The scene was a peaceful one, a waterfall of crystal clear water that the hid the hideout of the wolf demon tribe, Kouga's tribe. Those that were around puddled in the cave, tending to this and that as Kouga himself nursed his injured arm. Ginta and a wolf demon patrolled outside the waterfall, lifting heads to sniff the air. "Alright, that side was all clear." the wolf demon growled in agreement and they moved on, coming to the other side of waterfall.

Hakkaku sat, his back to the cave, napping away in the bright sun, never aware of the creeping Ginta. It was just to good to turn away a chance like this. The silvery-white and black haired demon took a deep breath. "The enemy comes!"

"Gah! Of Paradise Birds?!" Hakkaku jumped to his feet, waving a spear infront of him frantically. Then loosen his footing, slipped and tumbled into the water.

"What are you talking about? They're dead, fool!" laughed Ginta as he jeered at the grey mohawked demon

Crawling from the river, he glared at his comrade and shook the water from his fur and tail. "Shut up, that was a dirty trick, anyways!"

"Only because you feel asleep!" he defended himself.

"Damn-" Hakkaku trailed off, noticed a group of wolf demons walking towards them. 'They're from the northern caverns.' not waiting, he dashed off to the hidden cave. "Kouga!"

"What are ya yelling about?" the clan leader asked boredly.

"Brethren form the north coming this way." he explained. A black brow cocked as he stood and both headed outside, to see said group waiting. Kouga, still recovering from the last battle leant against a bolder, looking expectantly at them.

"Kouga." they all bowed in their respect.

"Aatu." the opposite clan did the same then he dove right into business. "What brings you out to the west?"

"There's someone in possession of a huge Jewel Fragment." he explained.

"And he's the lord of some castle! This isn't a joke!" another added.

"Let us combine forces and take the jewel, divvy into equal fragments." Aatu suggested.

Kouga just watched him a moment, sliding to the others that stood at his beckon call then back. "Think I'll have to pass."

"What? Why not?!" someone cried.

"Sorry, not interested." he shrugged, his voice calm.

"W-w-why?" a third stuttered.

"I see…well, we won't force you." Aatu nodded, Kouga bowed in respect then turned to go back to his cave.

"Didja see, he was injured." a fourth pointed out and all eyes turned on his arm, the wound inflicted by the bird demons.

Kouga's own clan crowded around him, all jabbering questions. "Are you sure about this?" and "Why are you turning them down?" the wolf demon leader only sighed, shaking his head. "Let them go…it doesn't matter."

"Well I can't!" one stepped back. "I'm going with them."

"Me too." another cheered.

Kouga folds his arms and looked away. "If you want to go, I ain't gonna stop you."

"We're gonna join up with the northern pack now." the first announced.

The second turned to the rest of the pack. "Whoever wants Sacred Jewel fragments, join us!" all the others cheer, shouts of joy as they follow the two out.

Being left alone, Kouga just looked to his arm, the wound and frowned .'Damn.' images of the battle flashed before his eyes, of the beast biting into his arm. 'I never expected it that the demon bird would steal my Sacred Jewel fragment from my right arm. I'll get the fragment back in time. But before that came that dog!' then an image of the hanyou came and his massive sword. 'With that huge sword, he killed the demon bird in one swoop. That guy… I won't be satisfied until I kill him with my own hands!' looking back to his arm, he sighed heavily. "This wound isn't healing as fast as I hoped."

The Inu-tachi stood in the middle of the lush forest, Kagome facing one direction and Ipo the other. The sun barely broke through the foliage to rain down on the group, a barely there breeze. Both flared their auras, searching for any signs of any jewels. "This way!" Kagome pointed. "I'm sure of it, can sense a shard." then they looked to Ipo for confirmation but she was still staring out into the forest. "Ipo?" frowning, Kagome walked over to stand beside her. "What's-"

"Shhhh, do ya feel that?" still, she didn't look away. She could feel the jewel Kagome found but there was also a chunk going in the other direction but something else. An aura, one she had faced before. A gasp from Kagome let her know she felt it and she finally looked at her. "Take Miroku, Kohaku and the pups, go in the direction you pointed out. I'm taking Yashie, Dayo and Sango and going after'im."

"Ipo…is that a good idea?" she sounded as hesitant as she felt.

"Kags, please, just do it. I'll be fine, I got Dayo and Yashie to protect me." she warily smiled, placing a hand on her shoulder. "After you get the shard, follow this aura back this way, follow mine."

"…Ok…" she was reluctant but knew Ipo was as stubborn as Inuyasha. Sighing, she turned to the group, hands on hips. "Alright, this is what we're doing. "Miroku, Kohaku, Shippou and Rin. We are going this way." she gestured toward where she had pointed. "Inuyasha, Dayo, Sango and Ipo will go this way."

"Why are we splitting up?" Inuyasha inquired, eyeing them suspiciously.

"There's more shards this direction." Ipo told him, turning. "This way, we can get more shards." a brow cocked and he nodded in agreement. "alright…BREAK!" she clapped her hands and everyone just stared at her in confusion. "Ugh, I mean let's go." rolling her eyes, she shot a look to Kagome who was grinning. "Be careful."

"I will, you do the same." looking to Inuyasha, Kagome made a split second decision, walking over and giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Come back to me." both blushed and she turned, grabbing Miroku's arm to drag him away.

"Okaasan?" Shippou called in confusion. He always went with her, unless something dangerous was coming.

"Stay with Kagome, both of you, understood?" she looked between Rin and the kit and they nodded, confused. She knelt, taking both in her arms and kissed their foreheads. She wasn't looking forward to seeing Naraku again, seeing as she almost died last time. "Remember, I love you both, k?" they nodded again, Rin holding the white kitten alittle closer to her chest. Ipo stood again and turned to walk away.

"C'mon Shippou, Rin." Kagome held her hands out and they took one, being led out.

"What are we missing?" Sango finally asked when they were alone.

"Naraku." was all she said and everyone present tensed.

"Let's get going then." Inuyasha suggested.

"Kirara, go with Kagome and protect them." the neko meowed in agreement and ran off.

"Guess that means Sango hitching a ride with Dayo." Ipo noted in a loud voice.

"W-w-what?!" large brown eyes like saucers turned to her.

"Well, ya did just send ya ride off…" Inuyasha agreed, catching Ipo's wink. He personally had no problem with Dayo, expect, of course, he worked for his bastard of a brother. He was a strong fighter and didn't treat him like dirt.

"B-b-but…" she looked to Dayo for some help but he only shrugged his answer, looking as if he didn't care but on the inside he was jumping in joy. Ipo moved behind her, giving the slayer a gentle push, right onto his back. She squeaked in surprise, arms locking around his neck when he started moving. Ipo and Inuyasha were quick to follow, both grinning.

Kagome hummed in the back of her throat at the large bear print she studied then the group of villagers. 'A demon bear that terrorized the village.' then she looked to Miroku to see him speaking with the group. 'That's what the villagers said. At first, it was just a mischievous bear ruining the fields. Suddenly, it grew huge and attacked the village.'

Suddenly, rustling sounds were heard, the villagers looking in fear then scurrying off to their homes. 'Oh yea, real mighty.' she snorted, turning as the bushes were parted. A group mercenaries with swords in hand walked out.

"Bears!" Shippou whimpers.

"Don't worry. They ordinary mercenaries." Miroku noted.

A rather large man waddled forward, his bulging stomach moving with him. "Ordinary?! You're pretty cocky, kid! From the looks of you, you have no money. Well then, you can leave the women."

"Hey you, I'll give you a good piece of advice. If you don't want to get hurt, better run away." Kohaku warns and Kagome tugs at her bow.

"What?! How dare you!" a second man, this one tall, lanky, missing teeth and hair, demanded.

Kohaku opened his mouth to reply, instead looking to Kagome, an unreadable look on his face. It seemed she already noticed, her bow and arrow set ready.

"Get back!" Miroku warned the men as the ground shook. Trees fell like they were paper, being crushed by enormous paws, making a path. Birds flocked away hurriedly, a tree trunk rolled from behind the mercenaries, who dodged. Kohaku lashed out with his scythe, slashing the trunk into two, thus saving the group. But then, a gigantic bear emerged from the forest and growls and upon seeing this, the mercenaries flee hurriedly. The bear trudges towards the group.

"It's in his forehead! The Sacred Jewel fragment!" Kagome called out, letting her arrow fly. Kirara stuck with her paw, Kohaku's scythe shot out again and Miroku sent a scared scroll forward. All four attacked again, causing it to roar in pain and fall over.

"Look!" Miroku gestured to the sky and everyone looked. Naraku's poison insects were coming straight at them. "We need to get the jewel before them!"

"I'm on it!" Kagome notched another arrow, letting it free as her holy power filled the air and killed some insects dead. Monk slayer and neko ran forward, dispatching of the bear quickly then carving into the bears forehead for the jewel. "DUCK!" both hit the ground as she arrow whizzed by their heads, killing the bugs that had grown close.

"Got it!" Kohaku exclaimed, grabbing the jewel and running back. Once he was close enough, it was passed off to Kagome, who purified it and absorbed it into her body.

"T-t-they're leaving!" Miroku gawked at them.

"Let's follow them!" Kagome suggested quickly.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Aatu stood outside the Naraku's castle, looking upon the imposing building. It had appeared out of nowhere but they brushed aside the bad feeling. "This is the castle full of Sacred Jewel Fragments. "Kill everyone!"

"Yeah!" all the wolf demons raised their weapons, yelling happily.

One of the wolves looked around apprehensively. "What's this castle? They don't even have guards posted."

A silhouette of a woman appeared behind a screen. "There's someone!" a weapon was throw at her, shouts made and they charged.

The stranger didn't flinch, instead raising a hand, opening a fan. Swinging it at the demons, a strong gust of wind appears and blows them into the air. "What? Only small fry." she walked a few steps to the remaining demons. "Goodbye." her fan raises again, only this time, it was reflected by a rock. Snapping her head up, she sneered at the group that stood there.

"Ya know the saying, if ya live in a glass house, don't go throwing rocks." Ipo's eyes narrowed on the demoness. Growling, the demoness flicked her wrist to send another gust of wind, this time accompanied by blades of the wind. A barrier resurrected around the group, extending to the alive wolf demons, deflecting the attack and sending them into the walls of her masters castle. When the smoke and dust cleared, the group stood there, untouched.

"Gonna have to do better then that!" Inuyasha leapt from behind, just as the barrier was dropped, Tetsusaiga high above his head. Then, just like that, the others fell into an attack, Ipo shooting an arrow, Sango hurtling the large boomerang and Dayo sent his own attack from the long but thin blade of his sword. The alive wolf demons ran from the castle.

Back at the wolfs den, Hakkaku was patrolling once again with two wolves. He yawned, reaching Ginta, who was lying on a rock, sleeping, again. He sniggered and crept forward as the wolves made some whining noises. He made shushing gestures then tip toed toward Ginta. From behind, the wolves growled. "Hey! Keep quiet!"

Someone appeared from behind some trees and when Hakkaku turned back, gasped. It was one of the wolf demons that left. He struggles and makes groaning sounds and tumbles forward and Hakkaku yelled.

Ginta snaps awake, grabbing his spear. "What's up!"

"Look!" he turned to see the same wolf, gasping and jumped up. "Let's get him inside!" grabbing an arm, both helped the injured brethren into the cave, where other wolves crowded.

"What's the matter? He went with the northern pack?!" one of the demons yelled.

"Yeah…" another agreed in a quiet voice,

Kouga rushed forward, worried as he pushed through. "Hey, what's wrong? What happened?"

The hurt demon looked to Kouga and weakly raised a hand. A single shard! "Hurry to the castle…everyone will die."

"Damn!" Ipo cursed as she dodged yet another wind attack. 'This bitch has the same attack, every time.' growling softly, she ducked behind a pillar, trying to catch her breath. "You guys ok?!" shouts of 'yea', yes' and 'indeed' reached her ears.

"What's wrong, miko, tried." she taunted.

"Far from it!" stepping from behind the pillar, she shot an arrow, watching with a smirk as it nicked her cheek. She whipped around, the maroon kimono she wore twisting with her. Crackled laughter had everyone ripping around to see a figure standing in the door way, the all to familiar baboon pelt covering his face. From the hall behind him, out stepped a girl that looked no older then Kohaku, holding a plain, mirror. Now that her master was there, the wind demoness laughed as she sent another wave but this was different then the last, all could feel it. Then, to their groups horror and surprise, the dead wolf demons started to rise and attack the group. "This ain't good!" Inuyasha noted, slashing out.

"Zombies!" Sango gasped, whacking a couple from her as Dayo stood back to back with her

"Really?!" Ipo snorted, kicking out and sending one of the wolves toward the wind bitch and knocking her into the wall. Shouldering her brow, she started to run, using the zombie wolves to climb across. Coming to the end, she leapt out, tackling the red eyed demoness, crashing through the rice paper walls.

"Go Kanna, help Kagura." Naraku lifted a hand and the pale, white haired, no expression child walked forward. The sea of dead wolves parted as she made way to the fighting Kagura and Ipo. Lifting the mirror, it started to glow, eerily, a mist swirling forward to surround the miko and stop whatever attack she was about to do. Ipo gasped, eyes widened as a hand went to her chest. It felt like something was being ripped from her body. Stumbling back, she tripped over a fallen body and hit the grown. Her sight started to blur, her breathing becoming harder.

"Ipo!" Sango bellowed, not thinking as she ran across the room, swinging the hiraikoutsu to smack the girl away. The feeling faded but it took the time traveling girl another moment to compose herself. "Are you okay?" she nodded, not sure if her voice would work.

"Aaaahhh!" Kagura launched herself forward, burying her fan like blade into Ipo's shoulder, making her howl in pain. Sango swung her boomerang again, knocking this demoness aside then went to grab Ipo, maybe drag her to safety. She never noticed the pale child coming up behind up it was to late.

"Sango!" Inuyasha swung his sword, striking at the group of zombies that had crowded him. The demon slayer fell to her knees, the same feeling as what Ipo felt taking over. She felt like lying down and closing her eyes, just for a bit.

Dayo looked from where he fought, seeing his intended being attacked. The reaction was automatic, eyes bleeding red, knocking his opponent aside and charging over to them. 'How dare someone try to hurt our mate!' the beast snarled and demon was vaguely aware when he ran the pale child through. Her gasp was the only indication she felt anything, even as she fell to the floor. "Sango." dropping to his knees, he cradled the woman in his arms, looking down at her.

"Dayo…?" blinking a couple of times, she looked up at him with soft eyes then shivered as an arrow passed right above their heads. The tiger demon snapped his head up, seeing Kagome standing there, Miroku and Kohaku fighting off the wolf zombies that attacked. Then he turned to follow her line of sight to see the child on her feet again, regardless of her wound. the mirror had been aimed at him, the mist coming but now, Kagome's arrow stopped the attack, being slowly sucked into the mirror. Then something odd happened, the mirror shook then cracked like a large spider web and shattered to hundreds of pieces. But these events did nothing to stop the arrow as it cotinued, piercing the child's chest. She screamed as the holy power of Kagome purified her body and turned her into dust.

"No!" Naraku hissed in displeasure, raising a hand so that miasma could seep into the room. Kagura, after crying out at losing her sister, disappeared into the purple smoke with her master.

"We gotta get out of here!" Kagome covered her nose, running over to grab Ipo's arm and help her out. After them came everyone else and they turned this way and that, trying to find a way out. It was like a maze, these castle halls And they kept hitting hall after hall. they were never going to get out of here!

"That's it!" Inuyahsa grunted as he stopped to face the wall. pulling out his trusted sword, it trasnformed to his fathers fang and he swung it at the wall. His attack came forth, blasting through the thin walls, until there was a large gapping hole that spred through ten rooms and to the outside. "Let's go!" then right before their eyes, the wholes started to clear up. "Run!"

Dayo snatched up the hurt Ipo and started running and soon, everyone else was following, the holes sealing themsevles afterwards. Barely, they launched themselves through the last one, hit the ground with thuds and grunts. Looking back, the castle slowly fading from view. Letting out a deep breath that none knew they were holding, everyone just let their heads loll back and rest n the grounds.

"What the hell happened?" Inuyasha threw a hand over his eyes.

"We…were tricked…" Ipo gritted her teeth as she yanked the fan free. Glaring at the offending object, she set it aside, promising that she was going to 'return' it to the wind demoness. Sighing heavily, she let her arm fall back to her side and just when she thought everything was over, she tensed, feeling three shards coming right at them. "We got company!" everyone stood, raising their weapon for a new fight.

But when Kouga burst from the forest, half groaned from seeing him and the others just happ they wouldn't have to fight more. Behind him was the wolf demons that had gotten away. Ipo dropped back to the ground, winching at the pain in her shoulder but she didn't want to deal with him, not right now. "W-what happened? Where' the castle?" he looked around the group.

"It's not there, obviously." Inuyasha snorted, crossing his arms.

"Stay out of this, mutt." he growled.

"Enough!" Ipo snarled, making both heads snap to her prone figure. "I'm fuckin' covered in blood, my shoulder hurts like a bitch and we just fought Naraku, again. I'm to fuckin' tried to deal with this shit!" Kagome, Sango, Shippou and Rin all wondered over to lie next to her.

"What has happened to you?" Kouga looked at her then to Inuyasha in disdain. "I leave my woman in your care and you let her get hurt!"

"I'm not your woman!" she grunted.

"Of course you are." he replied, like it was the most obvious thing.

Before she could reply, Dayo growled a warning to the wolf prince and stepped to block his view of the human. "Lady Ipo is already courting someone."

"You?" he snorted.

"No, my lord." he replied tersely.

"W-w-what?!"

"I swear, this never gets old." Sango sighed happily, eyes closed as she leaned her head back. Both Kagome and Ipo agreed wholeheartedly and silence fell over the group. However, that was not to last long as Kagome and Ipo looked at each other, grinned then to Sango. Slowly, they scooted to the over until they were beside Sango.

"So…Sango." Kagome started, startling the poor girl. She looked between the two miko's a brow cocked. "Ipo tells me, you rode on Dayo's back to the castle." her face flamed and the two women chuckled. "So, how was it?"

"How was what?" she muttered.

"Well, ya were basically straddling his back girlfriend…not that different from straddling his front." Ipo sang and Sango's face grew more red as she sunk into the water, so that only her nose and eyes showed.

"Come on, you can tell us." Kagome pushed.

"I don't know…" she finally said, worrying her lip.

"What'd mean, you don't know?" Ipo questioned with a frown.

"How it felt. I've never done it before…I felt…" she trailed off.

"Tingly?" Ipo suggested and all the slayer did was nod. "What else?"

"I can't stop thinking about him." she then whined.

"Awwwww, our little Sango's in love!" Kagome clasped her hands, Ipo copying her moves and both stood to lean against one another. "It's so sweet!" they chirmed, a background of rose petals and hearts.

"Shut up!" Sango shrieked, jumping forward to tackle both and all three went under. After acouple more minutes, they came up, all grinning. "Well, since we're asking embarrassing questions…what was with that kiss you put on Inuyasha?"

"What kiss?" Kagome frowned.

"The one you laid on him before we split." Ipo snort.

"Oh….look at the time!" she jumped to her feet, trying to shuffle to the shore.

"Oh no you don't!" they pulled her back into the water and she pouted. "Spill."

"I…just wanted to make sure he knew." blushing, she looked to the murky waters, running a finger in a sloppy circle.

"Hmmmm." Ipo chuckled, sitting back and lying her arms on the spring edge. Closing her eyes, she took the same position as Sango earlier. "I think he gets the idea now."

She never noticed when Sango and Kagome shared the same look and closed in on her. "What about you and Sesshoumaru?"

"What about us?" she didn't break her posture.

"You mean you've never rode his back?" Sango cocked a brow and she shook her head.

"How about kissed him?" Kagome inquired, her question answered at the self satisfying smirk. "Was he any good?"

"Oh was he…damn, Kags." Ipo chuckled, lifting her head to look at them. "The second time we met up, when you and Yashie left," she nodded. "He came to see me and we danced under the stares, I sang, we kissed and he gave me the comb."

"Awwww." both cooed then grinned evilly. "Have you two done more then just…kiss?"

Ipo gasped in mock modesty, a hand to her chest. "That is not a question you ask a lady!"

"Ipo!" they whined then all three laughed.

"We ain't had sex…close to it though." thoughts of that night came back to her, her nude in the spring and him under her, thrusting up. She could feel her face heat up and that brought raised brows from her companions. "Just had the strongest urge to go back to is castle." she told them with the straightest face possible. After a moment, they burst into laughter but her keen hears picked up on soft chuckling. 'Chuckling...?' a puzzled look crossed her face, one that made Kagome and Sango quiet and look at her. Picking up a rock from the spring, she hurtled it toward the spot she heard the chuckle and heard a thump. Then a second?!

"Oooooi." a dazed Miroku fell from the brushes, Inuyasha right ontop of him. All three girls blinked, slowly…

***

"Where did Inuyasha and Miroku go?" Dayo questioned in a baritone voice, looking over at Shippou and Rin as they played close to the fire.

"I dunno, they just got up and walked away." Kohaku shrugged but stopped what he was doing to look up with a thoughtful look. "You don't think...maybe Miroku but Inuyasha?"

"Hentai!" three screeches came and not long after, said hanyou and monk darted into the camp. On their heels was a very pissed Kagome and Ipo and a mildly annoyed Sango. Ipo leapt forward, tackling Inuyasha to the ground and strangling him. He made the gagging sounds and head gestures that reminded her of Bart Simpson.

"I-I-I'm sorry." he gasped.

"We were only checking on your well being!" Miroku duck and rolled from Kagome's grasp.

"On our well being!" both laughed at the word.

Sango moved to sit beside Dayo, watching as the girls she seen as her sisters chased them. Feeling eyes on her, she turned, smiling at the demon. "They had it coming."

"I agree." grinning he moved alittle closer, she blushed but didn't move away. Lifting a hand, he pushed some of her still wet hair behind her ear and she leaned alittle into his touch. A rumble deep in his chest let her know he was pleased with her actions.

"Monk, when I get my hands on ya, I will rip ya balls off and shove'em down ya throat!" Ipo threatened with a growl, even making a gesture to show just how hard she would yank. Every male present did the same thing, gulped with wide eyes and snapped their legs closed.

Wow, that was harder then I thought! thanks to my beta iagirlwhoknowsherstuff(i think, sorry if i got it wrong!) you were a load of help. well, hope ya enjoyed the chapter