Chapter 21"No stop!" Yelled a young man as he ran to get in front of Inuyasha, he was too late. The sword had been swung and the hanyou fell to the ground. Kagome was being held down and made to watch along with the children.
"No!" Kagome screamed. Toshiro saw his mother and sister lose control and knew he needed to do something… He could sense his father was not gone completely yet. His mother's miko powers were charging even though they were near gone, Izayoi's eyes flickered between red and gold. Toshiro called his Yurkai and used all of his strength to get out of the man's grasp. Once he did he lost complete control. He slashed and killed anything he saw, his claws went through everything like butter. At the end there was no one left standing and he was covered in blood. He heard laughing and turned to see the leader standing over the lifeless bodies of his mother, sister and father.
"You should have listened when you were told to stay put. If you had you wouldn't have killed your own family." The man laughed again as Toshiro dropped to the ground as a sword went painfully through his chest. "If only you were a good little boy and listened. I could have used you. You would have made a wonderful weapon against those you loved, but I guess it's over now." The man said as he knelt down in front of Toshiro. He picked him up and turned him so that he could watch as his family was 'disposed' of before another blade could be felt slide across his throat and a voice in his head spoke.
"You should have listened and saved them. They did not deserve to die like this." It trailed off as blankness surrounded him. Suddenly he shot straight up in bed and screamed so loud it woke everyone up. Kagome and Inuyasha ran into the room the boys were in to see Toshiro sitting up in bed panting, cover in sweat and crying. Kagome went over to him and he held onto her as if his life depended on it.
"Shhhhh. Shiro, it's alright now. It was just a dream." Kagome said as the other's gathered by the door. He cried harder into his mother's yukata
"What's wrong?" Sango asked as she saw Kagome rocking the hysterical Toshiro.
"Don't know, this is what he did when we got here." Inuyasha said watching his mate and son. "Kagome why don't you take him out for some air?" He asked with a hidden meaning that all but the children understood. Kagome nodded and picked him up like he was a baby again and went outside. "Lie back down and go to sleep." He told the boys then ushered the girls back to bed.
"Inuyasha?" Ayame called after he shut the door to the girl's room and sighed. He looked up at her.
"Yeah?"
"What is going on?" She asked, almost demandingly. Inuyasha sighed and walked to the stairs signaling for her to follow. Once in the living room, every one gathered as Inuyasha started to tell what he knew.
"Well when Izayoi purified him he started to have these dreams and they started to get more and more apart. Kagome would give him an herb and he would be fine. Recently they seem to be getting worse, the herbs don't even really work on him and he won't tell us anything. That was the worst one I've seen him have even since he was a baby. That's all we know." The others sat still thinking. They were all scared out of their thoughts when they heard Kagome call for Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha." He stood and went outside to see what was going on. He saw Toshiro asleep and Kagome still rocking, looking scared for her son.
"Kagome, what's wrong?" He asked worried as he knelt by her and Toshiro. She looked at Toshiro then up at Inuyasha.
"He told me about his dreams….."
Kagome sat out front of their house cradling Toshiro as Inuyasha walked out.
"What's the matter?" He asked. She looked up at him scared for her son.
"Toshiro told me his dreams." She told him. He looked down at his son who had fallen asleep with tearstains running down his cheeks.
"What did he tell you that has you worried?" He asked looking back up at his mate. She glanced down at the boy before looking at Inuyasha and speaking.
"He told me of the last one, the one he just had but refused to tell me of the other ones. He said that we were fighting someone. Just us and the twins, and someone held me and the twins and made us watch as they… they…." She looked up at him. She couldn't let go of the thought of something ever happening to her hanyou. "Inuyasha he said they killed you as a man tried to jump in front of you to save you. He said my miko powers were almost gone but I was trying to use them while Izzy was fighting with her Yurkai." She looked down at the little boy in her arms. "He said his Yurkai took over and he killed everything he saw. He turned to see the leader standing over the bodies of us and the man told him that it was his fault and… and… and they… they stabbed him and made him look at us as they slid a blade across his throat." A few tears rolled down her cheeks as Inuyasha sat down by her side.
"Kagome nothing like that will ever happen. It was only a dream." He told her and wrapped an arm around her as she whipped the tears away and nodded. "Let's get him back to bed. I'll take him up; you go in and sit with the others." She smiled slightly before handing Toshiro off to Inuyasha and they walked into the house.
"You really think nothing like that will happen?" She asked softly as they opened the door.
"Yeah, I promise I won't let that happen." He smiled slightly and continued into the house.
The others watched as Inuyasha walked out of the house when Kagome called.
"What do you think that's about?" Ayame asked. Sango and Miroku looked at each other.
"He must have told her." Miroku said receiving many confused looks.
"Who told who what?" Koga asked. Sango sighed as she sat forward.
"Ever since Izzy purified him, Toshiro has been having nightmares. Usually they just wake him up, but once in a while they really scare him. Kagome has been trying to give him herbs but they don't really have any effect any more. This is one of the really bad ones." Sango looked around at the others who had no idea.
"He refuses to talk about them and it has Inuyasha and Kagome extremely worried. Everyone has tried to get it out of him but he won't talk." Miroku told the group.
"We even tried." Said a little voice from the stairs. Everyone turned to see who was up and saw Izayoi and Taji standing at the bottom.
"What are you doing up?" Asked Shippo.
"We couldn't go back to sleep. We know what it means when he has one like this." Izayoi told the group. "We can hear everything." She said pointing to her ears. Miroku, Sango, Shippo and Rin smiled softly before they heard Inuyasha and Kagome come back in. Inuyasha looked at his two children as he walked into the room.
"Come on." He said walking to the stairs, leaving Kagome to sit and the other staring at him confused.
"Daddy? Is Shiro gonna be okay?" Izayoi asked as he reached them.
"He'll be fine." He said softly. "Now come on, you two need ta get back ta bed." He said as he led the way up the stairs. As they disappeared up the stairs the others turned back to look at Kagome, all but Sesshomaru and Otohime who had heard what went on outside with their demon ears.
"What happened?" Shippo asked. Kagome looked around at everyone and sighed.
"He told me what this last dream was about. But still won't say a word about any of the others." She looked down sadly.
"He told you?" Sango asked surprised as Kagome nodded.
"What did he say?" Miroku asked.
"He told me that Inuyasha and I were fighting someone and the twins were both there too. He said that some man tried to stop the bad guy before he hurt Inuyasha but was too late, he told me that my miko powers were almost gone and I was trying to use them still and Izayoi was fighting with her Yurkai. He said that his Yurkai took over and he killed everything he saw and the bad guy was laughing over Inuyasha, Izzy and my bodies saying it was his fault as he stabbed him then had him stare at us as a blade went across his throat." Kagome watched everyone look horrified at the dream the young boy had had. "This wasn't such a bad one though. He usually doesn't go back to sleep for a few days when he has a real bad one." She informed them.
"So this is mild compared to the others?" Rin asked. Kagome nodded.
"I'd hate to see the bad ones." Koga said as Inuyasha came back down and went to Kagome's side.
"He should be out for the rest of the night." He said and she nodded.
"So he dreamt that you fought and everyone died?" Rin asked. Kagome nodded.
"Yes, I don't know where he's coming up with stuff like that though." Kagome said slightly confused, trying to think.
"His subconscious is putting faces and a twist to stories he has heard." Came a voice from Inuyasha's shoulder. Everyone looked to see Myoga.
"Then I guess that means no more Hanyou and miko story." Shippo said, making everyone smile slightly and smirk, all but Otohime who didn't know how much any of the children loved that story.
"What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked.
"Well, master Inuyasha. I will not come with the children anymore so I have to find you myself." The flea told him shivering at the thought of the children.
"Are ya afraid of the kids?" Shippo asked, taunting the flea.
"I am not afraid of the masters and the little lady, I just-"
"Are afraid of Inuyasha's children." Sesshomaru added with a smirk.
"I don't blame him." Koga smirked making Inuyasha smile.
"So Myoga, why are you afraid?" Shippo asked.
"The little lady Izayoi tried to kill me, and master Taji tried to eat me. The only good one is master Toshiro." At his words Inuyasha smashed him.
"Heh, the other two are good, Shiro's just got a lot of Kagome in him." He smirked as the flea floated to the ground.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded. "That's not very nice." He smirked at her before he turned back to the now inflated flea.
"Myoga, what are ya here for now?" Inuyasha asked as the flea jumped back onto his shoulder.
"I heard there was a dragon with hanyou children who were chased to you; I see it to be true." Myoga said looking at Otohime. "And a lovely one at that, but I do not see the hanyou hatchlings." He said looking around.
"They are with the pups." Sesshomaru said.
"Would ya like to go see? Here I'll show ya." Shippo laughed as the flea ran and hid.
"Shippo!" Mizuki scolded. He looked at her smiling, but it soon fell as she glared at him.
"So you've seen 'em, what do you want?" Inuyasha asked.
"The group that had pushed them here is a small part of the one hunting for you and all hanyou. They have recently gone from that to hunting all that associate with hanyou, including the human mothers and fathers." He told them the news and saw Sesshomaru glance at Rin and Inuyasha glance at Kagome and he could have sworn he saw Shippo give a quick glance at Mizuki.
"No. Inuyasha don't you even think about it. I will not stay somewhere when you and the others are out being hunted." Kagome protested. Inuyasha sighed. He knew the face she had on. She was just daring him to argue, and to everyone's surprise he just shrugged.
"Do you know where the main group is?" Shippo asked.
"No I am not entirely positive. They could be a number of places."
"What would they be?" Ayame asked.
"One group is not far from here, another is about a day away, and they go out and all over the west. There are at least twenty different groups and none of them stay still for very long."
"Myoga." Inuyasha said causing the flea to look at his master. "Do you remember Yuu, Dai, Hiroki, and Mamoru?" Myoga looked up surprised.
"Yes of course their fathers are the ones who…." He trailed off as Inuyasha gave a nod. "Why do you ask?"
"Otohime had told us that they are the ones leading this whole thing." Inuyasha told him causing the flea to think.
"Inuyasha, you seem like you know the names." Miroku said. Inuyasha nodded.
"Yeah. I knew I knew the names but I couldn't place them." He said before Myoga looked up at him.
"Could it not be a coincidence?"
"No, it would be too close for them all to have the same names as them." Inuyasha said trying to think.
"Master Inuyasha is he not part of them. Of all of them I would imagine he would have the strongest reason to come after you. Especially after his mother and all." The flea looked up as Inuyasha thought about it.
"No, he wouldn't. They were friends and even after he would meet. He wouldn't join them no matter what they did." Inuyasha shook his head.
"Who are you talking about?" Asked Ayame.
"There was another on that I had grown up with." Inuyasha said still thinking.
"The late lady Izayoi and Atsuko were friends from when they were younger. Lady Izayoi was the princess and Atsuko was a village girl. They used to sneak around until they were separated. Sent to different places to be married, but after master Inuyasha was born the lady fled to the castle, when her family refused her, she then went to Atsuko. Master Inuyasha became friends with Katsu, Astuko's son, secretly. If anyone was found with the master or the lady the other villagers would …punish them. Atsuko was one of the punished. After she was caught master Inuyasha saved the lady and Atsuko. She lived with them until the day she was… was…" He looked down sadly.
"She was taken while shopping and killed in front of the entire village, even the children." Inuyasha finished.
"So Katsu hated you?" Asked Miroku.
"No, we would sneak out at night and talk and play, but when his father found out he was beaten and shortly after that the village gathered together and came after my mother and me. She told me to hide and when I came back I found her dead and the village had moved." Inuyasha said looking down briefly.
"So these guys are kids that grew up hating you and decided to come after you again?" Koga asked.
"It doesn't sound like they just want him." Sango said thinking of the men who attacked Otohime.
"You are correct Sango. They want to kill master Inuyasha because they know him and now know how strong he is after word had reached them of the defeat of Naraku. But they want all Hanyou and all who associate with them are dead as well." Myoga said.
"They don't want another hanyou that could possibly be a threat." Mizuki said.
"Precisely." Myoga said.
"So what do we do?" Rin asked looking around at everyone. Kagome looked at Inuyasha then her.
"The kids need to be safe then we can get to Shiori and Jinenji." Kagome said.
"You ain't goin' wench." Inuyasha said. Kagome looked at him. "You don't know these guys. They used to be a pain and now they will be worse."
"Kagome he's right, they would be stronger after the past couple hundred years. I'm goin with the mutt, you shouldn't get involved." Koga said.
"Koga, if you haven't noticed… I already am involved!" Kagome said getting annoyed. She turned and cut Inuyasha's argument short. "Don't even tell me I'm not, because the second I became your mate I was involved." She said looking him sternly in the eye.
"She is right, Inuyasha. She has every right to be out fighting alongside you. She is the mate of a hanyou and the mother of three. She would be hunted down anyway." Sesshomaru said. Inuyasha looked at his brother.
"But in the mean time she and the pups could find somewhere safe." Koga told the older dog Yurkai.
"For how long? Your children look the same as you, Inuyasha. There is no way of hiding that. She would only be safe living in the middle of nowhere." Miroku said.
"Besides you fight better when she's with us and you know that." Shippo added.
"Fine but the pups go and stay with Rin." Inuyasha added, not sure if he was mad that she was going to be in extreme danger or glad that she would be going with them.
"Master Inuyasha, there has not been any mention of Katsu being with them?" Myoga asked.
"No, I don't know if they would have even let him. They started to get pretty ticked off when they would see us talking. He might be with them but not actively." Myoga nodded.
"What of the others?" The flea asked causing the others to look at him and Inuyasha.
"What others?" Asked Koga.
"I had three other kids that would come with Katsu. And no Myoga, I haven't heard anythin." Inuyasha told the group and Myoga.
"Well let's get some sleep before we have to get up and fight with the kids." Kagome said.
"I am not looking forward to that." Sango said with a yawn. The adults went back to their rooms till morning. Inuyasha and Kagome walked in to their room to find all three of their children huddled together on their bed. Kagome smiled up at Inuyasha as they went over the bed and maneuvered the children so they could get in.
"They look so cute when they sleep like that." Kagome said
"Yeah, then they wake up." Inuyasha said making both of them chuckle softly before falling to sleep with their arms around their children, sleeping between them.
"I'm not gonna stay here and you can't make me!" Izayoi screamed at her parents when they were leaving the children behinds with Sesshomaru and Rin at their castle.
"Too bad, because you're staying and your uncle will make sure of that." Inuyasha shot back at her.
"It reminds me of Inuyasha and Kagome, when we're looking for the shards." Sango said.
"It also looks like he is arguing with his younger self." Miroku added.
"No!" Izayoi said crossing her arms and turning up her nose. Inuyasha was losing his patients quickly and knew now why Kagome had him talk to her while she told the boys.
"You are to stay, and if I find out you even thought about leave and following, you don't even want to know what kind of trouble you'll be in." Inuyasha growled.
"I won't be in any trouble cause you won't even be able to punish me cause you won't be able to find me!" She shouted.
"Don't you dare threaten me!" He yelled back growling louder.
"Should we do something?" Sango asked as they stood and watched the argument. Sango and Miroku were glade their daughters and son knew and understood why they couldn't follow.
"No let them go, I don't think Inuyasha would be very happy with us if we stepped in." Miroku added.
"I hate you!" She screamed and ran off leaving Inuyasha to stand there staring at the retreating back of his daughter. Miroku and Sango looked at each other stunned that the little girl would say such a thing.
"Mama." A little voice said as the child tugged on the bottom of Sango's kimono. She looked down to see her youngest daughter smiling up at her holding out a flower for her. "It's for you mama." She said happily. Sango smiled and thanked her daughter as she took the flower and placed it where she cared her slayers outfit around. As the two looked back Inuyasha was walking away mumbling angrily, the only thing giving away that he was sad was his ears drooping. Sango and Miroku turned to see the children playing in the back and smiled.
"Hey guys." Kagome said as she came up beside them.
"Did you hear?" Sango asked.
"Yeah." Kagome said looking back the way Inuyasha had gone. "He'll be okay. They both need to calm down but they both will be okay." As she turned to look back at the children, she saw Shippo walking with Mizuki. They looked over and watched the two walk and talk quietly.
"Mizuki, I think you should stay here with the others." Shippo said.
"What? Why?" Mizuki asked looking sadly up at him.
"Because since you're my mate, that means we will have hanyou children so they will be after you too, because you have the possibility of having a hanyou." Shippo explained.
"Shippo, they have no way of knowing. We still haven't told your family or anyone so how would they find out?" She had tears in her eyes as she looked up at his emerald green with her brown eyes.
"Mizuki…. I don't want to take the chance of losing you. I don't know what I would do. Beside we're going to be in a mini war, you don't know how to fight against these kinds of guys." He told her, he knew she could defend herself but full out fighting was another thing.
"Shippo, you don't have to worry, I'll be fine. I'll stay with you and the others and you can show me how to fight. Please Shippo, I can't stay while you go for Kami know how long and Kami knows where. Please let me come with you." She said begging. Shippo sighed he didn't know what to do, he didn't want to leave her, he didn't want to be too far away from her but he didn't want to take her into danger. He thought about it and knew he had to keep her close.
"Alright, but if any of us say you need to run or hide you have to do exactly what we say and stay no matter what happens. Okay?" He said, she nodded with a giant smile spreading across her face. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.
"Oh, thank you Shippo." She let go as he smiled. The two of them walked off to finish getting ready for the trip.
A few hours of arguing, crying and pouting and the group was ready to leave. Sango and Miroku were hugging and talking to their four children while Koga and Ayame were talking to their children. Kagome was talking to her children while Inuyasha stood behind her.
"Now you three be good alright?" Two children nodded while one still stood arms crossed and her nose stubbornly fixed in the air. "Izzy, please be good. We will be back before you know it, I promise." Kagome said as she bent and hugged each child saying she loved them. When she hugged Izayoi she whispered into her ear so that only she would hear. "Say good bye to your father. And give him a hug and kiss; he could really use the love." She pulled back with a smile. Inuyasha had knelt and was talking to his sons to the side when Kagome stood and moved to stand with Shippo and Mizuki.
"Be good guys. I'll see you when I get back. Oh and if Myoga comes here, bite down as hard as you can." Inuyasha smiled as the boys looked at each other and smiled brightly. Inuyasha looked at his daughter who was looking at him with the same stubborn look on her face that she had a few hours ago. "I'll see you when we get back too. I know you don't want to stay, but you have to. Good bye." He said to her and stood up. He went to his brother and sister in law. "Keep a good eye on her please." He asked his brother who gave a slight nod. The group left and was forty feet away when they heard the yell.
"Izayoi!" Rin had called. The group turned around to see her running to them. Inuyasha was about to yell at her to go back when she attached herself to him and was crying. Sesshomaru showed up just as she grabbed hold.
"Daddy, I'm sorry! I don't hate you! Please don't be mad at me!" she cried as he looked down at her, Kagome and the others looked on with small smiles. Inuyasha bent down and pulled her away.
"Relax; I'm not mad at you. I know you don't hate me either." He used the edge of his fire rat haori to dry her face. She relaxed slightly and pulled herself back to him hugging him around the neck. He stood up and took a few steps to stand in front of his brother. "I told you to keep a close eye on her." He smirked. "She's worse than I was." Sesshomaru gave a slight smirk as Inuyasha pulled Izayoi away from his shoulder and looked at her.
"Daddy, please don't leave me here." She begged. "What if something happens to you or mama? I don't want to be stuck here." She looked at him sadly.
"Senshi, you need to stay here, you will get hurt if you go where we're going. I promise I won't take long, alright?" He told her and got a small nod from his daughter. He smiled and handed her to Sesshomaru. "Listen while I'm gone and don't cause too much trouble for your uncle fluffy." She smirked as she smiled brightly and looked up at her uncle who was obviously not amused.
"You keep teaching them things like that and I will rethink my decision of ending the feud." Sesshomaru threatened but Inuyasha just smirked and turned to walk away. As they walked away, they could hear Izayoi yell to Inuyasha.
"I'll be good daddy, I promise!" Then Sesshomaru took her back to the castle and they went in.
"Inuyasha I'm getting hungry, I think we should stop for the night." Kagome said. Inuyasha nodded.
They hadn't gotten very far from the castle but they wanted to go and get this trip over with as soon as possible so they left as soon as everyone was ready. The group found a clearing that they would use as camp. Inuyasha and Shippo went hunting while Sango and Miroku went for the wood and Kagome and Mizuki prepared to cook.
"Is this how it always is?" Mizuki asked.
"What do you mean?" Kagome said as she pulled everything they would need out of a bag that she had made to be just like her old yellow book bag.
"Well I mean the camping out side and as soon as we find a place to stop everyone runs off. Is this how it always is when you travel?" Kagome smiled at the girl.
"Well, not always. Sometime we find villages and spend the night and have food in exchange for exterminating a demon. But when we are outside yes. We find a place to stop and everyone does the jobs that they are best at. When we were looking for shards Shippo and I would stay in the camp while Sango and Miroku were right outside of camp getting wood and Inuyasha went hunting. Now Shippo is older, he goes with Inuyasha. I can protect myself a lot better so I can stay in camp alone but those two can be back here in a heartbeat while Sango and Miroku are still not too far away." Kagome finished getting ready as Miroku and Sango came back into the camp both carrying an armful or wood with Kirara beside them. Kagome smiled at them as Miroku started the fire.
"What are you two talking about?" Sango asked.
"Mizuki asked if this is how it always is. I told her how it used to be, but now it still the same but a little different." She smiled as Inuyasha and Shippo dropped from the trees with a wild boar. Kagome shook her head as she looked at the two.
"Oh, Shippo, your hurt." Mizuki said as he walked over to her and they heard Kagome talking to Inuyasha.
"What did you two do, decide to play it rather than kill it?" She giggled at the smirk Inuyasha gave. "I'll fix you up in a bit." He nodded and picked the bore up to carry it to where she needed it.
That night after dinner they sat around telling stories of years when they had all met until they fell asleep. Inuyasha had taken Kagome up into a tree with him while Sango and Miroku slept by the fire together and Mizuki had fallen asleep with her head on Shippo shoulder. He gently moved them both so that they were lying down together. He had a feeling that Kagome and Sango had figured it out and knew Inuyasha knew. He was glad they hadn't said a word yet and knew they wouldn't until they were ready to tell, but he still wasn't sure about Miroku. From the way he acted, he didn't think he knew… yet. With that Shippo drifted off to sleep to wake up in the morning to see Inuyasha and Kagome starting to cook breakfast while Sango and Miroku were still sleeping. Shippo looked down and saw Mizuki still cuddled into his side and he smirked.
"Feels good to wake up like that, doesn't it?" Inuyasha asked from his spot in front of the fire. Shippo looked at him and slowly and carefully laid Mizuki to the side and he walked to the fire to sit next to Inuyasha.
"What's for breakfast?" he asked and looked at his smiling father. "And to answer your question… yeah it does."
"I have some fish. Here these are already done. Some for you and some for Mizuki." Kagome said with a smile.
"She's still asleep." He said glancing at his mate. Kagome and Inuyasha looked at each other and smiled. "Alright I know you two know so you can stop with the looks." Kagome smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck with a huge smile.
"I'm so happy; my little Shippo is all grown up." She said as Inuyasha shook his head. She pulled back and looked at Shippo when a thought came to her. "How did you know we knew?" She asked.
"Well, dad's a given. He's got the demon nose and instincts and you… well I figured you and Sango would have figured it out sooner or later." He gave a smile. "So how did you know?" He asked Kagome.
"Well when we went to the hot springs, Mizuki turned and her hair fell to the side and we saw it. Did you forget I mated a hanyou? I have one too." She smiled.
"That wasn't very smart placement ya know." Inuyasha added.
"What do you mean?" Shippo was completely confused.
"If you didn't want anyone ta know you shoulda hidden the mark better. On the shoulder it'll be seen when she bathes and if she wares anything that would show her shoulder." Inuyasha explained and went back to his fish.
"Mine is on my shoulder in the back where my hair covers and no clothing would be showing it. That way we could hide it better." She smiled. "You better take that fish over to her."
"She ain't even up." He said confused as to why she was telling him to take fish to her if she was still asleep.
"She will be in a few moments. I get the same way when Inuyasha isn't beside me." She smiled and sat next to Inuyasha as Mizuki slowly opened her eyes.
"Shippo?" She called softly. He went to her side and sat down.
"I'm here. Want some fish?" She sat up with a smile.
"Thank you." He smiled back as Sango and Miroku sat up and stretched. Kagome grabbed some fish and took them to her friends with a good morning before sitting back beside her mate.
"Where are we headed first?" Sango asked. The group had finished eating and packed up camp and were now walking to find the first band of men.
"Well there was word that there is a group coming up. So we can deal with them and find out what's going on." Miroku told her.
They had walked all day and had only stopped to eat lunch for a short time before walking again. The sun would be sinking behind the mountains in five hours when Inuyasha took a sniff.
"There's a village up a head." He told them and they continued to walk another two miles and they arrived at a village filled with people who starred at them and whispered as they walked past.
"Could we please see the head man of this village?" Miroku asked.
"Who are you?" A man asked as he came up the group.
"We are travelers and seek shelter for the night." The people looked at them disapprovingly.
"You and the other humans may but the demons are not allowed." The man said.
"They are controlled by the lovely ladies back there. They are of no threat." He tried. Inuyasha didn't like that story that the monk always used and Shippo was slightly confused but thought that since they could not use the excuse that he was a child anymore they needed some story.
"No, as I said the humans may stay in our protection, but the demons will not be allowed."
"In your protection?" Kagome asked.
"Yes, miss. Stay with us and we will protect you from these demons." Inuyasha began to growl softly and Shippo glared at the men. He didn't like what he was hearing. Just then a man grabbed Mizuki and Kagome from the sides and two men grabbed Miroku while another grabbed Sango. They all struggled as Inuyasha growled louder and tried to get Kagome as Shippo went after Mizuki and Kirara went after her masters.
"Men, get these beasts out of our land!" The lead man called. Mizuki pulled and twisted and a part of her kimono was pulled off her shoulder revealing her mate mark. The men holding her let go quickly yelling.
"She is possessed! She's possessed!" The others looked at her as she was caught in Shippo's arms. Kagome and Inuyasha looked at each other.
"Inu-!" She called for him again as a man pulled at the shoulders on her kimono and letting go to pass her to another when satisfied she wasn't marked. The crowed closed in on Inuyasha, Shippo and Mizuki. Shippo and Inuyasha had put Mizuki between them and went back to back snarling and growling. A man tried to stab them and Inuyasha grabbed hold of the weapon and pulled it away.
"Shippo you and Mizuki get out of here. I'll hold them and meet you later." Inuyasha said as he pulled another weapon and threw it.
"What about mom and the others?" Shippo said he moved a weapon and hit the guy.
"Don't worry 'bout them…. She'll take care of 'em." He said with a smirk as they saw a bright pink light show in the back and screams could be heard. Inuyasha smirked. "See, I told ya." They watched as Kagome began walking towards them and the sea of people began to part. When she was in front of them, they saw her surrounded with a pink glow and he eyes had a pinkish glow to them as she smiled and moved closer.
"The miko will kill the Demons now!" A man called out. Kagome turned around, her aura swirling and exploding.
"Enough!" She yelled and everything went still. "I am Kagome, a miko that does not kill unless necessary and they have done nothing that warrants them be killed!" She yelled over the sea of people. The men looked at each other then moved in closer. Just as they got within arm's reach Kagome placed a bubble around all of her friends and let her miko powers spike so high that it would hurt a human being. There were screams of men and thuds then… silence as her powers died down and she looked around. "If you are one of the groups after hanyou and demons then I warn you now! If you do not stop, you will die. It will not be by the hands of a demon, a hanyou or even another human but I will kill you if you go after my family again! Just because she is a mate of a demon does not condemn her to death!"
"You are not a true miko, a miko that is friends with demons and a hanyou. A true miko would die before being touched by one. That demon brainwashed the girl and now a so called miko." One man said. Kagome's aura swirled around again as she moved closer to the men and moved her hair to the side as she pulled her kimono down and showed the mark then let her miko powers rise again to crackle and snap around her.
"I am not a miko you say? I am a true miko and will not let you kill needlessly. A miko would die before being touched by one such as them you say? A real miko would not judge by what they look like or what they are, a real miko would judge them by who they are. I am a real miko. I have seen their hearts and souls." She asked as she let it go. "Do you believe I am now?"
"That…that's impossible! You cannot be touched by one or you would lose you purity not making you a miko any longer." A woman yelled.
"What manner of beast are you?" Another woman called.
"I am Kagome! The reincarnation of the priestess Kikyo and Midoriko! Leave now or forever be tormented!" She called causing their eyes to open wide and the large group to run in fear. They rejoined with Sango and Miroku with Kirara still trying to defend them against the men, and they left as quickly as they could. When they were a good distance away they stopped.
"Kagome that was amazing!" Mizuki said.
"That was nothing." Kagome smiled.
"You're not really the reincarnation of Midoriko, are you?" Miroku asked. Kagome smiled at him.
"You never know, Miroku. I could be and just don't know it. Let's keep going." Everyone nodded and Shippo had Mizuki get on his back while Miroku and Sango got onto Kirara and as Inuyasha was about to turn he saw her reach for him and pass out. He caught her and sighed.
"What's wrong?" Asked Sango.
Rin sat at a window looking out at all the children running around laughing and she smiled. The children ran to the right and her face dropped. There sitting in the low limbs of a tree was a little girl. Her black hair swaying slightly in the wind, revealing two small triangles on the top of her head. As the children ran by laughing she watched them with her golden eyes and drooped her ears. Rin looked sadly at the girl and sighed.
"What is wrong?" A deep voice, to anyone else it would have been a cold and frightening voice to hear but it always lit up her world when she heard it. She turned and gave a sad smile to him then looked back out the window at the girl.
"She's just so sad." Sesshomaru walked up to her side and looked out at the young girl in the tree. He glanced down at the woman beside him and saw a sad look upon her face. "You should go talk to her." Rin told Sesshomaru who rose and eye brow at the remark.
"Why should I speak with her, maybe it is you that she needs to speak to. Another female perhaps." He told her looking back out at the girl. "Someone that doesn't remind her of her father." Rin thought and knew he was right; she would give it a try and hope for the best. She nodded and walked out to the tree. 'She misses him very much. I wonder what the longest she has gone without him for.' He thought and watched Rin try to coax the girl from her perch. When it didn't happen she began to climb. Sesshomaru rolled his eyes with a slight smile upon his lips. 'I do have to commend her for not disobeying anyone.' He thought before looking at the other children playing.
"Izzy why aren't you playing with the other children?" Rin asked from the bottom of the tree. The girl glanced down at her aunt but did not answer. "Would you like to talk about it?" Again no answer. "Izayoi come down and sit with me, I would enjoy the company." she tried, still nothing. She sighed and decided the only way that she would be able to talk would be to climb the tree. 'I haven't done this in years but I think I'll make it.' She thought then grabbed hold of the tree and began to climb. Izayoi looked at her aunt trying to climb.
"What do you want, aunt Rin?" Izayoi asked softly as she stood up and jumped to the ground. Rin looked at her then sat at the base of the tree with the girl following suit.
"I want to know why you're sitting in the tree and not with the others. You've been like this for a few days." Rin suspected why the girl was like this but wanted to prove her point.
"I'm fine aunt Rin. I was just thinking, that's all." She said and gave a small smirk. Rin could see the pain that being away from her parents was causing, she knew it was the distance that was between her and her father.
"You know you can't lie to me. I grew up with your father and uncle, I learned how to tell." Rin smiled, but the girl sadly just sat in her spot looking at the ground. "You miss your father, huh?" Rin asked watching the girl turn to face her with tears in her eyes as she blinked them back.
"Yeah, Daddy said he would come back soon though. But I don't know when that is." She sighed.
"Izzy, you know if you play and have fun the time goes much faster." The girl shook her head.
"I can't play without daddy." She said and looked sadly up at the other children.
"What would your father say if her saw you like this?" Rin looked at her niece for a moment. "You know when I was your age I used to sit and wait for your uncle to come back and I would pick flowers and hum and sing about him. I was so lonely when he left on his 'special' trips, which I figured out were mostly his trips to battle with something. But I waited much like you and that's how I know that doing something makes him come back sooner than if you just sit and watch the path." Rin told her and she looked down at the ground then back at her Aunt.
"I know but, I can't play without daddy, and Shippo runnin round and mama laughin and all." Rin smiled at her and nodded.
"I know, but you really should try to play while they're not here." Rin saw the girl give a nod and jump back into the tree.
"AHHH!" Came a scream from where the other children were playing. Rin gasped thinking one of the children had gotten hurt. That's when she saw the large group of children chasing after Jaken. Sango and Miroku's twins had gotten the others to run around screaming, 'slay the ugly imp!' Rin giggled as they ran around. She looked up into the tree to see Izayoi smile at the sight. Jaken screamed again as they ran in front of Rin and took off to the other side of the court yard. As they past she could see Sesshomaru in the window watching with a smirk on his face. She got up and went back into the castle.
"You like when the children torment Jaken. Don't you?" Rin asked her mate. He looked at her with a small smirk that he only showed to her.
"It's better than him tormenting you or them." He told her softly receiving a bright smile from his mate as they turned back to look at the children run around laughing and Izayoi still in the tree watching sadly, but with a slight smile on her lips.