Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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Chapter

The Final Battle

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Sango looked after Kagome's running figure, a gentle smile on her lips. She was truly happy for her friend; it seemed as if things were working out for her. Kagome deserved to be happy and it looked as if she finally would be.

A tiny sigh escaped her lip as she clutched the brush to her chest and wondered if she would get the chance at her own happiness. It would seem someone had it out for her, first her family, then the saga with her brother only to realize that they couldn't help him, and then their was Miroku the ever flirtatious monk and the love of her life.

She glanced over at the man who was scratching the back of his head in wonder, his charming features morphed into one of confusion. Yes, he was a looker, charming, graceful, thoughtful and smart, he was something that some girl had dreamed up, and then there was her.

She looked down at her hands and flinched, they weren't soft like that of the women he always tried to seduce. Her hands were slightly course from all the years of handling weapons. Her body was no longer soft, and she was way too toned for any woman. It wasn't that she was bulky, but she was muscular, far from the soft feminine pretty ladies Miroku always went for.

A tear slid down her face at that. Yes, she was just simple plain old Sango. She wasn't a beauty like Kagura, even Kanna was prettier than her and Kanna was like twelve! Both of whom were married, well Kanna was engaged, which was still better than where Sango was. She had absolutely no suitors to even make someone jealous with, well save for that prince, who was in love with what he thought her to be and really didn't know her.

Sango sniffed loudly as she suddenly found herself enveloped in a warm embrace, "Sango are you ok?"

She looked up to see Miroku, looking down at her in a mixture of confusion and concern, "I…." She stuttered out trying to fight the tears, "I'm sorry…you must think that I'm some kinda-."

"Please, tell me what's wrong," Miroku stated, "You shouldn't bear your troubles alone, let me help,"

"I can take care of myself-."

"You can," Miroku stated with an affirmative nod, "but everyone needs a shoulder to cry on Sango. No matter how strong they are, everyone needs to know that someone will be there for them," he clasped her chin in his hand and tilted her head so that she could look at him and see the truth he told. He wanted to be there for her.

He was surprised when she suddenly pulled away from him and regarded him with a glare, "What is your game Miroku?" Sango spat bitterly, "You speak of sharing, the kind of sharing that takes place between kin, or husbands and wives. What you want brings people closer-."

"But I want to be close to you," Miroku assured her taking a step to close the distance she had place between them.

"and then what will I do when you run off with one of your…" She waved her hands trying to thing of the right words, "one of your women!" She finally yelled, backing further away, the word 'women' rolling off her tongue with hateful scorn, "Where will that leave me? Broken and alone-."

Miroku was genuinely taken aback by her words. Hadn't all his actions indicated that he was willing to spend the rest of his life with her? Sure he took things slow but he didn't want to force her, "Sango I have no intentions of leaving you…" he assured her as he again advanced.

"What exactly are your intentions Miroku?" Sango yelled throwing her arms up, "because I don't know." She took a threatening step towards him pointing the brush at his chest, "one minute I feel like there might be something there, and the next you're ogling some random woman! Do you think this is some kind of game?" she yelled as she poked him in the chest with the wooden brush, "Do you think that you can just toy with my emotions whenever you feel? If you have no intention of marrying me then you shouldn't ask me to give -."

"But that is exactly what my intention is," Miroku stated as he pushed the offending brush aside.

"Exactly!" Sango screamed tears streaming freely down her face at his clear reject, "you probably never even tried to make me think that you like me-."

"Sango," Miroku stated firmly, he grasped her by the shoulder and pulled her to him, "I don't like you, I'm in love with you. My intention, my dearest Sango is to spend the rest of my days with you. I want to marry you. I want to have you with me, and I want to share everything with you, because I love you."

Sango looked at him and gawked, "but, but there are so many other pretty girls-."

"But none of them can compare to you. You are by far the loveliest being I have ever met. Sango it would be an honour to spend the rest of my life with you," Miroku stated as he let his hands slide from her shoulders to hold her fingers in his hands. He knelt on one knee and looked hopefully up at her, "Sango, It would make me, the happiest of men, if you would do me the honour of marrying me,"

Sango looked down at him in a mirror of shock and confusion, her brain trying to catch up with what was happening. She had to be dreaming. This was her dream, she squeezed her eyes shut but when she reopened them, he was still there waiting expectantly.

She opened her mouth to reply but nothing came out, and the only thing she could do was nod her head repeatedly. With a gasp she finally let out a strangled but joyous yes, as she dove into his arms.

They both collapsed on the floor as Sango placed small kisses over his face repeating her answer over and over in frenzied joy.

Miroku wrapped his arms around her in a fierce hug as she assaulted him with kisses. He was indeed in bliss. Slowly one hand slid down the small of her back until he could feel the firm fleshy mounds beneath his hands. Yes he was in bliss.

Sango stiffened in his arms. Moving her hands from the side of his face, she planted her palms on the ground beside his head so that she could lift her body slightly off of his.

"Miroku…." She hissed dangerously as she glared at him.

"Lady Sango I assure I was merrily checking to see if-."

"Remove your hand houshi,"

"But-."

Both adults looked to the door of the hut when they heard too small growls, "the boys," Sango cried recognizing the threatening growls to be that of the two children.

Both adults got up and rushed out the open door of the tiny hut.

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Scene Change

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"What do you think that's about?" Satoshi asked Shippo as he watched Kagome leave.

Shippo shrugged as he pulled his gaze away from the disappearing form of Kagome to gaze into the fire. He scratched his head thoughtfully, "well she is dressed up, and going back…" he muttered thoughtfully, "maybe she just wants to look pretty for Inuyasha." Shippo stated. After thinking a moment he nodded his head, "yea that's it!" he stated in a more convincing voice.

"Well I guess, the lady in the picture was dressed up too…" Satoshi stated thinking about it himself, "so do you think they'll mate?"

"Well of course they will! We practically did all the work for them!" Shippo stated in an over excited voice, "I hope we get a new brother or something,"

"A new brother?" Satoshi asked his ears standing at attention as he looked at Shippo expectantly, "Sure! We could do all sorts of neat stuff with it! Teach it stuff you know…" he asked glancing excitedly at Satoshi.

Satoshi looked doubtful. He took up a stick and poked one of the logs in the fire, "but I like being your brother…." He stated softly, "I don't want you to get a new one-."

"But it'll be your brother too!" Shippo stated waving him aside as he grabbed the stick, "Don't you see. Instead of only me being the big brother, we'd both be big brothers!" he proclaimed loudly and proudly as his arms stretched out and his head thrown back in a dramatic display of joy.

"I'd be a big brother?" Satoshi asked his blue eyes wide as he gazed at Shippo uncertainly.

Shippo nodded, "Uh-huh! And this one would be really small so we get to teach it everything. Like how to catch, and how to fight!" he stated as he waved the stick around like a sword.

"and how to growl!" Satoshi added excitedly jumping up. Shippo nodded enthusiastically, "so when will the baby get here?" Satoshi asked eagerly.

"When they come, they'll have it," Shippo stated.

Satoshi looked in the direction Kagome had gone in, "gee I sure hope they hurry up and come back,"

Shippo nodded his agreement then sniffed the air. Seeing Shippo sniff the air, Satoshi followed suit and took a delicate whiff of his surroundings. He immediately covered his nose as the pungent stench of dirt and body odour hit him.

"who is that?" he asked, straining to see into the darkness.

Shippo shrugged wrinkling his nose as he continued to sniff, "that's funny, sniff it again."

"NO way!" Satoshi protested.

"No seriously, one of them smells kinda like you," Shippo stated as he continued to sniff and inched closer towards the scent.

Satoshi cautiously lowered his sleeve. He didn't have as much trouble finding the scent seeing that it was closer, "The old man that used to watch us, kinda smelt like that," he took a deeper smell, "it's a wolf, the stinky thing is a wolf, and there are other wolves,"

Shippo nodded his head not removing his gaze from the outline of the trees. He stepped further away from the hut. Then broke out into a run across the charred ground where the village of demon hunters had once been.

"Where are you going?" Satoshi hissed as he took after his brother, his feet landing lightly on the small plants that were trying to cover the burnt earth. He caught up to Shippo half way across the clearing and grabbed the back of his shirt, "where are you going?" he asked again, this time fear clouding his voice.

Shippo was jerked to a stop when Satoshi grabbed him by the back of his shirt, "I want to see why these people smell like you. Don't you want to know?" he asked his green eyes peering at his brother, "what's the matter? Why are you so scared for?"

"I don't like it," Satoshi muttered as he backed up a little, "It smells bad. It makes me feel sick like that feeling you get when you know something bad is going to happen," he stated nervously.

"I know, I have that feeling too. But I still want to find out…" Shippo stated, "besides we wont be far Sango and Miroku are right over there," he added tilting his head to the side in a gesture to the hut. In truth the hairs on the back of his neck were standing up and his instincts were saying run, but there had to be a reason why that person smelt of Satoshi. Shippo smiled at Satoshi then turned once again.

"Please," Satoshi called panicky as he grabbed him once again, "I don't like it. Mommy had a cloth with that scent on it, she said it would kill me. Please don't let me go….please……" Satoshi cried his eyes wide with terror as he remember his mother forcing him to memorize the odour on the cloth.

Shippo looked over at Satoshi and nodded, "Ok then. Lets go back," he smiled reassuringly at his brother and turned towards the hut.

Satoshi nodded gratefully, "yea lets hurry," he agreed, his voice trembling as the wind brought the scent to him stronger, they had gotten closer and he wanted to get further.

Before he could move however a snarling wolf launched itself from the forest and skidded to a halt in front of them. It growled furiously as it regarded the boys, ears pulled back and lips curled upwards in a vicious snarl revealing deadly fangs. Another low howl filled the air and the boys found themselves surrounded by the snarling beasts. The animals were crouched ready to jump, as they sized up their pray with steely black eyes.

"Call them off," a smooth voice commanded.

Satoshi shuddered in fear as the scent that he had been trying to avoid filled the air, along with the other pungent one. His back stiffened. He knew how this game was played, he'd be blind folded, and if he didn't get away from the scent, he'd get hurt, but this time his mother wouldn't be there to bandage the wound for him. He knew fully well she was the one that had hurt him, but she never hurt him unless she had that cloth with that scent tied to her. He clasped his eyes shut as he waited expectantly for the pain.

A low growl was issued and the wolves stood down, although they still held the circle and regarded the boys suspiciously.

Seeing his brother's distress Shippo clasped his hand in his and turned around to face the beings that carried the scent he had been so curious about earlier.

"Who…Who are you?" he asked trying to stem the nervous quiver in his voice as he stepped protectively in front of Satoshi, "and what do you want?" he did his best at delivering an icy glare.

The one that smelled was obviously the leader of the wolves, he was dirt and nasty look. He reminded Shippo of vomit which had been left out of the sun, the other who smelled like Satoshi was crisp and clean, but gave him the creeps. He was obviously human, but Shippo found that he thought this one more dangerous than the wolf demons.

Yazoko let out a low chuckle as he regarded the two boys. He was delighted, he had found his treasure, his weapon. His brown eyes scanned Satoshi over as one would at a trophy. He was glad that there weren't any damages, to his precious weapon. He dragged his gaze away from his possession and regarded the mouthy thing that stood beside him.

It was a ball of orange fluffy. An hideously cute thing, that served no purpose. He would be easily disposed of, "I am lord Yazoko. I have come to claim my son," Yazoko stated in glee.

"Yea well that's all good and well, if I see him I'll be sure to tell him," Shippo stated.

"Do not trifle with me demon," Yazoko hissed as he glared at the boy, "Step away from him and the wolves will rip you apart quickly."

Satoshi gasped and clutched Shippo tighter, "don't let him take me," he whispered to him as he clung to his hand, "I don't have a father. Please don't let him get me…"

Shippo's green eyes scanned over the wolves nervously, and he glanced towards the hut.

"They wont get here in time," Yazoko assured Shippo seeing where his gaze was, he could only assume the rest of the party was inside the hut, "If you continue to delay me any further, they wont even find your pieces-."

"Yea, Yea tell it to someone who cares," Shippo stated as he gripped Satoshi reassuringly, there was no way he was going to hand his brother over. Pulling a hand full of leaves from his shirt he tossed them in all directions, making multiple copies of himself and Satoshi.

"Run!" he whispered to Satoshi as the illusions began to scatter all over the place. The wolves were thrown into confusion and began to chase the copies, as soon as the chain was broken both boys headed towards the hut.

Yazoko growled in out rage, "Get them! And don't kill him, him I want to kill myself!" he yelled to Adjumante.

Adjumante rolled his eyes. He watched as the boys headed towards the hut and bent down slowly. He suddenly lurched himself forward. His body took to the air in a clumsy arch to land in a puff of dirt before the two boys.

Shippo and Satoshi's eyes widened at the demon that suddenly landed in front of them. Adjumante reached out and grabbed Satoshi by the neck, "Now no more running…" he drawled as he dangled Satoshi off the ground.

Shippo lurched himself at the wolf and sank his fangs down into the arm that was holding Satoshi. With a howl Adjumante released his grip and Satoshi fell to the ground. Grabbing the bundle that was latched on to his hand he ruffly yanked the small boy back by the tail.

Tears sprang to Shippo's eyes but instead of crying he issued a warning growl. Adjumante readjusted his grip so that he was clutching him by the neck.

"I said, not to kill him," Yazoko reprimanded coming up.

"The bastard bit me!" Adjumante yelled as he flung the little body. Shippo landed in front of Yazoko and scrambled backwards hurriedly his green eyes wide with fright as Yazoko leered down at him.

"D..Dont you touch my brother…." Satoshi growled out as he moved to stand beside Shippo who had scrambled to his feet, "You better leave us alone…" he let out the scariest growl he could muster, "Inuyasha will be back, and Sango and Miroku are right in there…"

Shippo picked up on Satoshi's growl, "and if you touch us their gonna fuck you up real bad," he stated repeating the curse he had heard Inuyasha use on so many occasions.

Yazoko let out a dark laugh, "children…don't you just hate them?" he asked Adjumante dryly.

Shippo and Satoshi stood back to back growling loudly at the offending parties, their eyes watching their very move.

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Author's Corner

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Like I said guys this one is added as a make up chappy. I am really sorry about the wait. Thanks to all of you who are reading an extra special sorry to alex, hope you like both chapters. That goes for all of you guys too I hope you enjoyed them, tried my best to make them long, both are 18 pages.

I have started the next update, however like i said no internet (i'm at work and want to move real quick...open cubicle) so I cant make promises as to how soon you'll get it, but hopefully soon.

Please review and tell me what you think...

Love you guys!

Bye!

Nellie