Without Warning
His right ear twitched when he heard the sound. Still dozing, both ears carefully analyzed the sound – rain. Inuyasha's head dropped back to his chest, there was no threat in the rain.
One whole day had passed with no attack, nor had Sesshomaru returned. Rin had only woken briefly and managed to drink some broth but she was improving. Except for quick trips to the nearby village for supplies, they had all remained at the hut on the lookout for Danzaemon.
A few hours later Inuyasha woke and looked out on the rain soaked landscape. He'd been expecting an attack ever since his brother had left but maybe Sesshomaru had already found him and was at this moment in battle. Sighing he looked back at his friends, Miroku was awake and nodded at him. Shippo was snoring and both girls lay on either side of Rin, to comfort her and to be sure she was well. A few times she had called out for Sesshomaru and Jaken.
Inuyasha continued to be puzzled by his brother's relationship with the human child. Sesshomaru always claimed disgust for humans, yet anyone could see how he protected and cared for Rin. Inuyasha was half-human so it made sense for him to have human friends but Sesshomaru?
Shaking his head, Inuyasha gave up trying to wrap his mind around the idea. Stepping out on the small porch, he gathered some firewood. Shortly a fire was warming up the damp hut and everyone was having breakfast.
Kagome felt Rin's forehead and was pleased when she found it cool. "We'll let her wake on her own." Smiling she accept a bowl from Sango. "She should be fine by the time Sesshomaru returns."
"Yeah in the meantime we sit here twiddling our thumbs, no closer to Naraku. Man, I'm bored just sitting here. Maybe I'll go out and have a look around." Inuyasha looked out at the grey skies.
"And if we're attacked while you're gone?" Miroku took a sip of tea. "Think of the rest of us Inuyasha. We don't like sitting still any more than you do, but you gave your word to stay."
Inuyasha didn't want to be reminded of the promise he'd given his brother, growling he folded his arms and turned his head away.
Kagome laughed at him, "He'll be back soon. He knows Rin is waiting for him." She began to get up when suddenly Inuyasha jumped up.
"There's a demon nearby!" He moved to look out but could only see rain. He heard them all hustle to their feet and grab their weapons.
"What do you see? Could it be Sesshomaru returning?" Miroku moved to join Inuyasha.
"No it's not Sesshomaru. Can't tell what it is, only that it's close." Inuyasha's thumb slid under the hilt of the Tetsusagia.
"Careful master! If it's Danzaemon, remember he has the power of two demons!" Myoga called from his perch on Kagome's shoulder. It was safer with her; she'd keep Rin out of harm's way.
"So you are friends of his? Good, good. And the human child still lives?" Danzaemon's voice echoed around them. "She's tough but now I'll have the chance to hear her screams yet again. Sesshomaru will return to find all of his allies dead!"
"Where are you? You must be that mixed-breed I heard about. Well think again, we don't die easily!" Inuyasha yelled into the rain.
Crack! The porch in front of him exploded. Then the wall was destroyed sending wood flying.
"Hurry! Take cover!" Inuyasha ran out and was drenched in seconds. At first he saw nothing but up on the hill -was it a demon? No, it was a man – a human man. "I don't know who you are but you'd better get out of here. There's going to be a battle."
"Oh? You think you can fight me?" Danzaemon taunted.
"Lord Inuyasha! That's him! That's the mixed-breed, Danzaemon. Don't let him fool you. He can apparently take the shape of a human and if he can do that then he can also be a panther demon and a moth demon." Myoga warned.
Kagome ran into the woods and hid behind a large tree. The hut was no longer safe. In her arms was Rin who was groaning with pain at having to be handled so roughly. Sango stood a few yards away, ready to protect them with Kirara and Shippo at her side.
"So you like hiding behind tricks to fight? Must mean you're really a weak bastard!" Inuyasha taunted.
Danzaemon growled. "You're Sesshomaru's half-breed brother! Ha! As if you have enough power to fight me. Tricks – you say? Well how do you like this!" His appearance changed from that of a human to a moth demon. Wings appeared and gathered the air beneath them and sent it full force at Inuyasha.
"Damn it!" He was pushed back a few feet before he pulled out Tetsusagia and thrust it into the ground.
Miroku couldn't see, what with the rain and now Danzaemon's wind. He tried moving closer to Inuyasha but the wind knocked him down and sent him rolling into the mud.
Sango saw Miroku go down but couldn't move to help. She was only standing because of Kirara but both of them were being pushed back in the mud.
Kagome laid the child down and took the bow off her shoulder. She wasn't sure it would hit but it should give Inuyasha and the others a chance to fight back. Notching an arrow she aimed for one of Danzaemon's wings. "Hit it." She urged.
Inuyasha had been covering his face but then he heard it, the sound of an arrow cutting the air. Squinting he looked up in time to see it fly by and nick Danzaemon's right wing. Not wasting the chance he lifted his sword, "Wind Scar!"
Danzaemon had already been knocked off balance by the arrow when he saw the wind scar heading for him. Changing quickly to a panther he moved only just barely out of the way. Taking a moment, he stared at the half-demon and his sword but that caused him to be hit – from above.
"Ha, hah, hah, ha! Got'cha! Good going Ah-Un! That'll teach you to attack us!" Jaken was standing on Ah-Un's back waving his staff. "Hit'em again! Hit'em again! Whoops!" He'd jumped and slid down just catching himself and pulling himself back onto the saddle, where he sat down.
Ah-Un did attack again and so did Inuyasha but even though Danzaemon had been wounded he still acted in time to save his life. Silken threads poured from his mouth and formed a barrier between two trees. The wind scar and Ah-Un's attack hit this barrier – ripping it to shreds.
Inuyasha raced up the hill ready to continue the fight but Danzaemon was gone. He'd fled. Inuyasha punched what was left of a tree, knocking it over, roots exposed.
Sango rushed to help Miroku up out of the mud and Kirara went to help Kagome with Rin.
"Where's Lord Sesshomaru? If he was here that demon would be dead! You're useless Inuyasha! Ack!" Jaken ended face down in the mud with a lump on his head.
"Thanks Kagome." She and the others had joined him. "How's the girl?"
Kagome rested her hand on the child's forehead. "Okay but we need to get her out of this rain, she could catch another fever." Kagome was startled, the dragon had moved in front of Inuyasha and leaned one head down to sniff the child. "She'll live." Kagome smiled a little. The dragon was worried about Rin.
"We should go Inuyasha. Danzaemon knows where we are and could attack again. And we can't go into the village either." Miroku wiped a hand down his face, taking off mud.
Inuyasha laughed, "Yeah I know, plus you need a bath. Okay let's head out." He brushed his own wet hair out his eyes.
"Wait! What about Lord Sesshomaru? We should wait for him." Jaken had finally managed to drag himself up out of the mud.
"No we shouldn't. This place isn't safe anymore and he left Rin here to get well. How can she get well if we're constantly under attack, idiot!" Inuyasha turned away from the imp. "Let's get packed up and out of here. He could send someone back to finish what he started."
"B-but Lord Sesshomaru! He'll wonder…Ahhh!" Jaken scuttled away to hide behind Ah-Un when Inuyasha moved to hit again.
"Sesshomaru has never had any trouble finding me before and he won't now. If you're so worried about him – you stay! But you'll stay alone; the dragon's going with us!"
Ah-Un bellowed an agreement for the dragon wanted to stay with Rin. He would protect the child; the two spent a lot of time together and were fond of each other.
"Well! Ah-Un, you won't stay with me?" Jaken sounded scared as he looked around trying to find the enemy.
The dragon had already followed after Kagome and Rin. Jaken's mouth hung open when the dragon didn't spare him a look. When Jaken saw Inuyasha's smirk, he straightened his back. "Never mind, I can stay and wait for Lord Sesshomaru! I'll tell him how brave I was in battle and how miserably you failed to protect Rin!"
Inuyasha looked at him with disdain. "Whatever." He turned to see everyone ready to go. Inuyasha joined Rin and Kagome on Ah-Un. "Let's go."
"Bye Jaken. Don't hide in the mud, be brave!" Shippo yelled from Miroku's shoulder.
"Shut up you little worthless fox! As if I would ever…" Jaken stopped yelling at Shippo and looked around. "That might not be such a bad idea. I can't be found if I blend in with the surroundings." He muttered to himself. Jaken sat on the ground and rolled around in the mud then giggling moved into the ruins of the hut. "Now I can wait for my lord unseen. I'm so clever!"