***Warning – only quickly edited so there might be more mistakes than the tons I normally make***

Chapter 29: Reunion

InuYasha had gotten tired of the guards' quiet insults and aggression. The humans might not hear them but he and Kouga sure were able to. Miroku had drilled him on how important it was to remain calm and to be civil – for Kagome's sake. It was the only thing keeping both the hot-heads in their places.

InuYasha was using the trick of counting to 10 (or in this case 100) before hitting anything that Kagome had tried to get him to use. It didn't help at first, then he started to envision a different way of killing the guards with each new number and it was working better.

Then the guards made a critical error in their verbal assault. "Look at this half-breed – I heard she was some human slut, just begging for a rut, with anyone that would have her." InuYasha was on his feet in outrage at the slander against his mother, but Miroku laid a restraining hand on his arm. "And I bet that's what that whore back there is all about, too, spreading 'em for any—"

Miroku was quick for a human – and apparently could hear quite well for one, too. He was over the low table, across the room with staff in hand and had it upside the youkai's head before InuYasha had even registered his arm was free.

"Keh. It's about freakin' time!"

InuYasha jumped to his friend's side as the rest of the guards closed in around him. He heard Kouga let out an excited whoop as he jumped to his feet and started letting out some tension through his fists. Sango added her two cents, though InuYasha was pretty sure by her controlled attacks that she hadn't heard the comment about her. There was a general consensus that they weren't trying to kill anyone, just teach them that the "rejects and misfits" could kick their as—, ahem, butts. The only two sideliners were Mushin and Jinenji. How a group of youkai overlooked an experienced monk and a seven foot tall horse hanyou was beyond InuYasha, he was just thankful for more skulls to crack.

Just about the time he and Kouga were finishing up with the last of the second wave he caught a whiff of the scent he'd been waiting for – but there was something off. It was different somehow. It was almost the same but there was some fundamental difference – it was deeper, heavier, more… powerful.

InuYasha's heart clenched as his mind processed the possibility. Subtle scent changes weren't completely unheard of, it was part of maturation, though the core scent remained unchanged the nuances developed. He had witnessed Sesshomaru's scent change slightly with the appearance of Bakusaiga. Now there were rumors everywhere that the Lord of the West was on some great training quest that was intense enough that he left the entirety of his pack in his keep.

His heart began to race with thoughts of why Sesshomaru had kidnapped Kagome, the strongest, albeit untrained, yielder of spiritual power around. He raged inside. Kagome is not a spiritual whetstone!

He felt himself start to slip into that red haze. He could feel his claws and teeth lengthen and sharpen as his cheeks began to burn along his cheekbones. He gripped the scabbard of his precious sword hard and felt it pulse. He was on the verge of attack so he dismissed the answering pulse of what he assumed was Tensaiga from the hallway.

InuYasha was prepared to glare into his half brother's eye, looking for guilt there. The figure stepped around the door frame and into the disheveled room and InuYasha wasn't looking into Sesshomaru's eyes. In fact, he was looking into any eyes, he was looking at a white-clad chest. Right color, but… He looked up another foot and his racing heart stopped cold. Right color there, too. His eyes inched up a fraction to the house symbol adorning his brow. Right… color… there… too. InuYasha took in the whole face again and his heart hammered once like a giant mallet on rock. He swayed slightly as he stared at the impossible. The impossible stared back.

The only sound in the room was labored breathing of the unconscious, injured guards. The silence stretched. And strained. And became uncomfortable, then painful. No one seemed willing to even breath.

InuYasha's brain was working overtime trying to distinguish the truth. His instincts told him one thing, but his mind couldn't wrap around it and his heart wanted to deny it. It cannot be him. I won't let it… I can't accept it… It's not possible…No.

"InuYasha?" the monk called in a very gently and bravely into the tension. He got an ear swiveled in his direction, to show that InuYasha had heard him. He waited a moment and tried again, calling his friend not with a question but a statement of understanding and an offer of support, "InuYahsa."

InuYasha turned his head away from the puzzle in front of him, to the side so he could look sidelong at the monk. He felt something in his chest ease and was thankful to his very core that he had such a true friend. He knew that most pack leaders were not flexible, but he was a hanyou and his human half knew the value of working as a team to each member's strengths; he might be alpha, but his beta was the diplomat and quick wit of the group. With his customary "Keh" he nodded his head and turned his focus forward again.

Miroku stepped up next to his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder. Miroku knew that while InuYasha would deny it vehemently he was comforted by the touch from his group and this situation warranted some subtle physical reassurance. Miroku looked at InuYasha's face, and in the burnished gold flicker of eye contact he was able to see the fear of the truth that seemed to be standing in front of them. Miroku squeezed and let go of the shoulder and looked past the red shoulders to the wolf demon standing on the other side of InuYasha. Kouga gave back begrudged affirmation. It seemed to be who it seemed to be.

Okay, then. Let's get this party started…

"Sire, shall we move to another room," he looked around, "one, perhaps, with fewer bodies and more whole pieces of furniture."

"I think I am going to like you, monk," the deep bass seemed to reverberate even with the simple pronouncement. When he spoke with authority to order a new room prepared and this one cleared everyone in the room felt it down to their bones and had to resist the compulsion to join the palace staff in cleaning up.

XXX

The air was scented with blood and there were bodies of palace guards strewn about from the brawl that the intruders had just finished. The 'delegates' hadn't escaped unscathed but they were standing, even the humans, and the well-trained youkai soldiers of the West were not.

Takeo survived the damage, not really focusing on anything in particular. They are a strong group, they much fight well together and trust each other greatly for them to finish, what… nearly a dozen of the best soldiers (at least that are still in any shape to be on guard duty), in the 15 or 20 minutes since Jaken left, with only 4 active fighters, and leaving everyone alive but in no shape to fight again today. Hot damn he is my son!

And it was then that he look, really looked at his son for the first time since the day he was born over a century ago. His heart stopped with the flood of emotions and the beast inside him went first silent, then raged with such passion that Takeo had to look away and take a few deep, shaky breaths to stop himself from howling in joy.

Our Hope! His beast roared in triumph, using the unique name that youkai hearts seem to call people, labeling them with their essence and the emotional impact. His eyes could not resist going back to that beautiful face, now filled with disbelief, distrust and just a hint of … fragile hope.

InuYasha seemed as indisposed at Takeo himself was feeling, but InuYahsa seemed to have a wonderful beta who stepped up without fear, offered comfort in an acceptable manner and smoothly flowed into the role his alpha was granting him – negotiator. The man even checked with the young wolf king before proceeding to calmly demand a new room with poise and humor.

Takeo looked in the man's eyes and knew that he wasn't focused enough for the shrewd intelligence that was peeking out. "I think I'm going to like you, monk." Not in the next hour, but for my son, for the friendship and strength you give him, for what you will face and do for his sake – for that I will probably like you a great deal.

"Prepare the Crane Room for guests. Clean up this disgraceful mess." He barked. He turned to step out of the room to make sure there was someone scurrying to follow his commands. When he turned back around he was looking at two sets of flared nostrils topped with red-shot eyes.

Takeo paused, sniffed and felt the slight breeze from the hall coming down the hall now that there were doors on either end opened to admit the flood of demons hustling to do his bidding. Very faintly he could still smell it – human blood. Kagome's blood.

XXX

It was a nice room that the Inu no Taisho had brought them to, a library of some sort with rows of shelves with cubbies filled with scrolls. Around the room there were short chairs at tables with ink stones that were obviously work spaces and a fresh breeze drifted through the open doors that led to a well kept graden, complete with walkways, a koi pond and a shiny, red lacquered bridge. A relaxing room, meant for long stays and calm contemplation. However, Miroku did not have the luxury of succumbing to the atmosphere of the Crane Room.

"About Lady Kagome…" the monk said clearly, meaning to get things rolling, and in the right direction.

The Inu no Taisho gave him a very unfriendly look that he let slide off him. Miroku saw the frustration and admiration in the General's eyes. He is honest and straight forward, like InuYahsa, which will make this easier. Miracle of miracles! I would have been screwed beyond belief if he were as impassive as Lord Sesshomaru – and that is not something I appreciate from men…

"Tea." It was both a demand to the servants and an excuse to stall longer. It could just be the youkai that he was but Miroku's instincts told him that something was off – now to determine what.

"While we await the tea service, why not get onto business." He left no room for objections, looking over at his friends as a way to avoid even seeing a gesture of forbearance. "The palace seems to be in quite a state and I am sure that there are many things that acquire your attention, not to mention multitude of things you must wish to do with this miraculous restoration you have been blessed with."

The Inu no Taisho could not help the wave of guilt that had both the canines in the room looking acutely at him. Miroku, did not miss the reactions of either side, though he would have missed it if he wasn't looking steadily into the Inu no Taisho's eyes now. So much like his son. Can't lie worth beans in the eyes. Honest eyes – the kami's gift to men of my nature!

"Yes, it has been quite eventful around here recently." It was an obvious evasion, but still there was a pause while they waited for the General to say more.

Effective tactic, say little and let your opponents fill the space, revealing their hands with even the smallest of comments, gestures and, for him, scents. Not a bad strategy. Miroku recognized mentally while suppressing a grimaced. Still, I'm at a disadvantage because I need to get information while he simply need not supply it.

"There was such a ruckus just a bit ago," a slight pause to check with the guys with noses – something but not the source of the guilt, "and now that we are here there is a great deal of damage and blood all about the place," pause - no, "and Lord Sesshomaru is nowhere to be found." Pause – something but small, not 'it'. "However, we are not here about the state of the Western Lands, we are here about our friend and companion," pause, nostrils flared – something not so small. "We know that she traveled with Lord Sesshomaru's mount westward and at Lord Sesshomaru's request." Truth but not 'it'. "We simply wish to see our friend and hear from her own lips that she wishes to be here." Almost it. "We are concerned for her safety, particularly with the strange things that have been happening here." That's it.

Kagome!

XXX

InuYasha had been traveling with Miroku for a long time now and he knew the man's dance. He could lead an unwilling partner at his own pace all day, but it rarely took him that long to get to the heart of the matter. And with an adequately distracted opponent it was brutal, and such was the case with the Ghost Lord. InuYasha saw to triumphant look on Miroku's face as he found whatever it was he was looking for morph into a look of terror.

He was standing, holding his sword in his left hand, right hand on the hilt, ready to fight at the rage that instantly overtook the look of terror. The rest of the party was right behind him; they were sure what the threat was, but they were back to back ready for it.

"Where is Lady Kagome and what strange thing have you done to her!" Miroku's voice was harsh with an anger that none of them had ever heard before. He didn't speak loud or soft, but it had an intensity that made the air spark with promised of violence and pain.

The tension in the ever calm and soothing monk was too much for the already overtaxed emotions of the hanyou. He leapt at the tall figure, dropping his sword and giving over to the fear and anger that had been burning in his heart – the old forest fire of his father's abandonment to a harsh life in a cruel world meeting the recent inferno of Kagome's abduction and his brother's betrayal.

His brain registered the flashes of emotion over his father's face – surprise, guilt, sadness, anger, love, dominance, and finally a look InuYasha had never seen, the one that closed his heart to the youkai in front of him, the look of a parent about to reprimand a naughty child. His heart denied the Dog General the authority over him, even his connection to him. He roared defiantly as he rushed forward.

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Author's Note

Thank you for everyone who has reviewed my story. I do appreciate it and it was thanks to CheshireCatGrin3421 and never3kno's recent prodding (well timed with Spring Break) that motivated me to sit down with this story again. This chapter, and possible future chapters, will be shorter so that I can keep up with my updates better. I won't even use the excuse that life is busy because I've recently come to the conclusion that it will always be busy and it's just a matter of making time here and there to squeeze in the things you want to do with the things you have to do. Here's hoping I can squeeze in some more next week.

Shout Outs to the Reviews!

Thanks CheshireCatGrin3421 & ever3kno – you were the kick in the pants that I needed (again)

Thanks Tiajei for your many reviews.

brandonlov – this is InuYasha we're talking about – when does he ever make things better? He can make them dead, but better?

darke wulf, your comments are very encouraging. Thanks for commenting so many times!