Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha.

Chapter 29: Confronting the Past

"I-." Makoto's voice cracked. Kita tried her best to comfort him. "I- I need to go." He shrugged himself from Kita's grasp. She followed him as he began to walk away, only he turned back to her. "Alone. I gotta go alone, for awhile. Go with the others to the castle." With that he took off without a glance back. At first she considered whether she should follow him anyway, but in the end she just sighed and slumped to the ground.

"Let's get moving." InuYasha stated. "If we really push we can make it to the castle by tonight. Makoto can catch up when he's ready."

Kagome couldn't stop her eyes from watering. She busied herself rolling up her futon and gathering the rest of her things to put in her pack. InuYasha sighed as she deliberately avoided his gaze for the third time. He shook his head, signaled Shippou to watch Gina and Mehiji, and walked over to stand above his mate. Just as he thought she would, Kagome didn't react to his presence.

"Almost done. I'll be ready to go in a minute." She stated with a shaky voice.

"Kagome…"

"I think we need to find a human village nearby when we get to Sesshomaru's. I doubt they have any cloth for diapers and they're both getting so big so fast."

"Ka…"

"And if Mehiji is anything like Mako…" she froze, falling silent. Then she continued packing the pups' things. InuYasha grunted. "Gina needs a new kimono…"

"Shut-up wench, and get over here." InuYasha wrapped his arms around Kagome as she threw herself into his chest, sobs wracking her entire body. He pulled her into his lap and gently nuzzled her tear-stained cheek. "You know he'll be alright. He's a tough pup. Makoto can manage on his own."

"He's just hurting so much." She sniffled. "I blame you! It's your fault he's so stubborn and won't talk things out!" she playfully slapped his cheek.

"Keh. That's right, just blame me for everything wench." He smirked. Kagome tweaked one of his ears. "Oi!"

"What do you think will happen when we get to Sesshomaru's castle? Do you think Haru will already be there?"

"I doubt it. Sesshomaru may be a useless baka, but he's not about to let anyone near that mate and pup of his. Myouga said the battle hadn't made it to the castle yet, so it should be safe for the time being." He pushed to his feet and reached down to help Kagome up. "Come on, wench. Let's get movin."

After everyone was packed, mounted up, and ready to go, they were off toward the castle once again. The trip was mainly quiet. There were a few times the group had to stop and let the pups down to play as they were getting restless from being held for the whole journey. Kita mainly stayed behind the others running her thoughts over and over again in her head. Mostly she thought of how Makoto was holding up, and when he would come back. But as they got closer to the castle, her thoughts leaned toward the Lord of the Western Lands and what he would do when he caught her scent again.

From what Makoto said, he wasn't all that bad, but listening to InuYasha all the time she wasn't so sure what he would do to her. She had tried to kidnap his son after all, whether it was of her own accord or not wasn't the issue. Kita had tried to kidnap the only son of a youkai lord, nearly killed by them, and was now on her way back to the same castle. She shook her head and took in a deep breath. She just wished Makoto would get back before she had to come face to face with Sesshomaru once more.

"Oyaji, we need to stop again!"

"What?! No! If we stop now, we'll never make it to the castle before dark!" InuYasha growled out.

"Well then you hold Mehiji!" Shippou yelled back. The said pup had climbed upon his shoulder and was biting at his ear. "Owww! Someone get him a chew toy!" Mehiji growled and bit down harder. "OKAA!!!!!"

"Let's just stop here for the night, InuYasha. Mehiji is getting too agitated. We'll get to the castle early tomorrow morning."

"Keh." He walked over and plucked the pup from Shippou's ear and held him up to eyes' height. Mehiji lowered his eyebrows in a glare and growled, showing off his fangs to his father.

"Down Ya-ee!" the pup made an attempt to escape from InuYasha's grasp.

"InuYasha, put him down. You're aggravating him." Kagome tapped her foot.

"Keh. I'm not aggravating him. Pup's being impulsive."

"Down! Down! Down! Down!" Mehiji growled out over and over, his little claws doing little damage as he scratched at InuYasha's arms. "Ya-ee, Down!" When InuYasha still didn't put him down, Mehiji searched out exposed flesh on InuYasha's hand and bit down hard.

"Owwww!" InuYasha set the pup down and started shaking his hand in the air. A few drops of blood leaked down the side of his hand and fell to the ground. "Oi! He bit me!"

"Sit." :THUMP!: Mehiji giggled as he waddled away from his currently subdued father. "I told you they don't like being held like that, InuYasha. It's your own fault he bit you." She got on her knees in front of Mehiji who was still giggling. "And you know better then to be biting on Shippou and Oyaji, don't you?" she wagged her finger at him.

"Eepo an Ya-ee no down!" he whined.

"That's no reason to bite. Now say you're sorry."

Mehiji's ears flattened on his head and he scowled.

"Don't look at me like that and go say you're sorry!" Kagome said in a firm voice.

"Sorry Eepo. Sorry Ya-ee."

"Okaa?" Gina pulled on Kagome's Kimono to get her attention. She looked down and smiled. "Okaa… where M-koto?"

"Makoto went on a trip. He's going to meet us at Oji-Sesshomaru's." The pup looked up at Kagome, her silver eyes shimmering as she yawned, showing off her small fangs. InuYasha plucked her from the ground and wrapped her in the sleeves of his haori. The sky was now darkening quickly, showing off the first few stars and sliver of a moon as the sun sank over the horizon. Kita watched the families around her closely as they settled down for the night. Miroku and Sango were surrounded by their three girls; Kirara curled up in Yumi's arms. Tani and Shippou had wondered a little farther from the others, Shippou whispered into her ear and Tani silently giggled and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss before laying her head on his chest and closing her eyes. InuYasha and Kagome were starting to drift off, the pups lying between them. Mehiji didn't seem to want to sleep, and made a move for Gina's ear, but InuYasha cracked open an eye and let out a low growl. The pup whined and closed his eyes. Satisfied that the pup wasn't up to any more mischief for the night, InuYasha closed his eye with a smirk.

Kita couldn't help but feel a bit like an outcast. When Makoto was around, she had a bond with the others, like family. Without him, she really didn't belong. It was his family, not hers. She fought down a whine that threatened to escape her throat, her ears pinned to her head. She wrapped her arms around her legs and laid her head on her knees. Was she doing the right thing in the first place? She loved Makoto. He was the first person since her mother and father that had shown even an ounce of compassion. Her parents… how long had it been since she even really thought about them? It seemed like another life time ago. Maybe, for her, it was.

Sometimes, when she closed her eyes and thought back, she would see him. Her father, Moriji. His hair was jet black, just like Kita's, and he always kept it short and messy. He always told her long hair just got it the way and he had no reason to fix it when it was short. Kita always thought he looked kind of funny with long hair anyway. Moriji's eyes were a soft lavender most of the time, but when he was angry or upset about something they would always turn a dark purple. She hardly ever saw his eyes like that, and when she did it was never because of her or her mother, Suki, it was always because of something or someone that threatened them. Moriji's forehead proudly showed the mark of his pack, an eight-pointed yellow star; on his cheeks, just below the eyes, were two yellow triangles, one under each. He didn't wear furs like the other pack members did; he always wore a lavender kimono with a purple sash that Suki made for him. Kita always remembered how regal and noble he looked. Moriji wasn't the smartest, or the fastest, or the strongest, but just looking at him always gave Kita a since of pride.

Kita also remembered her mother, Suki. Moriji always told Kita that her mother had cast a spell on him with one glance from her emerald eyes, shaded by her yellow hair. Her family was foreign to Japan, and some how ended up in a village near the den. She would always say the first time she saw Moriji standing high above her on a cliff, wind whipping though his muddled hair, it was love at first sight. Suki was always finding something new to make. Kimonos, sashes, bags, hair wraps; anything she could think of. She was very good at it, too, but no one in the villages would ever buy her wares and the pack didn't want anything to do with her. Moriji and Kita was all she cared about, anyway. They had their own place close to the den, but far enough away to stay privet.

Shinobi. Oh, how Kita would always remember Shinobi. The one who fought her father and won. The one who killed him and her mother. The one who would punish her every day for just having mixed blood. Those lavender eyes, looking so much different, colder, than her father's, those eyes would haunt her. He bore many scars which he showed proudly on his bare chest and across his face, thinking that because of them he deserved more respect. Shinobi had taken over the pack after Kita's father was gone. Ruler of the northern pack. Kita cringed with the memory, suppressing her sudden urge to get up and run and not stop till she was out of breath.

Both her parents always said she had a strong spirit, but Kita felt far from it at times. She just felt so weak for running and hiding all the time, but she didn't always have the courage it took to face the day on her own. Now was one of those times. She didn't know what was before her through all the uncertainties. She loved Makoto so much it scared her, and to think of losing him… she couldn't. She felt permanently bound to him, as if even if she wanted to leave she would die not long after. Makoto was healing her, inside and out. Her father… her mother… the pack that she left behind, they were only memories of a past life now.

'Great, just great…' Kita mused to herself as she curled up on the ground. 'I miss him so much, and if he's not back by tomorrow morning, I'll have to face the lord without Makoto.' She nestled herself into a ball and covered herself with a blanket Kagome had given her. 'Why did I let myself grow a reliance for him?' Sleep would never come for her this night.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

InuYasha made sure everyone was up with the sun the next morning, a few mumbled insults aimed at him from the others as they trudged out of their sleep and began to pack their things. Since Kita had already been up, she took the liberty of sporting a few bits of game for breakfast, cooking on their skewers above the fire she had built. There wasn't very much, considering Kita's leg was permanently damaged and she was unable to hunt as well as she had before, but everyone seemed grateful for her contribution. Even InuYasha had looked down at her and gave her an approving nod.

As they began again their journey to the castle, Kita could feel her body stiffen as she recognized the familiar path into the Western Lands. It hadn't been too long ago she had snuck into the castle grounds, watching the young pup playing just before trying to snatch him. She realized now how big of a mistake she had made. But maybe, back then, she was silently hoping for death at the hands of the pup's father. Now that she returned, would he finish what he started?

Kagome walked along side InuYasha, laying her head on his arm. Gina was crawling around in his arms, hiding herself in the folds of his kimono and popping her head out with a growl at some imaginary prey she was stalking there. Her ear twitched in the air as InuYasha let out a low, rumbling growl. Gina turned in his arms and growled back, bent low, and pounced on InuYasha's shoulder. Kagome broke away and watched as the two roughhoused for awhile. She took a moment to look back and see that Mehiji was still asleep on Kirara's back. That pup wasn't one for being waken up before he wanted to. For a moment Kagome smiled as the pup twitched his leg and snuggled into the fire-cat's fur.

"Lord InuYasha! My lord!" a silver-haired inu-youkai with his family's markings bounded up, catching Kagome's attention. The youkai fell to one knee in front of InuYasha with his head bowed low.

"What is it, Yukio?" InuYasha answered, holding Gina by the collar of her kimono to keep her from his ears.

"Lord Sesshomaru sent me in search of you." His eyes dimmed and his voice was etched with anger. "My father and elder brother have sought allies from the neighboring territories. The entire Northern territory and half of the Eastern territory have been recruited in the battle for the Western Lands. The Southern Lands have yet to be seized, but Lord Sesshomaru is certain their friendship will stay on our side if we act quickly. He seeks you for his second command in the upcoming battle."

InuYasha snorted distastefully, but took the time to think things through. If Yukio was right, and all was as he said, this wasn't just about him, Kagome, his pups, and Rin and Yukio; this battle was youkai against all hanyou and humans. The youkai were gathering together for a war against mortals and anyone who shared their blood or friendship.

"Keh. I'll hear what the baka has to say, then."

Yukio nodded and stood to his feet. "I'll be more than happy to escort you the rest of the way, then."

When the castle came in view, everyone in the group could tell the difference in it before. Last time they where here, inu-youkai were all over the grounds, doing this and that, but not a single one was seen outside the castle this time. Inside the castle wasn't that much different. The few inu they did pass were scurrying off, giving them a quick glance as they passed by. Yukio led them through the main hall when Sesshomaru stood waiting expectantly for InuYasha.

InuYasha handed Gina over to her mother and took a few steps forward. Sesshomaru's low growl stopped him in his tracks, but following the inu-lord's gaze he realized it wasn't him Sesshomaru directed his growls, but instead it was to the she-wolf, Kita. InuYasha had almost forgotten about the girl and her past with Sesshomaru. He stepped in between the two.

"You would be wise, InuYasha, to not become this Sesshomaru and his enemies. That pup is under Haru's command, and under my authority to be killed." He made a move toward the girl again, who visibly flinched backward.

InuYasha stood in front of Kita and growled, fangs bared against his brother. "Kita is with my pack now. She had nothing to do with Haru's antics, she was being controlled until the spell was broken. I take full responsibility for her actions while she is here."

Sesshomaru raised his eyebrow at the statement. It wasn't like his half-brother to take responsibility for his own actions, much less that of another. "Very well, InuYasha. The girl is under your charge. If this Sesshomaru finds she is still working for the enemy, it will be you who pays the price. She is not to be left unguarded."

"Keh! Fine."

"We have things to discuss…alone."

InuYasha nodded, and then turned to Kita. "Don't make me regret this, wolf. If you so much as take one step out of line while you're here, you'll be back on your own so fast your head will spin, if Makoto's here or not." He turned to Shippou and Tani. "Shippou, you watch her until Makoto gets back. Don't let her out of your sight, and don't let her near Usagi or Keiji." Shippou nodded and InuYasha turned back and followed Sesshomaru down the hall to a small room at the end.

The room was scarcely furnished, like the rest of the castle, with just a table littered with pens and scrolls and a few mats to sit on around its edges. There were no windows or doors other than the one they came through, and that door was secured with chain locks. Sesshomaru obviously didn't trust anyone very much these days.

"So what's all this about, baka."

Sesshomaru glared at InuYasha from the other side of the table, but spoke as stoic as ever. "There is a war going on, InuYasha. One that can destroy the mortal race in the matter of weeks. This Sesshomaru has first hand experience with the enemies leader, Haru. He is foolish, ruthless, and stubborn, and will stop at nothing to seek his revenge. Haru already has a great army of youkai ready to attack the Western Lands under my protection."

"Keh. Are you actually asking me to help you? To save humans and hanyou?" InuYasha smirked.

"This Sesshomaru needs not the help of a half-breed. I merely give you the chance to defend your pack and do your duty as the son of our father."

A/N:

Been awhile, been awhile. Yup. Anyway, things are starting to kick off. Coming up soon: Makoto's return, the beginnings of war, Kita faces a few old foes, and a whole bunch more. .; stay tuned in!