A/N: Bring on the action, the Kurosaiga and Tetsusaiga clash. Yeah baby, and does Kikyko end up kidnapped? o.o Oh no!

13. The Band of Brothers

I stretched my arms above my head, releasing the tension in my muscles. "What a great day," I rejoiced. Inuko yawned, and stretched as well. "What's your problem?" he questioned me eyeing me down. "I hear a river nearby, are we near a village again... or mountains?" I questioned, childishly. "We're almost near, Hodori River." Inuko bellowed. "Yay, I think it would be a great time to relax for a while..." I shouted my voice filled with excitement. "Relax, this isn't a vacation idiot, do you want to destroy that jewel around your neck or not?" he shouted at me waving a hand in the air.

"Yes, yes..." I giggled playfully slapping his shoulder. He scowled at me and then growled. "You are really pushing it today..." he retorted angrily, I blinked a few times and looked at him. What was his problem I was only trying to play with him? Sheesh he didn't have to bit my head off.

"What's your problem Inuko, you've been pushing me away this entire trip..." I shouted at him, Haku came to his side questioning him with her eyes as well. "Inuko, is something bothering you?" Haku asked calmly.

"Look, I'm not angry, nothing is bothering me, and I'm not brushing you off... so back off," he shouted at the both of us. Haku and I looked at each other and didn't say a word. Inuko stormed off in front of us, we just followed behind quietly. Akagne seemed very confused by the entire situation.

"I thought you two were related," he whispered at me. "Sometimes, I wonder if we are related..." I sighed deeply crossing my arms. "Maybe I can assist you priestess..." he whispered again. "First and foremost I am not a priestess, and how could you possible assist me with my brother, he's hot-headed, stupid and has a really bad attitude..." I shouted at him hoping he'd hear it. His ears twitched and he turned his eyes towards me.

Akagne noticed Inuko's aggravated mood and smiled holding a hand up to him, he hastened his pace to keep up with Inuko and came to his side. Inuko didn't seem to mind him; he just looked ahead and didn't bother saying a word to him.

"So, Inuko is it? Maybe you should ease up on the ladies... I am sure they have done no wrong..." he said calming smiling. "Tch, whatever..." Inuko said crossing his arms into his sleeves. We didn't converse with each other after that. We kept following Inuko quietly as we walked through more long grass, trees, and rugged terrain.

After about a good hour of walking we made it to Hodori River. Inuko took a big whiff of the air, and sat down next to the river bed. I didn't bother to go sit with him, I stayed away, and I wasn't prepared to fight with him again over his idiocy. Haku however, came to his side and sat down next to him without saying a word. I really hoped she talk to him and maybe knock some sense into him, he wasn't the same Inuko I knew... he was different.

Since this entire trip began, he was... strange, different, he wouldn't look me in the eyes, he would get mad over everything I'd say, and he was very, very impatient. "What ailes you child?" Akagne said, helping me set up the picnic blanket on the ground. I didn't say a word to him; I just stared at the blue blanket. "It's my brother," I said after a few moments, I didn't move my gaze off the blanket. "He's different..." I stuttered trying to get my words across I was holding back tears, I clenched my hands against my kimono. "... It's like he's changed, he doesn't want to be with me anymore, it's like I'm a burden to him." I choked through tears.

"I do not think your brother hates you, if that's what you are saying..." Akagne smiled, resting against a tree. "That girl... does he love her?" he asked me, looking over at Inuko and Haku. She was talking with him, and he was actually answering, this made me feel extremely left out. I glanced over once and turned my gaze from them.

"Yes, he does care for her a lot..." I said, drying my eyes. "Do not worry yourself, I am positive your brother loves you very much, I can tell..." he said after a few moments, "I have a sister too you know!" He reminded me of Setsuki. This brought a smile to my face. "Your sister is a very good girl," I renounced holding a hand to my mouth. He smiled and looked up. "Huh?" I followed his gaze as well. Inuko was in front of us. "Kiki... can I talk to you?" he asked, holding a hand out to me.

Akagne smiled, and nodded at me. I took Inuko's hand and got up off the blanket. He took me by the hand and led me away from Haku and Akagne; he picked me up when we were close to the river, and carried me in his arms and jumped through the river to the other side. After setting me down on my feet, he put an arm over my shoulders and looked up at the sky.

I didn't say anything to him. I just looked at his eyes curiously. "I'm not trying to ignore you," he said cocking his head towards me. "It sure does seem like it, it seems like I'm a burden to you and all your trying to do is get rid of me," I tried to control the tone of my voice. "I would never get rid of you..." he told me looking me in the eyes. This scared me he never looked me in the eyes, unless something bad was going to happen.

"Is... something wrong brother?" I asked a shiver crawled up my spin. "Yes, the reason why I asked for us not to travel the villages is because I smelt a very disturbing presence..." he choked out, he held a hand to his face and looked up to the sky again. "You remember the two men that attacked you at the village? Their brother's had also attacked father as well... I smelt their scent in every village we came too," he said trying not to scare me. He kept his voice normal, calm, so that I wouldn't be startled. This made me very worried, I locked my hands together and didn't say a word.

"I have a feeling they'll come after us... you..." he struggled to get the words out. I leaned my head against Inuko's arm, "I'm not scared..." I whispered to him. He looked down at me. "I know your with me... all I have to do is become strong like you, and practice more with a bow and arrow..." I said again.

"Sis, I won't let anything happen to you I promise... and I'm sorry, for the way I've been acting towards y-ou..." he was about to finish his words when I felt his arm move rapidly. He placed a hand to his sword, and pulled me behind him. "Don't make a sound..." he pushed me back with his body.

"Are you sure they went this way?" a strange, yet familiar voice echoed through the tree's before us.

"I'm positive, what you take me for Miroko..." another familiar voice boomed. My heart jumped, I'd recognize these voices anywhere, I was sure of it. I pushed away Inuko's arm and came around him, he pulled me by my waste pushing me aside. "I said stay back," he shouted at me. "Inuko, don't you recognize their voices..." I beamed at him, my eyes filled with tears again. He looked down at me the whiffed the air again, he relaxed his hand over his sword and didn't say a word.

He released his grasp from around my waist, and narrowed his eyes towards the woods. In an instant I felt as if a gush of wind blew past me, my hair fluttered in my face, I clung on to Inuko's arm so I wouldn't be tossed to the ground and turned to look behind me.

"W-what was that?" I stuttered. Inuko turned around rapidly and scanned the river quickly; Haku was at the other side with Akagne. This made me very worried. "F-father?" Inuko choked out, his eyes widened with surprise. I looked up at him and then looked over at Haku and Akagne.

Father had darted to the other side of the river, and bound Akagne to a tree with his hand. "Who are you?" he hissed, angrily. "Papa," I shouted at him releasing my arms, I ran towards the river lifting my kimono above my knees and strutted towards the other side.

"Stay back Kikyko," father shouted at me. I stopped in the river and blinked my eyes, "Huh father he's not a demon..." I shouted at him, releasing my grasp from my kimono. "Shoot!" I muttered strutting across the river. Miroko came up to Inuko and placed a hand to his shoulder, "Enough InuYasha, he has done no harm to anyone..." Miroko shouted across the river. I turned to look; Haku picked up her kimono as well and darted towards the river.

Miroko came through the waters with Inuko, joining us. Haku hugged her father as he approached; I smiled and looked over at father. I ran up to him and placed a hand on his. "Release him father he did nothing to us, he's a companion he is travelling with us to the Western Lands," I told him giving father a cold look.

Father looked at me and relaxed his grip on Akagne's neck. "Why does he wreck of medicinal herbs, and demon?" father hissed in a low voice again. "He's our friend from Minatori Village, he's a monk... just like Uncle Miroko," I wavered my hand towards Miroko, and then back at Akagne.

"Hm, I still don't like his smell," father grumbled, crossing his arms. He placed a hand atop my head and stroked my hair, "You doing okay?" he asked peering over to Inuko as well. "A monk... how interesting?" Miroko added coming up to Akagne, he extended a hand introducing himself, I stepped back so I wouldn't be in the way. Akagne rubbed his neck and shook Miroko's hand, he eyed father for a moment and then gave them both a gentle smile.

"No need for formalities, I mean no harm to the young ladies..." he said, wavering his hand in the air. Haku pulled at her father's arm gathering his attention, "Akagne was a gentleman to me and Kikyko at his village... he saved my life from a poisonous demon lizard," she beamed, pulling up her right sleeve to reveal two small bite marks.

"Hm, seems like you were very noble towards my daughter... I thank you!" Miroko said in a very hospitable tone. If only my father was that kind. "Figures, that's the smell I smelt on him... a demon lizard," father sniffed the air and turned his back towards us. I sighed deeply and placed a hand to my head.

"Father, Miroko... why did you come for us?" Inuko rudely retorted. Miroko turned and gave Inuko a stern look, "We came to make sure you three were alright, and for your worried mothers..." he renounced agitated.

"Yeah, so show some respect..." father shouted at Inuko waving a fist in the air towards him. "Then leave we're fine..." Inuko hissed, turning towards the river. "What did you just say?" father's voice became distraught, and filled with anger. I knew father wouldn't let that slide he just had to pick a fight with Inuko didn't he.

Father cracked his hand in the air and growled at Inuko, "I think it's about time I teach you some respect boy... come here," he shouted at Inuko darting towards him. I extended my hand outwardly towards father trying to stop him, but I couldn't even catch him he was too fast.

"Father please don't hurt Inuko," I shouted after him, pushing past Miroko and Akagne. Miroko came behind me and restrained me. "Easy Kikyko, let them sort their problems out on their own, your father means no harm towards Inuko..." I didn't struggle from Miroko's grasp. Inuko and father squabbled in the river, Inuko would dodge fathers Iron Reaver attacks and father would do the same. I don't even think they were fighting; it looked more like they were playing.

We let father and Inuko be for a while, they seemed as if they were enjoying their little squabble. Miroko, Haku and Akagne had gathered under the cherry tree resting on my blue picnic blanket. I joined them as well, sliding in next to Haku.

"Kikyko..." Miroko got my attention; I turned my eyes to him. "Yes?" I asked. "Your mother is worried about the jewel... is it safe?" he asked checking me over with his eyes. "Yes it is, it's here..." I pulled it from around my neck to show Miroko. Akagne's eyes narrowed and a tint of silver glistened in them. I quickly pushed the jewel back into my kimono.

"Good, I'll tell your mother all is well and for her not to worry..." Miroko said standing up using his staff as support. He dusted himself off and placed a hand to Haku's head, "as you for young lady... are you taking care of yourself?" he asked Haku, gently tapping her head. She smiled and nodded pushing her father's hand off her head.

Father and Inuko emerged from the river wet, each one of them cracking an arm or their shoulder. "What's with the sword?" father asked eyeing Inuko's sword down as he walked past him. "Toutousai made it for me," Inuko answered sliding in between Haku and me. "Leave it to Toutousai to forge another sword..." father bellowed rotating his arm in the air.

"Man boy, if you weren't my son I swear I would've buried you alive," father shouted at him... then he suddenly cocked his head to the air and sniffed it. Inuko jumped up as well, and Miroko clenched to his staff. All three had their eyes affixed to the dark woods past the river.

"Something wrong father?" Haku asked, also moving her gaze to the woods. "A strong demonic aura coming from the tree's can you feel it InuYasha..." Miroko reconciled, hovering before us. "Akagne, Inuko get the girls out of here..." father pulled out his Tetsusaiga, he looked at us from the corner of his eye. "Not a chance," Inuko said coming to father's side. "This gives me a reason to try out my Kurosaiga..." Inuko bellowed, he turned his head to Akagne and nodded. "Get the girls far away from here..." he bellowed at him.

Akagne nodded and placed a hand on my arm and Haku's, pulling us up. "Hey..." I shouted, struggling to free myself.

"Well, well well big brother... if it isn't the half-demon we almost killed..." a voice echoed. "Well well well... if it isn't the delicious human girl..." another voice came from behind us. Akagne grabbed Haku and I and pulled us behind him coming towards Miroko.

"Damn were surrounded..." father hissed, him and Inuko also coming towards us. We hovered close to each other. Two men emerged in a haze of smoke across the river, and another two more emerged before the cherry blossom tree. I covered a hand to my mouth so I wouldn't scream; Haku did the same clutching on to her father's robe.

"Keep close," Miroko whispered covering Haku and I so we were in the middle surrounded by them.

"The band of brothers..." father shouted a smirk came to his face. "Thanks for making it easier for me to kill yeah..." he shouted, not flinching from his spot. I thought for sure he'd charge at them, but I think he was more worried about us.

"He's south us out brother... what do we do now?" one of the four brother's taunted; a pout came to his face. Was he playing with us... I felt queasy my stomach twisted in to a knot.

"Well Kenjin... What shall we do with them?" he asked lifting his long curved sword over his shoulder. "Well Yokjin... how about we kill them and take the jewel for ourselves?" he taunted nudging his brother.

"Sounds like a great idea..." one of the other two chimed. "Do not harm the girl... bring her with us in one piece..." another one of the four brother's spoke. He was a tall long black haired man, with a suit made of armour. He wore a fur around his arms and his robe was draped that of white and lavender along it. He had a serene gentleness to his eyes; I looked at him and turned away quickly covering my mouth again.

"Over my dead body," father shouted lunging towards the two who emerged from the river, Inuko pulled out his Kurosaiga looked at me and Haku and followed behind father.

I wanted to shout to scream out but I couldn't, I feel to my knees shaking.