Chapter Six: Together?

I was awoken by a sharp little squeal: "Kagome!"

Blinking away sleep, I jumped to my feet. "Shippo!" I gasped. "What is it? Are you okay?"

The kitsune curled his arms around my legs, trembling. "Y-yeah…"

"Then what's wrong?" I asked him, feeling a little miffed, but that vanished as I scooped him up into my arms. How could anyone – aside from InuYasha – stay angry at someone like Shippo? "What's wrong, honey?"

What was wrong became apparent almost immediately as InuYasha came into view. His face was tomato red and there was ramen all over him. Several strands of his silver hair were a blackish-brown, and the smell of smoke was in the air. He smelled even more strongly of chicken and his eyes were flaring – red, gold, red, gold.

"InuYasha," I whispered. He looked at me and they remained their usual tawny. I felt a wave of relief; he frightened me as a demon. "What happened?"

"H-he's sc-scaring me," Shippo whimpered, clinging to my shoulder.

I turned a fierce eye on the half-demon, who quailed. "S-see," he spluttered, sounding for the entire world like a little puppy. "I was trying to make dinner" – here I couldn't sustain a giggle, gazing at my ramen-ified hanyou – "when this little brat came over and tipped the kettle over my head!" He was angry again, furious at my laughter.

"How did he manage to tip it on you? InuYasha…why were you under the kettle?"

His face turned, if it was possible, even redder. "HE PUSHED ME, THAT'S WHY!!!!!!!"

"Ohhh…" I said, looking at Shippo for confirmation.

"No, I didn't," he sniffled. "I j-just tripped, that's all, and when I changed into you t-to make him c-calm down because h-his hair got burnt, he got r-really mad and I w-was only trying t-to s-stop him from ch-changing by dumping the ramen on him!" Then an evil grin spread partly over his face. "But it was a lot of fun, Kagome! But he got even angrier and I was scared so I came to get you!"

"THE LITTLE BRAT WOKE YOU UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" InuYasha howled, his indignation apparent. "HE WOKE YOU UP AND YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SLEEP!!!!!!"

"It's okay, Shippo," I declared. "I'm alright. No more tormenting InuYasha, okay?"

"Okay," he sighed, and scampered off again, darting quickly between InuYasha's legs.

"How come you always take his side?" the hanyou whined. "It was his fault!"

"He's just a kid! You're so immature, InuYasha – it was just a little ramen!"

"A little? He woke you up, Kagome!"

I flushed slightly at his concern and came a step nearer. "I know," I replied quietly. "But I'm alright with it."

"WELL, I'M NOT!" he hollered.

My eyes narrowed in frustration. "SIT, INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!"

He agonized down there for awhile, and then darted to his feet; eyes flashing (still golden, though). "Wench…" he growled. "Here I am, stuck here, worried to death about you, and HE COMES IN HERE, WAKES YOU UP, AND YOU SIT ME?!?!?!?!?"

I smiled gently. "He's a kid, InuYasha."

"Yeah? Point?" he demanded.

"He needs defending!"

"So do you!"

"I'm capable!" I flared up at him. "Shippo needs me!"

"Well, then I guess the four of you can cope without me!" he snapped furiously, and turned to leave.

I leaned out, grabbing his arm. "InuYasha…"

"What?" he snapped.

I stretched up, kissing him on the lips. "I love you. Don't go."

When we drew back for air, he answered me in a voice so soft I could barely hear me. "I won't…I'll never leave you alone, Kagome…"

"Promise?" I whispered.

"Promise."

We probably would have stayed there for longer, but a sharp, genuine scream sent us reeling apart. "What was that?" I asked.

He held up a finger. "It's a girl…a young girl. She's in trouble." He sniffed. "A demon!"

"Shards!" I gasped.

He looked at me, a fiery gaze in his amber eyes. "Ready?"

"Always."

Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kilala were already darting towards the hut. InuYasha paused briefly to ring his hair out in water so that the chicken smell dissipated before allowing me to climb up onto his back with Shippo on his shoulder. Sango and Miroku were on Kilala, prancing forward and back, waiting for the sign.

"Come on!" InuYasha roared, as though it had been him waiting for us, and we followed, trusting his sense of smell. I could feel the Jewel burning in my mind as though it was a part of me. Something was wrong. Something was terribly, terribly wrong.

After what seemed like forever, we burst into a clearing. Kilala instantly halted, and InuYasha froze. His eyes narrowed and a low growl escaped from his throat.

"What is it?" I asked urgently.

"Sesshomaru's here," he hissed back. "But he's scared. Rin's around too, and another demon that I don't recognize…"

"Sesshomaru's…afraid?" I echoed in disbelief. The great Sesshomaru, scared? It seemed impossible.

InuYasha snorted. "Yes." But I heard so much in that simple word. If Sesshomaru was frightened…what would happen to us? What opponent could be that great?

My train of thought was cut short when a girl dashed out into the clearing. Rin's eyes flashed with terror, and she let out a sharp scream when she saw us. She veered off to another direction as what was chasing her became apparent.

A swift sword slashed snakelike through the air, coming down to pounce on the young girl. I rolled off InuYasha's back as he ripped out the Fang and brought it down to hold as a shield for the cowering Rin. "What the heck are you doing out here, Rin?" he yelled furiously as the sword was withdrawn. "Where's Sesshomaru?"

"He's-he's," she gasped, still shaking with fear. "He's c-coming. I l-left him for a l-little while. I was c-coming back when I got a-attacked. I think h-he heard me s-scream."

"Dang it, Rin, don't you know better than to wander off alone?"

"Leave her alone, InuYasha!" I shouted, running to take Rin's hand. "It's hardly likely she was going to be attacked, unless someone had a grudge against Sesshomaru and knew she was with him!"

Rin's round, fearful eyes stared up at me. "Kagome?"

"Yes. It's me. Be still!"

"So you have found help," and amused voice cooed from behind a tree. A figure stepped into the light. The youkai was very beautiful; there could be no doubt about that. She was slim and tall, around InuYasha's height, I guessed. Her face was finely crafted; each feature was perfect and delicate, intentional. Her skin was moon-white, her eyes a remorseless silver. Her fingers were long a spidery, ending in brutal bloody talons. In one hand, she held a slim grey blade. She was dressed simply, in a silver kimono. She held a commanding demeanor and cruel beauty. A formidable opponent. She bared her teeth and the fangs glistened in the light. "We shall see if InuYasha will bother to assist those who consort with his enemies."

"You disgust me," InuYasha growled. "She's just a little girl – why waste your time going after one like her?"

"Foolish hanyou," she said softly, and her voice carried though it was no more than a whisper. "The girl is merely a piece of a much bigger plan. Can you not see it? Fool."

I stood, filled with fury and a cold dread. I came to stand beside InuYasha. Sango and Miroku flanked us on either side. "Your real target is Sesshomaru."

She smiled. It was a fearsome, mysterious thing. "Clever girl. How does it feel, InuYasha, to be outsmarted by a mere ningen?"

Before he could answer Sango spoke: "She is no simple human. You seem to know us quite well – tell us, demon, what is your name?"

"Do you truly believe I would give away such a precious piece of information to you?" the demon laughed. "However…I am known as Fukusyu."

"Revenge," I whispered, a felt a chill tingle down my spine.

"That's right." She raised her weapon. "Step aside. You need not die yet. It is only the girl…only her. My target is simply Sesshomaru. I will allow Naraku to deal with you, worthless hanyou."

"No." InuYasha raised the Fang.

Fukusyu sighed as if bored. "I see we shall have to do this the hard way. Blood Path!" she screamed suddenly, swinging her blade. It shimmered to crimson in her hands, flowing outward like a liquid. I felt a wave of revulsion rise within me and I thought I might throw up with disgust.

Tetsusaiga flashed out to meet it, but the Blood Blade simply snaked through it. "What the –" InuYasha muttered as he dodged her.

"It is a special sword," she crooned. "Nothing can stop it. That's it, dance little puppy! How long can you keep this up? This way – oh you are the quick one! And now that! Oh, very good, very amusing, little puppy!"

I backed away as InuYasha dodged the blade, trying to near her, but kept getting blocked. I raised my bow, strung an arrow, and shot it. "Hit the Mark!"

It slashed through Fukusyu's weapon, rendering it a typical sword. She turned to me, a glint of curiosity in her glowing eyes. "What are you that you could transform my Blood Blade?"

A new voice spoke then. "You are finished, Fukusyu." I looked up to see Sesshomaru standing there, behind the youkai.

"Aw, how sweet. You were worried about the fate of the little girl?" she crooned, but moved away extremely quickly.

He ignored her. "InuYasha. Is Rin alright?"

InuYasha looked uneasy, reluctant to turn his back on either of them. "Yes."

"Of course she's fine! Do you think we would let her kill a young girl like Rin?" I demanded indignantly.

Sesshomaru did not look at me. He kept his eyes on InuYasha as he went to his side. The hanyou glared at him suspiciously, but did not strike. The western lord drew Tokijin, causing InuYasha to leap backwards and hold up the Fang.

When he spoke, I felt myself grow weak with relief and surprise. "Your enemy is my enemy," Sesshomaru said. "Fukusyu tried to kill one under my protection. She shall pay."

InuYasha nodded. "There's no way she can win."

I thought I saw something akin to fear flash briefly through Fukusyu's eyes, but it was gone so quickly I couldn't be sure. "Are you positive you can win?" she asked, raising her sword once more. Imbedded in it was a shard of the Jewel. She spun it once in a circle, the Jewel pulsing, and it was once again liquid blood.

Sesshomaru did not seem unduly worried. He and InuYasha stood there, back to back. "Together, little brother?"

"Together," InuYasha decided.

The battle was on.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Hello again! I'm sorry this chapter was so short. I promise the next will be longer! I have added some new characters to my fanfic, as you can see. I have something to say because of that: I do not own InuYasha or any of the other characters EXCEPT Daisuke, Ai, Yuka, P. Will, Ai's brother Takahashi, and Fukusyu. Please do not use them without permission. Thank you!

Just a hint, but if you want me to update, review. I'll try to update once a week anyways, but when I get reviews, I feel guilty for not updating yet and do it sooner. Just a suggestion.

Until next time!