. "Get out of my territory- I will not tolerate such disrespect."

His lips seemed to flat line, his grip tightening. The woman squirmed a bit before her colleague, the large male brute, ended his silence. "How dare you dog demon!?"

Lightening shot from his fingers and the demon threw the women aside and the battle seem to begin. Felines leaped, humans screamed and stabbed with their spears. The man, this dog demon, he was almost immune to it. He moved with speed, quick and sleek. I could hardly tell one thing from another. Lightening shot past Takemaru and I, causing my heart to leap. He quickly put his arms around me, pulling me from the battle ground. "My lady! This way."

I followed him without question, running back around the house. Demons leaped onto the roof of the house, smaller battles taking part all around us. Screams filled the air, cutting off all other noises. A hiss seemed to break through it though- and my eyes shifted up to the roof. One large feline had followed us. Quick on its feet, it separated Takemaru and I by landing between us. My eyes quickly shot up to the large yellow eyes as the demon's hand swiped. The claws brushed against the silk of my kimono before Takemaru's spear pierced the demon's head. The demon cat squealed loudly, causing my skin to bubble in horror. It was a sound I had never heard- seared into my mind. I fell back onto the ground, blood splattered upon my face. I couldn't breathe... my heart stopped for a moment. The tip of the spear had nearly brushed my face, I could almost feel the cold metal against my lips. "My lady are you alright?!" Takemaru's shocked voice broke through my surprise.

I shivered, hearing the screams erupt from behind us. Some of the others had attempted something similar to us. They drew into the house or around the walls to the back courtyards but the demons followed none the less. Takemaru slid an arm around me... I had no doubt he could feel my fear through my trembling. "We're too exposed, come."

He dragged me back into the corner of the walled encampment, a good distance away from the main house. He brought me to a small bathhouse, pushed into the back corner of the courtyard. The walls seemed sturdy and the distance from the house seemed to bring Takemaru some reassurance. He just wanted to hide me... if he could hide me long enough... the battle would be over and perhaps he could save me... save both of us. He pushed me within, the heavy smell of the springs coating my senses. "Stay down my lady- please," Takemaru begged, "hide!"

The fear in his voice only spurred my own. He was my only protector, my only- no... no the others. "Takemaru, where are the others?!" I begged, my remembrance sparking a new fear in my mind.

The other men who had come with me to this place were in the midst of the chaos. They had to be safe- I couldn't- wouldn't accept if they had come with me only to face their own deaths. Takemaru shook his head furiously, moving me towards one of the store rooms. "My lady, you are my primary concern!" he hastily replied.

"Takemaru you have to get them, we need to keep them safe," I told him with a sharp tone, my own fear seeming to slip into the back of my mind, behind my protectiveness of my men.

They had volunteered to come with me- to keep me safe. That loyalty wouldn't be so easily discarded... Takemaru shook his head and closed the storeroom door, moving me to the back corner of the room. The room was filled with jars of what I would think would be bathing salts and pedals. Anything the family desired to scent themselves I'm sure. It seemed like a good hiding spot- but I wanted the rest of the men here as well... protected- safe. "My lady I'm sure they can manage. They are great warriors. They can fend for themselves. You however, I must take care of you."

I wanted to scream at him but the sound of something else broke off my words. The screams seemed to draw closer and the sound of destruction could be heard. Takemaru pushed me down into a sitting position in the corner of the room, covering my body with his. I gripped onto his armour, listening intensely to the staggered breathing he created while more destruction rumbled around us. I could hear the sounds of falling beams. The ground seemed to tremble beneath us, the pots around us rattled loudly. Other pots fell off the shelves and shattered around us. "Takemaru..." I whimpered in fear.

"You bastard! You will not so easily avoid us!" a loud female voice screeched through the air outside.

The sound of snapping could be heard, from what I don't know. A few screams died down into nothing before a gust of wind seemed to howl outside. The shack seemed to shake, causing a beam from the ceiling to topple in the centre of the room. Takemaru threw his body over mine as more destruction occurred around us. Something hit us- something heavy... The roof seemingly collapsed onto us, leaving us buried in the small fortress. Everything went dark... I don't remember much. The only thing I seem to recall, was the sound of Takemaru's breathe as he took the blunt of the blow... before the shingle fell, striking my face with its heavy construction. Above us, as my eyes filled with the blood from my head, I swore I saw a dragon. It was a large black beast which seemed to be pulling the wooden beams above us to shreds. My head went foggy as the beams fell over Takemaru and I until I passed out in the darkness.

I didn't come to for a while... I don't know how long. I awoke with the smell of the morning air. My eyes slowly flickered open as piece after piece of the wood above us began to slowly be peeled away. I gripped onto Takemaru, the man that had protected me. My movements were slow as I went to check if Takemaru had yet awoken... to see if he was alright. My hand brushed a skim layer of blood on his face which caused my heart to seemingly revive and beat against my chest. My hand slid down his cheek, my fingers brushing against his neck. I checked for a pulse. My fingers pressed at the base of his chin and slowly I could feel it. One... two... three... four... a steady and strong pulse... My friend was alive... Takemaru was alive.

My vision was still blurry and my eyes stung. I blinked away the blood and sweat before my gaze shifting to find the minimal light of the changing sky. Those who pulled the wood from over top of us seemed to do it with great speed. Piece after piece was pulled away and the weight seemed to lighten dramatically. I gasped loudly at the new air I could collect. "There's a woman over here!" someone called out, causing my brain to reel for only a moment.

The voice was unfamiliar, but still human if discernible. My eyes shifted up, falling on a man who seemed to be in the later stages of his life. More faces began to fill my view, some young, some old, one after another. I didn't recognize any of these men. Bandits? Robbers? Although my initial instinct was to push myself from the space and try to escape, something Takemaru had always told me to do, I could feel the man in question in my arms. I would not let him slip so easily between my fingers. I gripped onto him, holding his bleeding form in my arms. "Please- help him..." I whispered to them, my voice hoarse and quiet.

"Is the man dead?" I heard a familiar voice question, but I took no time to heed it.

One of the men shuffled forward, pushing the final pillars off Takemaru which gave me the option to move my legs. I shook my head, looking up at the older man. "He's still alive, please... Help him."

The man reached down, pulling Takemaru's form from mine. I looked at the bloodied body of my friend, his face almost as red as the armor he wore. Takemaru groaned in the movement, "be careful please!" I whispered.

The men drew Takemaru from me, laying him flat on the ground. They leaned over him, pulling away pieces of the armor in order to check him. Another man helped me up. My eyes were locked on my colleague, the one who bled in my place. Takemaru took most of the weight of the collapse. The man who examined him found a couple broken bones, his one arm was rather noticeably disjointed. I only had a few bumps, a gash across my head in the folds of my hair... nothing dramatic... Takemaru had protected me from the worse of it. "Bind him, I'll be back shortly then we'll return."

I tried to find the source of the voice but the subject was gone. I shook my head before crawling over to Takemaru. He breathed deeply and even in his state seemed to groan in pain. "My lady," one man whispered, "Could you hold him down? This will... be painful."

I glanced up at the man who held onto Takemaru's arm. I shivered before nodding. I held my hand across Takemaru's chest, putting his head gently in my lap. With one swift jostle, his arm was pushed back into the socket. The popping sound that followed caused me to cringe and Takemaru to scream. I had been near pain through most of the early years of my life... it was unavoidable... but now- I felt his pain as if it was my own. Takemaru awoke from his own scream, his eyes shifting side to side quickly before they settled on me. He attempted to move his arm but groaned loudly, cursing beneath his breath. "Shhh..." I whispered softly to him, "Takemaru, rest. Your arm is being tended to..."

The man in my lap looked around, his eyes scanning over the other men. He shifted his head, causing me to finally take in my surroundings. Part of the main house had been destroyed, toppled to the ground in the fight. Bodies of demons and humans alike were strewed everywhere. However, the men who had been taking care of Takemaru and I were bringing together the humans, sorting the injured from the dead. "Our master will take care of you now- don't you worry," one of the men said with a smile as I examined the landscape.

My eyes shifted to him, brushing my hand against my head. The bleeding had stopped, hardening my hair like wax under my touch. "Your master is very kind- I will have my father send men to help rebuild the house. Are they alright?"

The man seemed slightly confused which in turned caused me to return his confusion with my own. "The masters of the house are unconscious, many of them injured. The woman has taken a serious blow to the head but our men are working on her. The leader of the house died at the hands of the panthers as well as his youngest son. The eldest son is the only one that remains."

It took me a moment to fully comprehend the man's words. My mind slowly glancing around the scattered figures. Ebisu had perished in the battle as well as Kenjiro... The panthers were gone... "Were the panthers destroyed or did they flee?" I asked softly.

The man looked around for a moment, "They escaped, not claiming the prize they desired. The master was able to hold them off for as long as he could- it's just a shame so many lives were lost."

A small nod escaped me before I could feel Takemaru pull on the hem of my kimono. Glancing down at him, his eyes were wide. He reached up with his good hand, brushing a few fingers down my cheek. I drew closer to him, my ear neared his lips as he attempted to speak. "Get out of here-" he mumbled, "run..."

My eyes widened as I looked down at him, my shock evident in my face. "Will you try to run as he says?" the familiar voice mumbled, causing my eyes to rise.

Before me stood the demon I had feared, tall and shining in the morning light. Blood glistened from his armor, his battle clearly demonstrated in his expression and apparel. The dog lord stood, moving slowly toward Takemaru and I. I jostled myself in front of him, moving myself between Takemaru and the demon. I could feel Takemaru grip onto the kimono but his groans of protests were ignored. The demon lord halted in place, his stern face softening only minimally, giving the impression of the most minimal of amusement. "Your human companion is free of threat..."

The glint in his eyes stopped my hopeful heart from believing his words. One of the men, who had been wandering among the injured, came to Takemaru's side. In his hand was a small cup of what appeared to be tea. I attempted to stop him but one of the other men pulled me from Takemaru. They forced the liquid down his throat against his many protests. I screamed, bellowed, attempting to kick myself free. The cup was emptied and I watched as Takemaru slip out of consciousness. The older man, who now held the emptied cup, looked at me with a small smile. "Do not worry my lady- it is a mild sedative. He will not be in any way affected otherwise."

Once more doubt crossed my mind but I looked over at the demon, his eyes seemed to never leave me. "Shall we give her a drink too my lord?" the elderly man asked, collecting another cup from one of the others.

The demon shook his head, "No- bind the man's arm, rally the others. You must leave before the effects wear off."

The order was taken and the men began to scamper away. The demon moved towards me, causing my heart beat once more to race with panic. "Come here," he stated bluntly.

I didn't move at first, but I felt the arms of the man who had dragged me from Takemaru loosen. "If you attempt to disobey, I will kill your friend. Come," the demon once more growled.

I glanced over at Takemaru before I felt my heart sunk, the rattle continuing in the pit of my stomach. I pushed myself up from the dirt, my eyes locked onto the demon as I did so. I feared I would disobey him without realizing it, that my blood would be the next shade of red to coat his clothing. He took a step forward, causing me to flinch and look down at the ground. "Still-" he growled before snatching my jaw in his hand. He raised my eyes to his, looking over my features. His unnatural yellow eyes seemed to burrow into mine- nothing human lingered in his expression. How did he claim such respect? From other demons... from human men? He breathed deeply, his nose almost sniffing the air as he stood near me. "Yes- you are the girl-" he mumbled with a snarl. "Remember my words. If you attempt to run, I will make sure your friend doesn't survive the morning."

My heart beat jumped once more before nodding. "Hurry men. Be discreet. You shall be rewarded when you return," the demon bellowed.

Without a seconds hesitation the demon scooped me into his arms, causing me to cringe once more, expecting some sort of pain. There were so many questions to ask... so many things I needed answered. Why did these men listen to such a demon? Were they possessed in some way? Where was he going to take me? Were my men alive? Would Takemaru be okay? Would I be okay? How did he know me? I looked down at Takemaru who look to be sleeping almost comfortably… I didn't trust this demon to have a truthful word but in case my mistrust was wrong… I would go- for his sake. The demon's voice broke through the air and caused my eyes to shut slowly. "Stay quiet… and hold on."

[a/n: I hope you enjoyed it! I hope you liked the slight twist... I know a lot of people were expecting a bit more of a bloody scene, but I thought I'd take a different turn with it. Curious about the men? What does Inu no Taisho know about Izayoi? Read on!]