Alright guys, I'm a bit disappointed with the amount of reviews I've received so far, especially when this fic has like over 500 people on update alert. I assume its just because its been difficult to really comprehend that I've actually updated after so long, and that I was in fact not in some remote part of the rainforest w/no access to the internet.

So I'm actually debating now if I should even continue with this story anymore, seeing as how no one seems to be reading it anyway. I'm sure a lot of you have kinda forgotten what it was about and all, but hopefully I can refresh your memory. So I'm going to go ahead and post this chapter (so u can remember) but if I see that there's really not that much interest in it anymore, then I'll probably just set it aside for the time being and continue on w/my other writing projects.

I'll be posting A4U soon and DTP, and I'm working on SNE. That's about it for the moment.

So to those of you still reading this (and to the few who have reviewed) thanks guys, I appreciate you!

Last time…

Even though Kagome was about to protest, the word "safety" seemed to garner her attention. Why did she need safety, was she not safe here upon the castle grounds?

He must of noted her thoughtful countenance, for Tomikaji immediately expanded upon his instructions. "We have received news that the dragon Ryukotsusei, and a few of his guards will be arriving this evening tide."

Ch. 26 The reunion

Kagome's nervousness was manifesting itself into a habit. She knew that if she didn't stop biting her nails, she would end up chewing off her fingertips. She wasn't doing Ryuketsu any service either, her agitation seemed to be transferring to him as he was simply rolling and unrolling a scroll that he had placed on a wooden table. It was apparent neither one of them wanted to be holed up in the library where all the scrolls and maps were kept while Touga was receiving Ryuke's "older brother."

He had shown up in the morning, the Harold announcing their arrival and ushering them to the main room where visitors were received. She and Ryukensu had been taken to the library by one of Touga's many guards, which incidentally seemed to have started popping up like weeds everywhere. The shiro was obviously on high alert and Touga was not taking any chances.

She knew that anytime soon, they would be called into the main room, so they both could be introduced to this "threat." Kagome hated it but she knew it had to be done.

There was a knock on the door before it was opened by General Tomikaji.

"Is it time?" she questioned anxiously wanting to get it over with.

"It is, lady. I will escort you and Ryukensu in now. The Inu no Taisho is awaiting you both," he confirmed, watching the way the young dragon stood tall and proud beside his human mother.

To the miko, it felt as if they were being escorted straight to the firing squad, their posture straight and their gait slow as if wanting to postpone the inevitable. While the hallways were long and winding, their sparsely filled lengths seemed rather cold and unwelcome now.

Not wanting to hold on to the young youkai beside her -lest they both seem weak or afraid- as they were finally allowed into the great hall, she was barely able reign in her surprise as the massive double wooden doors which depicted various battles, were finally opened allowing them entrance.

Despite the fact that Kagome had not been in this room many times, she still remembered the huge but meagerly decorated and furnished room, with its shiny wooden floors, small array of weapons upon its walls, shoji screen dividers with beautiful Japanese scenery at various corners, as well as its many low wooden tables laden with cups of steaming tea, maps, letters, and other varying documents. Cushions and tatami mats were arrayed before the grand windows facing the east, facing the magnificent sunrise.

She could see Touga sitting upon his knees facing them as they came in, though he gave no indication that he noticed them. A few of his guards stood a couple of feet beside him, spears held at attention, while he conversed with the youkai who was seating in front of him, a table with food and drink between them.

Kagome couldn't see this dragon as he was kneeling away from her. All she could manage to see was his back, and she wondered how horrible this male probably looked. The thought of those half reptilian creatures they had first "met" entered her mind and she briefly wondered if he too, would be as hideous.

His armor clad body was undistinguishable until he and Touga stood.

The daiyoukai finally beckoned them forward, seeing as they had remained by the doors waiting to be granted permission to go further.

As Touga came to stand beside the male -who had turned to watch them come forward- Kagome was both surprised and annoyed that the dragon wasn't as repulsive as she had thought he would be. In fact, he was quite the opposite, making her irritation grow even further.

He was tall, at least an inch or two taller than Touga, and with the thick armor he had on, he appeared to have a slightly bigger build than the inu daiyoukai. His deep red, thick, mahogany armor depicted a golden dragon, the only color on his otherwise black and ruby clothing, perhaps making him look much more muscled than he really was.

His hair much resembled Ryuketsu's, short -cropped close to the neck- although the ends atop his head were spiky going from a dark deep red, to a lighter shade, then to finally alight with what appeared to look as blonde highlights at the spikes' ends. His face was chiseled with no appearance of feminine beauty as seemed the case with many male youkai. His dark scarlet eyebrows were thick but not overly so as to seem bushy. There were no markings on his face, yet once they stood at a respectful distance from the two males, the miko was astounded by his eyes.

The irises were replaced by a moving flame of merging colors; even the entire color of his eyes was seeped in crimson. They seemed to exude a warmth and a glow that reminded her of a cozy and inviting fireplace where one can warm themselves over the open flames. Contradictory, the spark of his eyes also seemed to warn of danger, of an uncontrolled wild fire once it blazed to its fullness. Even Tomikaji's and Ryukensus's own fiery eyes could not match his, their intensity made them truly incomparable.

Kagome didn't know what to think of him. He was indeed handsome, no matter how she tried to deny it. She wanted to think of him as a hideous monster, but that combination of words did not seem to suit him. Even more aggravating than his masculine beauty, was that she did not seem to feel him as a threat. Her powers were not at their best at the moment, and she didn't think she could bring them to the forefront any time soon, yet the miko thought she would at least feel the raising of goosebumps on her skin with the feel of his malevolent aura. Or at least some sort of pinprick for goodness sake. She couldn't help but feel displeased, confused, and overly annoyed. Too bad she didn't notice these feelings also showed on her face.

Touga finally deemed it appropriate to introduce them. "This is the Lady Higurashi, my intended mate," he introduced with a hint of a frown touching his face, "and this, this is Ryukensu, as you well know. Both are part of my pack," he added emphasizing the importance they each had to him.

The male executed a deep bow to them both before straightening to speak. "It is a pleasure. I know my presence here must be a surprise to you both, however, I come to you in peace, not animosity, as those whom I sent before me seemed to have portrayed. They, I assure you, have been dealt with."

The priestess scowled. What exactly did he mean by that? So he hadn't sent those weird lizards then? And just as he was about to continue his little "speech" the young woman couldn't help but to interrupt. She didn't know what the hell he had told Touga, but he couldn't be trusted.

"I hope to get to know you better Ryuketsu. I do not come with any other intention other than to-"

"No!" the miko all but screeched in her anger. "I don't want you to get to know him! You left him…left him as a child! You abandoned him! What kind of person would do that? You shouldn't even be around us! Around Touga!"

She was all but heaving by the time she was through with her rant, holding on to Ryukensu's hand in a death grip.

And dammit if he didn't sincerely look offended and wounded by her words.

"Miko," the inu daiyoukai quickly cautioned, his voice deep and authoritative. She had insulted his guest and he could not allow such an offence, even from his own mate-to-be. She had to know her place. He was the Inu no Taisha and Alpah. She was being disrespectful not only to the dragon, but to him as well, by insinuating that he did not speak things through with the other male, or was cruel enough to allow harm to come to a child, one within his own pack. Frankly, he was quite surprised with her unexpected outburst.

"No, Touga," she countered against her better judgment. She seemed to be treading on dangerous waters and was beyond angered to see the danger. She was defying her alpha's warning and embarrassing him in front of another lord.

"Mother," Ryukensu called, trying to get her attention, knowing that it could not end well if she continued, "it is alright, everything will be fine."

"Kagome," Touga warned again, using her given name in an attempt to pierce through her anger. "You will be silent or you will leave immediately. I will not tolerate your disrespect woman."

Kagome didn't usually do too well with commands, perhaps it was Inuyasha's influence, or being a woman of the twenty-first century before being considered one of feudal Japan's, but put all of these factors together, and it made for one bad combination. Plus, she was a human woman not an inu bitch who acquiesced to her alpha so readily. Merge this with the tension she had been feeling since she found out she was not strong enough to control her own power, as well as having the dragon who would ultimately kill her beloved stand right before her, was too much to ask anyone to bear.

"I will not," she ground out low, angrily, forgoing all reason.

Ryukensu swallowed, moving away from her as he felt Touga's slowly rising jaki. He was outraged and infuriated with her denial. He loved her, but he could not allow her to do as she willed.

As Touga was about to move forward, his intent still unclear, Lord Ryukotsusei spoke forgoing her possible punishment. "My Lord, I understand why she is upset. If you will allow me, I will explain to both Ryuketsu and your Lady. She has every right to be angry, for she believes me to be an uncaring monster. I hoped to explain at another time, with more of an intimate setting," he remarked looking around the room and at the guards who seemed to be quite interested in their conversation now. "But I see it is something that needs to be done now."

After seeing the Inu no Taisho's slight nod he continued. "I did not leave my brother willingly, lady, I cared for his wellbeing and withheld nothing from him. I provided as best I was able, being only a teenager then myself with no real experience as to the care of a young one. While there is more involved, I will only say that I was set upon by other demons, more powerful and trained than I, who wanted more than to see me dead, or enslaved. The latter won out. I was taken by force and imprisoned. However, I was trained as an assassin as the years went on, and eventually I grew strong enough to escape my captors. So you see, I was unable to go back to him, to my younger brother, and could only hope that he was strong enough to remain alive until I returned to him. In spite of this hope, I was unable to find him, and I mourned him greatly, yet as the years continued on, I came to hear about a young dragon who was found and adopted by a priestess and a great inu daiyoukai. So….here I stand before you now."

The priestess deflated unwillingly. How was it that she couldn't sense any lies or deceit? Perhaps he was simply a gifted liar? No, that wouldn't make sense, for Touga also seemed to believe his story. He wouldn't have fallen so easily into some falsehood.

"I…I-" she began wondering what the hell she was supposed to say.

"Go to your quarters miko and await me there," the daiyoukai interrupted with a command, making the girl turn to stare at him as if seeing him there for the first time.

Kagome heard the way he spoke to her and she bristled. She was not a child to be told to 'go to her room.' She had never listened to Inuyasha whenever he attempted to keep her from going home, and unfortunately she wasn't going to listen to his father either.

As if sensing the imminent confrontation, Ryukotsusei spoke up, looking at the worried face of his younger sibling.

"If I may, perhaps it is best if the lady remains for a time. I believe it would make the young one feel better while we take time to become reacquainted," he offered hoping it would stall the female's consequences for a time, if only for the benefit of his kin.

While he thought the relationship abnormal and rather dangerous as well, he could see why the daiyoukai had fallen for the priestess. She was beautiful, as far as humans went, and while she wasn't as breathtaking as many of the noble youkai females he had encountered throughout his lifetime, there were other qualities that made this woman rare. She was fiery, outspoken, and her aura seemed to execute a contradictory power and quiet gentleness. Truly unique, so he could understand why Ryukensu had been drawn to her, and why he had allowed her to become his 'mother.' Something he would have to ask his brother about soon. How had she even taken a demon, her mortal enemy under her guardianship, as well as have chosen to mate a daiyoukai of great power? Thankfully, he had come by a rare few priestesses throughout his life, yet this one was unusually different so he could not even begin to compare.

Speaking of, the inu seemed to be having a bit of difficulty deciding if he should allow said priestess to remain or not. That is until Ryuketsu spoke up.

"Please Touga-sama, let my mother stay. I would like her here with me….as we talk."

Hmm, the little dragon's words seemed to sway both the inu and the miko, he noted with a bit of surprise.

Her maternal instincts seemed to have kicked in upon seeing his troubled countenance, for she immediately acquiesced submission, turning away from the upset inu and hoping to grant the child some comfort, even if by youkai standards he was already more of a teenager really. He should not be coddled, something the female seemed wont to do. Something Ryukotsusei knew he would have to remedy in the near future.

A nod of acceptance was Ryuketsu's answer as the demon lord called for food to be brought in, deciding they could get reacquainted as they ate.

Kagome remained silent throughout the meal, nodding only when something was addressed directly to her. She heard their entire conversation of course, but she couldn't understand why Ryukensu and even Touga had taken to him so easily. Yes, he seemed quite charming, rather educated and intelligent, and quite animated as he spoke and told stories to Ryuke who laughed readily, but she couldn't help wonder what his true intentions were. He had to have other motives….didn't he?

So engrossed in her thoughts, that she barely heard her name being called.

"Kagome," the silver haired male called once more, hoping to get her full attention. "You will await for me in your quarters now, and I shall be there shortly," the daiyoukai commanded seeing he had her interest.

She stared at him for a second or two before standing and walking out. He had a thing or two coming if he thought she would simply obey him like some five year old who had misbehaved and been sent to her room. She had had enough "punishment" in the past, waking up in the middle of nowhere, beaten, and dumped off by his father's soldiers. Not to mention the humiliation she had encountered a few days ago with her wayward power. He hadn't even spoken to her about that either, too busy with everything else, or perhaps simply wanting to let her work it out on her own.

Either way, she was not a child, and if he wanted to speak to her, he would have to find her first.

She smiled sweetly with the thought.

Walking around the grounds, she was able to mask her scent and aura, however, the miko couldn't think of anyplace she could go without the inu finding her. Unless…asking the closest youkai she saw, she inquired as to the whereabouts of Lieutenant Jhou, the water elemental.

She made her way to the biggest lake she could remember, the one where she had first met him, and waited for him to arrive.

"Lady….you called for me?" he questioned with interest as soon as he stood before her at the lakes edge with only a few minutes gone by.

"Hai, I did," she answered seeing him wearing more than just some loin cloth for the first time. In fact, he was fully clothed in white and navy blue, his hair flowing freely behind him making him look somewhat different. "I umm, have something to ask of you lieutenant."

"Anything lady, you need but to ask."

Touga was furious.

Where the hell was she? He was certain she had not left the grounds, for every guard stationed around the perimeter and outer walls had attested to the fact. When he had made his way to her room and found that she was not where he had told her to go, his anger was instantly kindled.

She had defied him….again. The woman was going to have to learn her place. If she had already been his mate, her punishment would have ultimately been much worse. As it were, he had several reprimands in mind, intent on seeing them all through in his current mood.

The insufferable female was currently trying to hide from him. Did she not know he was an inu, tracking was a part of who he was, and find her he would, this he vowed.

He allowed Ryukensu and the dragon lord time to walk around the grounds and continue to talk -with a few of his own guards to follow closely behind- too embarrassed to drag the dragons along while he looked for his missing miko. Perhaps they would encounter her before he did, he thought with rising aggravation, though it was unlikely as she seemed to be doing a good job of hiding from him.

He growled out low. He was certain she would receive an earful once he found her.

He continued on.

Ryukensu was actually feeling a bit more unreserved with the older demon. He had been extremely nervous and had pretty much gone through every emotion, but now as they walked through the beautiful grounds of the shiro, he didn't feel any pressure from the elder. They were just talking, sharing things about their lives. It felt good, to get to hear his brother's his voice again. He didn't know how much he had truly missed him until now it seemed.

"Is this the lake then?" the older questioned breaking through the thoughts he had been dwelling on.

"Hai, it is. This is my favorite spot to fish. There are plenty of different ones in here, and- and I like to swim here as well, maybe we can do both soon," the boy said with enthusiasm.

"I see," the other responded with a small smile watching his face light up with the thought. "I would like that Ryukensu. I think we should-"

He stopped speaking, something garnering his attention. He…felt something. It didn't feel dangerous but he could sense something or someone near. Stopping the boy from going any further, he told him to remain silent. The Inu no Taisho's guards did not seem to be aware of the possible threat, so it was up to him to protect them all.

Stepping into the moving waters of the lakes edge, uncaring that his boots were getting wet, he prepared to uncover that which was making his senses uneasy, and readied himself to face the possible danger.

Ryukotsusei could honestly say that this was probably the most surprised he had ever been in quite some time.

He could probably say that he, along with Ryukensu and the inu daiyoukai's guards, were left almost speechless a few seconds later, after he but stepped into the water edge.

He just could not believe what he was seeing.

So another chapter done…check. Now, didn't you miss the evil cliffy's?

Well….I will ask again…those of you still reading this story, and who want to see me continue it, please REVIEW. You reviews will let me know if I should even bother to put anymore time into this fic.

So until next time…(maybe)! ;0)