"Kagome-chan? May I speak with you?"

Kagome glanced up at the sound of Abi's voice, looking surprised. "Err, sure," she murmured. She stood from where she'd been working steadily at pulling weeds in Abi's garden, brushing her muddy hands off on her skirts. "One moment, please, Abi-san." She quickly grabbed her bucket of weeds, then stepped out of the garden, pulling on her shoes. "Where would you like to talk?"

Abi eyed her messy appearance with amusement. "The creek, if you wouldn't mind, Kagome-chan, you are quite a sight to see."

Kagome found a smile spreading across her face. "You're right," she agreed with a laugh. "The creek would suffice for me to clean up." As she walked confidently after Abi, she heard Tsubaki give a snicker.

Abi paused, turning to give Tsubaki a dark look that was edged with a smug smirk. "Oh, you and I have a talk to have as soon as I have spoken with Kagome, Tsubaki. I am aware of what you have done, especially last night. And I am not pleased." Tsubaki's smile vanished. "That is what I thought. Now. Come, Kagome." She stomped through the grass, reaching the edge of the clearing the large home rested in.

Kagome automatically dropped to her knees beside the creek to wash her face off as she waved for Abi to speak, glancing up curiously. "What's wrong Abi?"

"Shiori-chan is ready to take you to the Silver Kingdom," Abi told her, smiling. "I will bring her to you shortly to meet." Abi winked playfully when Kagome grinned. "I think you'll like her. I would like you to keep her over in the Silver Kingdom, if that's alright. She's an orphan. Her mother was killed by the bat demon family of the man who was her father."

"Of course," Kagome reassured gently. "So she's half-demon? Like Inuyasha-sama?"

"Yes. Shiori-chan is half-demon. She's a few years younger than you though."

"That's alright. Give me a knife and I can protect her," she said firmly, eyes ablaze with excitement.

"There's a problem," Abi admitted with a soft sigh. "As of recently, Naraku is holding an auction for a couple of slaves. I will be attending to make sure your friend is brought to safety," she added at the worried look that flashed across Kagome's face. "Do not worry, Kagome-chan. Now. Because of this auction, people are traveling through the Forest of the Lost if they can, particularly a few nasty Sellers. I'd like to wait until the auction is going on or over before sending you on your way. Is this understood?"

"Yes, Abi," Kagome said, biting her lip impatiently. She desperately wanted to go home. But she could wait longer if necessary, she decided, she didn't want to ruin her chances of reaching the Silver Kingdom alive. Her fingers raised to touch the scars on her face, her heart speeding up for a moment. She hoped that nobody thought less of her then when she was first there...

"Abi!" a voice hollered suddenly, startling them both. Abi glanced over her shoulder, surprised when she saw one of the men waving to get her attention. "Abi, Shiori's back! Tellin' you, just like you asked!"

Abi beamed. "Wonderful. Send her here, will you?" To Kagome, once the man had hurried off to do as she'd instructed, she said, "I'm going to send Tsubaki away. Not permanently, I feel bad for her, it's not her fault that she is the way she is, but for a little bit. I think a friend of mine needs some assistance on something..."

"Thank you, Abi," Kagome said gratefully. "Tsubaki's evil wrapped up in a feminine shell. I thought Kikyo-sama was bad, but..."

"She makes Kikyo-sama look like a small kitten," Abi chuckled. "Ah, here we are. Hello, Shiori-chan."

"Abi-san!"

Kagome glanced over, her eyes wide with surprise when she saw a girl that couldn't be older then eight rushing over, throwing herself at Abi for a hug. Abi giggled, ruffling her hair affectionately. Catching Kagome's stunned look, she warned, "Don't let her appearance fool you, Kagome-chan. Shiori-chan is more than you think she is."

"I can believe it," Kagome whispered in agreement as Shiori turned to her, her violet eyes curious. Her silver hair gleamed prettily, shining against the pretty dress she wore.

And Shiori proved her maturity a second later, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully, along with her skills. "You are the one that Abi-san wants me to take to the Silver Kingdom. I will take you along a harder path so that the Seller that hunts there is not aware of us."

"Good girl," Abi praised, patting her head. "See? Shiori-chan will guide you well, Kagome-chan. In a few days, you may leave. The day you are to leave, I'll come find you and tell you. Just keep to yourself until then while I look for your Miroku-"

"Not mine, not mine," Kagome hurried to say. She smiled faintly. "Miroku-kun is in love with my friend, Sango-chan. Inuyasha-sama and I were going to be together, but..."

"You were taken," she sighed, and Kagome confirmed it with a nod. "If it makes you feel better, I heard that the Silver Kingdom is furious over the taking of you and Miroku. Inuyasha-sama apparently destroyed a building in the Battle of Higurashi Market, just out of his anger. I heard that he'd gotten close?"

"Yeah," Kagome said softly, smiling at Shiori as she listened. "We actually saw Sesshomaru-sama. We were so close...but..."

"But then you were gone again." A sigh left her lips. "Well, no more. You'll be going home soon. Right, Shiori-chan?"

Shiori nodded with a bright smile, reaching over to reassuringly touch Kagome's arm. "Right, Abi-san." Her eyes twinkled as she gazed happily at Kagome. "I'll make sure Kagome-chan gets there safe."

"Thank you, Shiori-chan," Kagome told the girl softly, her eyes relieved. Feeling a slightly bit better, she closed her eyes and then opened them. "Come on, Shiori-chan, why don't you help me get some firewood for Abi's cabin tonight?"

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Toga growled as he slammed a hand down onto the large oak wood table that he sat at. Beside him, Izayoi sat calmly, her dark eyes thoughtful, and on her other side was a bored looking Sesshomaru. And, finally, Inuyasha sat with Sango on Toga's other wise. A few of the higher ranking soldiers were there as well. "We have to wait for the perfect time to strike, don't you realize that? One wrong move and everything we worked for is gone!"

To put it simply, he was mad. "Toga, dear," Izayoi murmured, "The same thing will happen if we don't strike quickly. You heard what our Ryuu man said. An auction at Naraku's castle for multiple slaves, and Miroku and Kagome are there, we can save them."

Toga turned his sharp golden eyes on her. "And we can lose everything," he replied solemnly. "Izayoi, we cannot risk the entire kingdom for two people. Even if they are important to us. You are my mate, my wife, and the Silver Queen. But you know that I am the ones that make the decisions when it comes to war."

A scowl filled Izayoi's face. Inuyasha decided it was his turn to speak up, his voice surprisingly sharp. "Kagome's important to the war, she's the miko, remember? Do you want to leave her for Naraku to have?"

Silence filled the room. "He has a point, Toga," a general in charge of organizing men agreed. "We need the miko in order to survive this mess."

"Yes," another agreed. He leaned closer, leaning further over the table. "We have to get Kagome-chan, Inu no Taisho. She and Miroku are important, too. Besides. If we have them, they can't use them. Come on, we need to find them."

"I agree," a third murmured. Others nodded their agreement.

Toga pinched the bridge of his nose. "We can't risk-"

"To hell with it all!" Inuyasha snarled, his eyes lighting with fury. "I'm not leaving her for Naraku to have! Who knows what he's done with her by now!?" His ears flattened themselves into his hair. "Who cares about the risks? We're not gonna get anywhere unless we take one or two."

"Wisdom from one so young," a commander murmured quietly in approval.

Izayoi smiled proudly at her son, while even Sesshomaru gave a silent nod of approval.

Inuyasha blinked. If he was agreeing, it meant that he'd truly said something that many agreed with. He turned unblinking eyes on his father, who had a look of rage. But the rage faded after a few seconds. A sigh escaped his lips. "I suppose," he said carefully, not looking the least bit happy. "I can take some of our soldiers. Sesshomaru as well, and you, Dai. Inuyasha, you will remain here."

His triumphant look vanished as he shot to his feet. "What?!"

"The new moon will be approaching shortly and we leave today after I have gone over a strategy with my men," Toga replied evenly. "This was your plan, yes, Inuyasha? Then you will deal with the consequences of your own reckless not planning around that event."

Inuyasha snarled, but paused when Sango patted his arm reassuringly. "Don't worry, we'll bring Kagome home safely."

"You will also stay, Sango," Toga said with a raised eyebrow.

Sango joined Inuyasha on his feet, her brown eyes outraged. "But-"

"Someone needs to be waiting here for Miroku when we bring him home," Izayoi chided quietly. "Do not worry, my son. And you, Sango, have no fear. Toga and Sesshomaru and Dai will bring them home safely."

"The rest of you," Toga said, making sure to shoot his third in command a sharp look. "Will be staying here, guarding and keeping track of the Ryuu movements and the Lands of Nothing, is this understood?"

"Yes, Inu no Taisho."

"Of course."

"Understood."

All but Yuukou responded. Yuukou merely glared at them all, a lip curled in annoyance. "She's just a woman," he suddenly spat. "A pathetic woman that can do nothing but get herself taken. And Miroku does nothing around here. Why do we care if they come back or not?"

Sango flinched away from the murderous look on Inuyasha's face as a snarl exploded from his lips. Her own eyes filled with anger, though not nearly as much as Inuyasha's did. Even Toga bristled, beside his mate. "Are you suggesting once again, Yuukou, that we send the young Sango as a gift?" he spat.

Sango looked horrified. Yuukou shrugged, crossing his arms and tipping his chair back. "If we do," he replied evenly, "We may be able to get the Ryuu on our side. It's war, Inu no Taisho, Izayoi. People need to make sacrifices for the cause. Haven't your realized that? You should've at least, Toga, especially after last time-"

Never had Inuyasha seen his father look as angry as he did in that moment. "Sango is a part of our family, how dare you suggest such a thing?" The Inu no Taisho roared furiously. A clawed hand went through the table they sat at and without barely any effort, he had flipped it onto a snarling Yuukou. "I have entrusted you with carrying out my commands for nearly six hundred years, Yuukou! Why must you test my patience now!? Have you gone to work for Naraku? Have you turned against us?"

Silence filled the air. Izayoi stood quietly, ushering Sango away from the table when Yuukou roared with laughter. Inuyasha growled, hand falling to his Tetsusaiga and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes silently. "You think I wouldn't? We all know that now that Naraku-sama's got the bitch of a miko, the Silver Kingdom along with the Ookami Kingdom and the Higurashi Kingdom are all dead. Give up now, and I bet he'd let you win..."

Toga's hands shook with fury and Izayoi said sharply, nervous, "Away from him. Now."

Nobody disobeyed. The loyal people and the Inu no Taisho's sons stepped back as the Inu no Taisho howled his rage, his form expanding and growing until he towered over Yuukou, his form smashing through the ceiling of the room. Izayoi grimaced unhappily. I'll have Totosai fix it later...

Yuukou snarled in response, his own form exploding. Soon, a smaller dog demon stood below the jaws of a massive one, both blazing eyes furious.

"Inuyasha!" He glanced at Izayoi as the ground shook beneath their feet, the fight beginning. Izayoi gave him a look of distress, pushing Sango at him. Inuyasha understood immediately, sweeping Sango up with a muttered apology. "Sesshomaru!" he yelled over the roaring, "Rin!"

The dog demon vanished out of the room in an instant, intent on finding Rin and keeping her well away from the room. Inuyasha shifted Sango onto his back and she gasped, clinging to him. He gently grabbed his mother's arm. "You, too, you can come back and calm him down later, Mother. You're human." She hesitated, then nodded, and he scooped her up, grunting at the amount of weight he carried as he darted out of the room. Outside it, he had to dive to avoid the chunk of ceiling that fell when Yuukou was thrown through a wall of the castle.

Toga suddenly stormed through the wall after him as Yuukou shot to his massive paws, snapping at each other's throats. Inuyasha shot forward as Yuukou went to crush him. "Damn! I'm taking you to the gardens, where we found Shippo-"

"Wait," Izayoi gasped as Toga's teeth sank into Yuukou's throat. There was a gurgling sound as Yuukou slumped to the ground. Quickly, Izayoi shoved away from her soon as soon as her husband released the demon. "Toga!" she cried, ignoring Inuyasha's protest, running over. His head jerked in her direction, his massive fangs bared. She paused, then hugged his nose as soon as he'd looked at her. "Toga, dear, calm down," she pleaded, "Please!" It wasn't until she coughed harshly, however, that he whined, nudging her. Izayoi crumpled, clutching her chest and rasping for breath, wheezing.

Inuyasha froze, his eyes wide. "Mother?!"

Toga snarled at him, curling his lips back before lightly lapping his tongue over Izayoi's form; ignorant of the slobber that now slicked her body, Izayoi gave a hysterical sob.

"I-Inuyasha," Sango whimpered, her hands tightening in his shirt. "Kaede-"

He set her down, shoving her. "Go get her! Now!" Sango nodded and fled to fetch the healer, terrified. Ignoring his father's snarl of anger, Inuyasha darted forward, dropping to his knees beside his mother, lightly rubbing her back. The confused Toga roared his outrage, still too furious to return to his normal self.

"I...I'm f-fine," Izayoi choked out, her brown eyes terrified.

"No, you're not," Inuyasha growled back. His eyes flashed with just as much terror. He didn't want to lose his mother, not her. He couldn't lose her.

Izayoi ignored him, wheezing still as she reached for Toga's nose, kissing it. "C-calm down, Toga," she rasped, "Please...n-need you..." Her eyes fluttered shut and she slumped against it suddenly, breath catching constantly in her throat. Toga whimpered, and then finally seemed to figure out what she wanted. In a flash, his golden eyes were full of horror, his clawed hands frantically shoving her hair out of her face as he cradled her to his chest.

"Izayoi," he demanded desperately as Sango came running, Kaede hurrying quickly after her. "Izayoi!"

"Set her down," Kaede instructed, pushing past Inuyasha. Inuyasha gave a soft whine, inaudible to anyone but his father, who was too busy snarling under his breath to care. Toga set his mate down. As Kaede set to work on inspecting the Silver Queen, he mumbled apologies under his breath, giving a rare showing his emotions as he pleaded quietly for Izayoi to look at him.

Inuyasha exchanged worried looks with Sango. Izayoi had been ill often years ago and had improved when Kaede had discovered a mixture, knowing it would wear off eventually and lose its effectiveness. If it wore off now, if the Silver Queen died...

...who would lead the Silver Kingdom when the Inu no Taisho was too grief stricken and wild to be of any help?

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

Ten days.

They had ten days until the auction for the Ryuu. Ten days until they were sold to the Ryuu and he never saw Sango again. Not that she would want to be near him after she learned of the Wind Tunnel in his right hand. Miroku clenched that hand into a fist, glaring at the beads that kept it sealed. "Damn it," he hissed under his breath, furious.

A snort beside him made him glance over. "I don't know why you're so intent on getting yourself separated from the Silver Kingdom, Miroku-kun. You're no different then you were before you left."

"I am completely different," Miroku rasped. "I have a Wind Tunnel that will devour Sango eventually if I go near her. I can't go home, not ever again. I won't put everyone in danger. Well, more so then they already are..."
"If you keep those beads, you can control it for now," Kagura pointed out, testing the strength of the iron bars that held them trapped. "It could actually be useful to us. Use it against Naraku and Ryuukotsusei's forces."

Miroku smiled faintly. "I'd be willing if I didn't have to go home first."

Crack!

Miroku flinched, rubbing his cheek with a confused look. "What was that for, Kagura?!"

Kagura glowered viciously at him. "You," she hissed, "are the stupidest most stubborn idiot I have ever met, Miroku-kun! You bastard! Imagine how Sango will feel when I get back and tell her you don't want to come home."

Miroku made a face. "If you would explain why then she'll understand-"

"No, she won't," Kagura snapped. "She will be worried for you and probably feel betrayed by the fact that you refuse to go home. She will feel lonely." Kagura's red eyes softened slightly and she jerked on Miroku's arm until he looked at her. "She and Inuyasha have lost Kagome, Miroku-kun. Don't make them lose another friend without a fight. Fight back. When the auction time comes, Miroku-kun, use that Wind Tunnel against them all. Make Naraku regret giving it to you."

Miroku paused, biting his lip thoughtfully. "Damn it Kagura," he said suddenly, burying his face in his hands. The beads clacked quietly together and Kagura smiled slightly at the sound, relieved. The sound meant that the Wind Tunnel was sealed.

"So we're agreed that you're going to get us out of here during the auction?"

"Yes," Miroku sighed, scrubbing a hand down his face. He rolled his eyes. "Stop with the smug look. It's only so I can explain to Sango what happened. Then I'm going off to fight them by myself."

Kagura reached through the bars and slapped the back of his head, making sure her fist hit as hard as possible. "You stupid bastard, I'm gonna murder you when we get out of here!"

"Oh, you might not have to do that. I'm pretty sure that Ryuukotsusei-sama has use for a woman like you, Kagura."

A snarl appeared on her once painted lips. Red eyes gleamed hatefully. "Hakudoshi," she greeted coldly. "What do you want, kid?"

Hakudoshi curled a lip in response to her words, tilting his head. "Watch your words, Kagura, Naraku has given me permission to punish you should I feel that you need it. I cannot wait for Ryuukotsusei-sama to meet you."

Kagura growled in response to his words, turning her head away. Looking slightly tired, she hissed, "Away with you, you stupid child. We know what's going to happen, we don't need you here to tell us."

"Oh, but you didn't know?" Hakudoshi gave a harsh, vicious smile, leaning his face close to the bars. "We've received news from our...spider in the Silver Kingdom. The Silver Queen and Inu no Taisho were planning a rescue and attack on the Kumo Kingdom's main castle." Miroku's head jerked around and he stared at Hakudoshi. "Yes, that's right. We have spies there as you have yours here. And we've received news that there are people on their way here even as we speak."

"How stupid are you?" Kagura spat back. "We are nothing to them-"

"That's what you think," Miroku whispered.

Hakudoshi grinned. "The cursed guy's right. The Silver Kingdom always returns for their people. They'll be here soon enough. And maybe we can get lucky and kill the Inu no Taisho or even Sesshomaru or Inuyasha."

"Good luck with that," Miroku muttered. "Not just anyone can kill those three."

~~OO~~II~~OO~~

"Damn it," Inuyasha cursed as he watched the men below ready everything they needed. As they were all demons, there was no need for simple things such as food and water. They could survive until reaching the Kumo's lands. "Stupid new moon, why'd it have to be now?"

"Because you just came up with your plan too late?" Kohaku supplied cheekily from where he stood beside Sango.

"Aw, look," Sango cooed, smiling slightly as she watched Sesshomaru kneel down before Rin, allowing her to hug him with a passive look on his face. He listened silently as the young girl scolded him beforehand for any injuries. "The jerk's getting some love from his little Rin."

Inuyasha glanced over. Sure enough, a fully armored Sesshomaru was letting Rin clasp her hands over his cheeks, her brow furrowed and her cheeks flushed in anger. He snickered. "Huh. I'll never get what makes him keep the little runt around..."

She laughed. "He keeps little Rin around for the same reason that we all do. She's adorable, she's fun, and she's one of the sweetest children we'll ever meet. Now, stop your moping, Inuyasha."

"You're hiding your own very well," he muttered back under his breath. He folded his arms behind his head, looking annoyed. "I don't see why I can't go. The new moon will happen while they're traveling, not fighting. My father will be there this time, along with Sesshomaru."

"Someone needs to be here for Izayoi."

Inuyasha glanced over his shoulder, grimacing when he realized his father had appeared. The Inu no Taisho looked tired. "My mate needs someone in the family here for her while she is ill. I will not leave her without one, and you are the only one who has a reason to stay, Inuyasha. Please. Take care of your mother."

Never before had Inuyasha heard his father plead. "Uh...sure. I'll stay with Mother," he muttered back.

Toga gave a weak grin in response. Then he gently pushed past them, leaping over the balcony they stood on. He landed silently in the middle of his men, who had stepped aside to make room for him. The worry and fear in his golden eyes vanished, replaced by a strict determination. He waited patiently for silence to fall and for Rin to go back inside before practically howling. "We leave now! You all know the path that we are taking, follow it! Go!" Immediately, demons began to file through the gates that led to the Silver Castle.

The Inu no Taisho's hand went to the sword that he'd hung at his back. He wrapped his hand around the hilt, jerking it free of its sheathe. A snarl left his lips as he pointed it to the sky. Power began to swirl around it, then shot up into the sky like a beam, a howl leaving his throat, deep and powerful.

Beside Inuyasha, Sango gave a shudder. "He can be quite scary when he wants to be," she whispered. Kohaku nodded his agreement, patting Rin's head when the girl suddenly appeared beside him.

They silently watched as the army around him howled their response. The cries rose above them like a terrifying war cry, which was exactly the goal. The beam vanished and Toga sheathed his sword, darting out of the gates. Sesshomaru was seconds behind him, and then the soldiers.

"And now, the war truly begins."

Inuyasha jerked his head around in surprise. "...Kikyo? What the hell are you doing here? When-"

"Just now," Kikyo replied, showing them her dirty clothes. Sango looked at her nervously and Kikyo smiled, just as nervous. "Err, hello, Sango."

Sango looked stunned. "...hello?"

"What did you mean?" Kohaku asked curiously without even sparing the young woman a glance. He was used to her, having spent years with her in the Higurashi Castle. "The war, I mean. What did you say about it?"

Kikyo gave a dry smile, waving towards the last of the soldiers. "The war has truly begun. Soon enough, we will all meet in a battlefield and hundreds of thousands of people will die." A sorrowful smile appeared on her face. "Even we might not live to see the summer winds again." She raised a hand as a single snowflake fell from the sky, smiling to herself as she caught it. Her dark brown eyes, once full of anger, now gleamed with a gentle look that made Inuyasha's ears twitch and a flash of guilt fill him. "It's time to say goodbye to the era of peace and welcome one of war, one of death. For now."

"Wise words," Sango said softly. She smiled shakily at Kikyo. "Well said. I have to admit, I agree." Her head tilted. "Is Jakobe-sama here, Kikyo-chan?"

Kikyo blinked at the lack of proper honorifics then replied, "Yeah. He's come to visit Izayoi, but we heard she was ill. So we've decided to wait until she was better. Kaede told us it'll be a while, though."

Inuyasha gave a curt nod. "Yeah. Mother won't be ready to see anyone for a while. And now that my father and Sesshomaru are gone, I'll be taking over most of the work." At least it'll keep my thoughts elsewhere... "Is the runt here?"

"The brat? Sota? Yeah, he's here," Kikyo muttered, rolling her eyes.

Kohaku grinned. "Sweet! I'm going to go say hi, then! C'mon, Rin! Let's go find Shippo, he's gotta be here somewhere, right?" The darted off.

Sango shyly smiled at Kikyo, waving towards inside. "Kikyo-chan, would you like to perhaps help me tend to the gardens? It's fun when there's more than one person."

Kikyo was startled, but then nodded with a slight smile herself. "Of course. Thank you...Sango-chan."

"Kagome-chan was the last one to call me that," Sango murmured before guiding Kikyo inside, leaving Inuyasha alone outside on the balcony with Kirara. The twin tail purred, nuzzling her head into his palm when he stroked her fur.

"Guess that leaves you and me, huh?" he muttered, his eyes gleaming as he watched a pair of guarding demons close the gates.

Guess that leaves me alone.

That was what he truly meant.