Lords of the Night

by Winterzforgotten

They called him pup as he was still a child in the eyes of his elders. Little did they know that one day he would become the great Inu no Taishō. One day his name would be spoken throughout all of Japan and everyone would know his name and it would be uttered in fear. But he was still a child, no more than 12. His power still locked away, sleeping within. This is his journey.

31. Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-one

Secrets Revealed: The Island Awaits

Heisuke gave an impulsive shudder as soon as the sun vanished behind the massive storm clouds hovering above the ship. His men sat huddled close on the deck, their eyes wide and wary as the ship lurched with the crashing waves and creaking of the wood that was weathered and old from age. He shook his head as soon as his eyes fell onto the island. "Damn." He hissed between his clenched teeth, his golden gaze taking in the muddy water and dark dreary land that sat before them.

Kazuhisa narrowed his eyes as the landmass grew larger the closer they got to it. "Make sure to cover your faces with the cloths. Without knowing for certain, that sleep mist could quite possibly be still lingering."

Kiyohira growled in annoyance. "I really detest that place." He indicated the island that was even closer now. His eyes caught a small tendril of light drifting from the storm clouds overhead and he frowned. "Look." He whispered to Kazuhisa.

The youkai nodded, his eyes also on the beam that broke through the black clouds. "Perhaps Seihomaru was correct in his assumptions?" He turned his eyes to Kiyohira with a raised brow.

The silver-haired youkai nodded. "Do you think we have gone unnoticed?"

"I presume as much. If we hadn't would they not have stopped us from our current course?" Kazuhisa muttered quietly as he watched the ship slide along the dock.

Heisuke gripped the side of the ship as it ground to a stop and swallowed. Kiyohira sniffed the air tentatively, testing for signs of the sleep mist that had rendered them all unconscious almost a year ago and then he nodded. "Looks like whatever had been cast here has now been washed away."

The guards stood and unsteadily made their way onto the docks, and Heisuke followed. Kazuhisa waited until Kiyohira stepped off then he jumped down, nodding his head. "While we are here we should gather the rest of our belongings we left behind. They were rushed when they came to get us the last time."

"I suggest we grab the histories first. I am certain Seihomaru would appreciate the other items from Kazuki's chambers too."

"Do not forget why we came here. We leave gathering our things until we depart." Kazuhisa waved his hand to the guards from Hiromoto's clan forward. "That way. Main house is near the center."

Kiyohira led the way through the now ghost town towards the large Shinden-zukuri that sat directly in front of them. Once inside they gathered a few things to start a fire. Kazuhisa closed the doors and leaned against them. "I never thought I would come back to this place."

"Me either. But looks like whatever was cast upon this place has been lifted."

Heisuke frowned. "Not fully if what you told us on the journey was true."

Kazuhisa snorted. "It was much darker than this."

Kiyohira nodded his head in agreement. "Let's grab a quick bite to eat, make sure we have enough supplies, and then we head out."

One of Heisuke's guardsmen turned to them with raised brows. "Should we not wait until it is lighter out?"

"This is as bright as it is going to get, unless the curse of the island has been eliminated." Kazuhisa mumbled.

The six males who accompanied Heisuke to the island shook their heads in astonishment. "How is anyone able to live in such dreary surroundings?" A pale haired youkai whispered, horror very evident in his voice.

Kiyohira shrugged. "I was born here, I knew no other life until Seihomaru-sama took us to the mainland."

Kazuhisa gave a faint smile. "The only ones who knew life differently would have been Ose and Kazuki."

The other guards nodded their heads, some giving impulsive shudders at the dark damp the island provided. Even with a fire started the air still gave off a chill that was almost impossible to get rid of. "So where do we go from here?" One younger guard asked curiously, holding his hands out to the fire.

Kiyohira glanced out the window and peered intently at the mountain that the small ray of light seemed to hover over. "I think we start there. Whatever is up there it is calling the focus of the sun."

Kazuhisa nodded his head, walking up behind Kiyohira. "I agree."

The five guards that had journeyed with Heisuke began moving around stuffing their smaller packs with the supplies Kazuhisa had brought with them. "When would you like to head out?"

"As soon as possible. The sooner we get the information Seihomaru-Sama needs the better." Kazuhisa gripped the hilt of his sword and cursed under his breath as the skies lit up with lightening. The earth rumbled with the intense thunder and his eyes saw the clouds swallow the beam of light. They waited about an hour waiting to see if rain would follow the thundering storm, but with no signs of water, they finally nodded and exited the building.

It didn't take them long to get together and finally they were walking up the mountain path. From what Kazuhisa remembered from his exploration with Sazashi when they were younger, there had once been a shrine near the top. He wasn't entirely certain if it was still there, but if the deity still lingered, perhaps it would hold council with them. Snorting softly, he wasn't about to hold his breath.

Kiyohira glanced at him with a raised brow. "Something amusing?"

Kazuhisa shook his head. "I remember coming up here with Sazashi when we were younger. I am only recalling the memory."

"Is that where we are headed now?"

Kazuhisa nodded. "If I remember right there should be an old shrine up near the top. It was old and battered when I was a pup so the condition it is in now I have no idea."

"Do you remember what deity was housed there?" Kiyohira questioned softly.

Kazuhisa frowned. "I think it was Konohana Sakuya Hime. The daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi."

Kiyohira snorted. "She did well keeping the spread of death from taking over the island." His eyes drifting over the dead plants in the area and the darkness that surrounded the island. Kazuhisa rolled his eyes at the sweet sarcasm from his younger counterpart.

Heisuke glanced over at them with a raised brow. "Isn't Konohana Sakuya Hime the Goddess of blossoming flowers? Her name kind of got lost among all the rest."

Kazuhisa nodded. "Hana was named after her."

"Nii's Hana?" Kiyohira grinned widely. "I suppose it makes sense seeing as she works with plants."

"What do we hope to find up there?" Heisuke questioned as he stepped over a broken log.

"Maybe some answers. I remember Kazuki telling stories of Monogachi's grand sire traveling up this side of the mountain many times. And if you look-" Kazuhisa pointed to the foot steps among the leaves. "-Someone has been up here recently."

One of Heisuke's guards knelt and fingered the visible steps that were trying to not be seen. "Small almost the size of children's."

Heisuke released a low growl. "The twins!"

Kazuhisa narrowed his eyes. "If that is any indication that we are on the right track I will take it."

"Akinari, I need you to take up the rear. If the twins are still here, we need to be on high alert." Heisuke wrinkled his nose. "I do not wish to stumble across them and engage in a fight, but if we are taken by surprise we are vulnerable."

Kazuhisa lifted his eyes to the dark storm clouds that seemed to almost thin out the higher they climbed the mountain. "I doubt the twins are still here. If anything they got here before us and got what they wanted."

"What would they be after though?" Kiyohira shivered slightly.

"The darkness that Nii spoke of." The older youkai snarled.

Kiyohira released a groan. "Fantastic."

Kazuhisa led the way to the top of the mountain stopping only for a moment before he rounded the tall protruding rock sticking out on the path. It looked more like a measure to prevent anyone from walking in that direction, but he ducked under it and then stopped, staring at the old broken wooden structure in the middle of the small circle. Heisuke glanced around them for a minute before he walked over to the waist high shrine that sat there.

"You weren't wrong about it being old." Heisuke whispered softly.

Kazuhisa knelt down beside it and brushed off a few dead leaves and picked up a piece of the broken framework. His fingers brushed over the many webs that covered the structure and he sighed softly. As soon as his breathe touched the shrine a soft blue glow lit the wood and the ground it sat upon. Immediately, Kazuhisa pulled his hand back and he stood up. Kiyohira stepped back and pulled his sword free a low growl erupting from his mouth.

Kazuhisa shook his head his eyes fixated on a ghostly figure that materialized from beside the building, taking on the form of a beautiful female. No one moved as she took on a full form of a human woman, long black hair brushing the backs of her ankles, deep brown eyes shimmering brightly. Her skin was pale and yet almost glowing.

"By the Gods." Kiyohira whispered softly, not entirely sure what it was that he was seeing.

The female smiled brilliantly in response, glancing at him. The earth beneath their feet rumbled slightly as she stepped forward the pale robes around her figure flowing in the slight breeze. "What brings youkai to this cursed place?" Her voice seemed to echo through the area, soft and almost reverberating against the rocks surrounding them.

Kazuhisa's eyes fell onto the ground where her feet stepped and his mouth dropped open in shock and surprise. As she stepped and lifted her feet, green and signs of life immediately sprouted and once again flourished, almost as though the small plants around the shrine felt the aura, they seemed to stretch out for her, as if begging for her touch.

Heisuke just stared at the female his voice lost and his breath almost stolen from the sheer beauty of almost perfection. The amusement in her eyes as the youkai looked at her made her smile even wider. "Have you come to take my nightmare away?"

Kiyohira blinked and swallowed. "Your nightmare?" Finally shaken from the spell that had seemed to take over him briefly.

"The youkai who cursed this place. If you have you arrived too late to take this nightmare." She looked at the silver-haired youkai gently. "You are the children of Tsukuyomi no Mikoto and Komainu. Yet some of you seem to be of the Yama-inu line."

The youkai glanced at one another confused and at a loss.

Her eyes danced with humor. "Were you not aware? How interesting." She paused at peered closely at Kazuhisa before she tilted her head slightly. "You have been infused with the power of the mountains. The power from my father's line."

Kazuhisa furrowed his brow. "I don't understand."

"Surely you are not dense. For youkai you seem young and rather unintelligent." She sighed and lifted her hand above the foliage close to her. "You house the power to use the earth, rocks and the ability to move mountains. Surely you are aware of your talents."

"I know what I am capable of doing." Kazuhisa grunted.

Her eyes lingered on his for a moment. "Your brother in all but blood also houses this power." She smiled. "So do tell me why youkai have come to my insignificant shrine?"

"To find out about the curse that has riddled the island for centuries." Kazuhisa muttered.

Her eyes moved to his as her hand continued to hover over the dead objects around the immediate area, most instantly reviving and beginning to flourish. "This island was cursed by the darkness from within the shadows. Surely you know of it as it was one of your own who was touched by this evil."

"Genjiro?" Kiyohira frowned. "Or was it Chijimatsu?"

She shook her head. "Neither. Both attempted to stop the darkness that was released from within the shadows. Both were touched and both were taken by the promise." The female smiled. "It was released and attached itself to me, and I was lost in darkness for such a long time. Then those two came to eradicate it and lost the battle. It was before their time when this darkness was released from within the shadows."

Kiyohira and Kazuhisa glanced at one another and nodded, some of their suspicions satisfied. "What else can you tell us?"

"Now that I am free, I can cleanse this island and make it habitable once again. There was only a portion of it within me, and those two who let it loose upon the world have taken it for their own."

"Seiya and Seizou." Kiyohira snarled furiously.

The female Goddess nodded. "They had been touched by it many years ago, I suppose it blackened their hearts. They used to come up here and pray to me whenever they were on the island."

"So they took it from you?" Kazuhisa shared a look with Heisuke.

The Goddess nodded her head. "I am now free from the nightmare. It is a dangerous being and only one who has lived within the shadows will understand what it is. Only one of the celestial house can reveal what its true form is." She paused and put her finger to her chin. "Yet with so few left alive, this will be almost impossible to do."

"You are talking about the eclipse youkai?" Kazuhisa sucked his breath in sharply.

"More the sentient being within one. The children of the Gods." She smiled peering at the youkai in front of her in amusement. "There were only a handful alive before the nightmare overwhelmed me, and now there are less."

Kiyohira shook his head. "Do you know how many? How can they assist in defeating this shadow?"

"Defeat? Oh dear. This shadow cannot be defeated by just anyone. If the two girls have it now then they have merged it as one with the other parts of it that had not attached itself to me. This is not a foe you can walk up to and defeat." She walked over to Kiyohira and patted his cheek. "You will need the aid of the shadow youkai, the Enenra. Alas he has been missing for so many years, and only the pure of heart will be able to see him."

"So why are the twins after Seihomaru-sama's life? Would it not make more sense for them to kill off the eclipse youkai or this Enenra?" Kazuhisa furrowed his brow.

"They were counting on many things but I suppose they were not anticipating the youths real father to intervene. They were also not taking into account just how powerful this little youkai will become. His inner spirit is strong and an ancient, he is a direct descendant of a God and with that power comes a life of danger. That little youkai has no idea just what is possible now that the two of them have become one." She placed her hands on her knees as she bent over her small shrine.

"You are talking about Seihomaru-sama's youki?"

Konohana Sakuya Hime nodded her head with a smile on her lips. "They have something far more sinister planned for him and it will test him to the limits if it ever comes to pass. An eclipse youkai is not something to take lightly either. Probably why most of them have already been killed. I can only detect three left alive. The Enenra is born of a God and should not actually be left alive but he has managed it somehow. With the little youkai growing at such a rapid rate, his inner spirit will continue to grow also and discover new things he can unlock that no other sentient being has been able to unlock before." Konohana Sakuya Hime stood up and dusted her hands on her robes. "Discover your talents and abilities that were handed to you by the Gods themselves and become what we intended you to be."

"And what is that exactly?"

"Beings who were meant to walk the earth with humans. Guardians and protectors of those weaker. Channel your infused souls with that power and live." She smiled and looked over the edge of the mountain with a sigh. "I have so much work to do to cleanse what those little girls released. It is a shame that they forgot who they were and fell into darkness, they could have been so much more had they stayed true to themselves and their hearts. The promise of power was so great it led them astray."

"This evil shade that the twins now have is gone from the island fully?" Kiyohira questioned quickly before the woman vanished.

"It is, there are no traces of it left. There is only one piece left roaming the earth and the little girls are in search of it." The Goddess smiled. "It is hunting for the ones responsible for its release and it somehow has been warped into believing that it was that darling little youkai. Such a shame that his life will be one of torment and misery."

Kazuhisa snarled sharply. "Not if we can help it." He declared firmly.

The Goddess smiled. "You will not be around to assist, I am afraid."

The chill of those words left his blood frozen and he gasped softly. "Are you saying that I die?"

"Death would be better than what the little girls have planned for your kind."

Kiyohira shivered. "What can we expect?"

"Darkness and fear, shadows and the promise of death that will never come." The Goddess sighed and shook her head. "There is only one way to break it if it should fall upon your people."

They waited for a moment staring at her.

"You need to find the spirits who were born of the Gods and infused with that power to come together and work as one. Right now there are two, then you need to find the Enenra who has met one of those spirits as it used to host it."

Kiyohira shook his head his eyes on the ground staring at the dark dried mud and new life that was started to filter through it. His heart felt heavy after the news and he shivered again at the information. "Is the bigger threat the twins, or is it this shade?"

"Now that the shadow has infested the girls both are a threat. Keep your young leader safe and away from their prying eyes. At least for now. If the girls find the more malevolent portion of this shade then you will have no other choice but to face them."

"How do we find this shade?"

"The question you should be asking is where do you find Enenra." The Goddess smiled brilliantly. "The Enenra is a shadow youkai who can assist in weakening this shade. Do not allow either to fuse together or you will have an even bigger threat on your hands. The shadow youkai is able to see the shade but he is born from the gods of destruction. His soul is fused with the powers of hell and born from the same beings that dragons are born from. If either merge as one then there will be no stopping it."

Kazuhisa shared a look with Kiyohira before they glanced at the Goddess.

"His last known location was on the mainland in the Northern region. If he still lives he will reside near the Yuki Onna."

Heisuke nodded. "I know of them, and where they reside."

"Your ability to tap into the earth's elements will assist you in the future." She glanced at Heisuke with humor in her eyes. "You will be tested and your strength will determine what happens in your life."

Heisuke furrowed his brow sharing a look with the other six guards he had traveled to the island with. Glancing over to the Goddess he stepped forward. "This Enenra-" He paused for a moment. "-You stated that he was the host of one of the eclipse youki from the celestial house, do you know who?"

The Goddess shook her head. "Very simple to find out, however, seeing as there are only three alive today. Such a shame that they have such short lives. They are such remarkable beings and have so much promise."

Heisuke frowned. "How is it that this enenra is even alive if his youki has already been matched with another host? How can he benefit the group at all?"

Kiyohira had a confused look on his face. "If Enenra is a shadow youkai how is he a former host to a celestial youki from the eclipse youkai?"

"The Enenra was born to be something else, an eclipse youkai, but he was the one who delved too far into the shadow realm and crossed the boundaries that were set in place by the Gods to prevent such evil from being released upon the world. It is quite possible that his former youki has no recollection of his host, however. I do know that once the Enenra passed over the threshold his youki was prevented from following and thus was lost for many centuries within the shadow realm. Then the Gods found another to fuse him with." The Goddess glanced around the small circle and sighed. "I must go and begin my work. Many things will come to light once you have found the celestial being. He may not remember the incident but there is always hope." She smiled and her form wavered before it vanished, leaving them standing there just as lost and confused as they had been prior to arriving.

Kazuhisa growled in frustration. "We got some answers, but now where do we go from here?"

Heisuke shook his head. "I know of only one eclipse youkai, I suggest we go talk with him."

Kiyohira breathed. "Nii."

Heisuke nodded. "If it was his youki who was once hosted by this enenra perhaps we are well on our way to finding out more."

"If he remembers the incident." Kazuhisa sighed.

"I have never heard of any youki not remembering their past. They hold more answers than we like to admit, but we never go so far as to question them about their full knowledge of things." Heisuke grunted.

"Maybe it is time that we start." Kiyohira shrugged, his own youki muttering to him softly about the news they had just heard.

'This is dangerous territory you seek answers to.'

'How dangerous?'

His youki didn't answer and Kiyohira rolled his eyes. 'Always so elusive with answers.'

His youki smirked. 'What did you expect?'

'Maybe you can at least give me your thoughts on this whole turn of events. This puts everyone at risk, not only me but my daughter also.' Kiyohira mumbled.

'Did you forget that it also puts Naoki at risk?'

'I have not forgotten. So tell me.'

'All I can say is that this shade as you have labeled it as is from a realm none of us are permitted to enter. Those boundaries were set in place for a reason. If one who crossed it managed to come out it brought this thing with them. That means that somewhere a rift has been opened, a tear that needs to be sealed. This thing that wanders the earth now is in search of the one who released it, either to mend that tear, or to infest it and use it. For what purpose I do not have an answer.' Mau grunted.

'How do you know about it?' Kiyohira asked, following the others down the mountain.

'I can only assume that all youki know about it. I have never crossed into the shadows so I do not know if what I know is fact. Best if you ask your young lord. If what being said is true then his ancient youki will know more about it. It is possible that Nii's youki also knows seeing as he is in the shadows because that is who he is.' Mau snorted.

'Unfortunately we are nowhere close to their locations.' Kiyohira sighed glancing around their old abandoned home. His eyes drifted over to the hut he had shared with Naoki before and started moving towards it. He wasn't sure if everything that had been left behind was still there, but maybe by some small miracle it was. Pushing aside the old hanging door, he walked over to the shelf that sat against the far wall and moved it aside. Everything looked intact, so kneeling where the shelf had been, he lifted an old wooden plank and smiled when the contents below the floor were still there. Pulling the carefully wrapped bundle out, he opened it and stared at the heirlooms left behind by his family.

His youki whistled softly. 'I didn't know you had kept those.'

'Really?' Kiyohira snorted. 'How could you not know with you being in my head for all these years.'

His youki snarled softly. 'That may be, but that doesn't mean I invade all your thoughts. I do give you some privacy.'

'Right!' Kiyohira rolled his eyes. He fingered the old blade that his brother had had and placed it aside before he pulled out the small talisman his mother used to carry on her. It was old and worn, but the gem still gleamed in the faint light that now lingered through the tattered coverings over the windows. 'I will be happy once we are in the sun once again.'

A slight movement behind him caused him to lift his head and he stared at Kazuhisa for a moment. "Time to go?"

The older youkai nodded. "Gather what you wish to take with you and meet us back at the ship. I have already gathered the scrolls and a few items from Kazuki's chambers."

"Did you gather anything from your home?"

Kazuhisa rolled his eyes. "There was nothing of importance here. I did get a few things from the other huts and some from Shigeo's home too."

"Nii will appreciate that." Kiyohira nodded, shouldering the bag.

"Aina too." Kazuhisa followed the younger youkai out of the door and glanced around before moving in the direction of the ship. "I suppose now that this thing has left the island life will flourish again."

Kiyohira nodded. "Biggest issue is, if it has been taken to the mainland will it now be cast into darkness? Or is that only if it is loose upon the world?"

"I have no answers. Only my suspicions. The Goddess was infected by it which resulted in her unable to cast life anywhere. Now that she has been released she now is able to cast her magic and cleanse the damage."

"But who has been keeping it off the mainland? Are there other Gods and Goddesses who are able to bring life?"

Kazuhisa shrugged. "No idea. But that is my assumption."

Heisuke joined them just before they reached the docks. "Have we gotten everything we came here for?"

"I think so. We got as many answers as we could." Kazuhisa muttered throwing the large pack onto the deck of the ship.

"Hopefully we can find more answers as soon as we get back to the Shinden-zukuri." Kiyohira launched himself over the edge and landed on the deck. "Will you be joining us or headed back home?"

Heisuke leaned against the railing looking at the island. "We will accompany you to the Shinden-zukuri. I will have to send news to Hiromoto regarding what we have discovered, but I can send Raika with a letter."

Kiyohira untied the ship and Kazuhisa lifted the sails allowing the current breeze to push them away from the docks. Due to the breeze being far less than when they first arrived the waters churned less allowing the ship to move over the water gently. The two guards nodded as soon as they cleared the island docks and moved back to where the other seven members from Hiromoto's clan stood.

Heisuke smiled his eyes moving away from the dreary island. "I don't think I will ever return to this place."

Akinari snorted. "Me either. I don't know what I would do without the constant glow of the moon or the brilliant sunshine."

"Not to mention the green and plants."

Heisuke nodded. "What did you do for food? I didn't see any life on the island."

Kiyohira shrugged. "We grew our own. Yani kept boars penned up and a few women tended to poultry. Mainly ate rice and eggs with bits of meat."

Heisuke stuck his tongue out. "Interesting."

Kazuhisa smirked. "It kept us alive."

They sailed in silence for the better part of the journey their eyes watchful and wary as the skies finally cleared and they breathed a sigh of relief. The sun cleared the dark clouds and washed over them as though knowing that they had been without for the few short days on the darkened island.

"I will never tire of that." Kiyohira smiled his eyes moving up to where the clouds now seemed to diminish.

"Should be another few hours before we dock, so get some rest before hand. Two weeks and we will be back at the Shinden-zukuri and we can inform them of our findings." Kazuhisa nudged his chin in the direction of the lower deck.

"Do you think Seihomaru has returned?" Kiyohira glanced at the older youkai curiously.

"Perhaps. If he hasn't we inform Nii of what we found." Kazuhisa muttered softly.

Heisuke lifted a brow. "Nii? Was he promoted?"

The two guards nodded. "Seihomaru's eyes and ears. He runs things when our lord is not around."

Akinari and Heisuke's mouths formed o's in surprise. Both were aware of who Nii was and his abilities and just how young he was. "Astounding for someone so young." Akinari commented, awe apparent in his voice.

"Indeed." Kazuhisa smiled.

Heisuke sighed. "Alright, go rest up. I will stay on watch and-"

Kazuhisa's head lifted suddenly and his eyes moved toward the mainland with raised brows. "Oh!" He exclaimed.

All heads turned towards him.

"Seihomaru is in the area." He grinned tapping his head. "I can hear Sazashi."

"You know he dropped the shi from his name long ago, don't you?" Kiyohira snorted.

Kazuhisa rolled his eyes. "It is his adult name. I don't know why he resorted back to his childhood name, but I think it's ridiculous."

'Shut up, Baka.' Saza's voice echoed in his head.

'It's true.' Kazuhisa snickered. His eyes fell onto the shadowy forms of their comrades on the mainland and he lifted his hand in greeting. 'How did the exploration go?'

'It went well. Seihomaru has a large territory to oversee, much larger than we first anticipated.' Saza muttered. 'He wants to build a sankin kotai for when we do go thru the region to make sure everything remains secure.'

'Makes sense.' Kazuhisa grinned. 'We should hit land in a couple hours. Will you be staying and waiting for us?'

'Hai. Seihomaru and Shinzou have already gone on a hunt for some food and Kiya and myself are setting up camp. Did you find anything useful on the island?' Saza asked curiously.

'We did, although I am not certain the news will bring any enlightenment or relief.' Kazuhisa leaned against the rail and stared over the glittering ocean waters.

'Hold off on saying anything until we get back into Seihomaru's private room.'

'Hai.' Kazuhisa waved for Heisuke and Kiyohira to go below and rest before they made landfall.

Saza turned away from the small shape of the ship on the water and stared at Kiya and Eiichi as they moved around the small clearing behind him. The wooden lean-to's that the two built were sturdy and ready for their comrades and he nodded in satisfaction. "They should be here in an hour or two. Go meet them and assist with their belongings." He instructed Eiichi who immediately headed to the ocean.

Just as Eiichi left the clearing, Seihomaru and Shinzou returned with a large boar. Immediately they began gutting it and setting aside large portions for their meal. "Did you speak with Kazuhisa?" Seihomaru asked, taking a drink of water before he stood and joined his commander.

Saza nodded. "They will be here soon." His eyes fell onto Kiya and he nodded to the young guard indicating him to go gather firewood. Without any words passing their lips, Kiya exited the clearing quickly as though knowing exactly what was expected of him.

"Any news?"

Saza nodded and placed his finger to his lips. "If we are being watched as we suspect, it would do us no good to mention anything until we reach the Shinden-zukuri."

Seihomaru nodded in agreement. "Indeed."

"I am certain that whatever they found out will hold some importance." His eyes drifted over to the growing shape of the ship that was moving to where they had hidden it almost a year ago. "Your fourteenth year day is fast approaching."

Seihomaru rolled his eyes. "Why is mine the only one that is being tracked? When was yours?"

Shinzou smirked. "I don't keep track anymore. Most of us don't because it isn't important."

Saza nodded. "Until you reach a hundred the day seems important, but after that we are thankful to live another day."

"Oh?"

Shinzou nodded. "After a hundred years you are considered a full grown male who can take care of yourself and any family. No longer having to rely on anyone for protection or advice. For you, because you are our lord and commander, we protect you more fiercely than even our own pups."

"Ridiculous." Seihomaru snorted. "Do not put me so high or important to the point of not showing that same diligence with your own families. That is an order."

Saza and Shinzou glanced at once another for a moment before they nodded in understanding. "You are just as important to us, Seihomaru." Saza grunted.

"With him in my head, I am quite capable of taking care of things. I am also not stupid enough to place myself in a situation where I will be overwhelmed. Treat me as you would any other fellow guard."

Kiya chuckled coming back into the camp having overheard the conversation. "If you were like any other guard. Whether you wish to acknowledge it or not you hold an air about you that signals a no questions asked aura. Once you give a command we follow it."

"I want to be treated as anyone else. Not in such high regard, please. At least not when we are together. If you insist on doing so, do it when we are not with our own people." Seihomaru rolled his eyes.

"Fair enough." Saza nodded, followed by the nods from the other two. With a grin he waved to the fire pit Kiya was working on building. "If that is the case, then you can assist Kiya in starting a fire."

Seihomaru smirked. "Jackass." He turned and listened intently as Kiya instructed how to get the fire going and he was quite happy with himself at creating a nice spark that flew onto the tinder that was there. Brushing his hands, he grinned sitting back on his heels.

Kiya nodded his head and placed larger kindling to it and soon it was roaring nicely. "Good job." The shadow guard nodded.

'Indeed.' Taizo commented.

'Oh you are still here.' Seihomaru snorted to his youki.

'Was I not suppose to be?'

'You were quiet for so long I thought you had gotten lost.' Seihomaru sniffed indignantly.

'...'

'It could happen.'

'Right!' Taizo muttered sarcastically. 'I have been here, listening and sorting through all the information you had come across.'

'Thoughts?'

'We will discuss them after.' Taizo muttered. 'With the assumption that the twins are listening to your thoughts, it would be best to hold off on any discussions until we return to your private chambers.'

Seihomaru furrowed his brow but nodded his head. 'So what now?'

'We go back and listen to what they have discovered.' Taizo smirked.

Seihomaru sighed and sat back on his heels as he watched Kazuhisa and the others come into their camp. Immediately, Saza grinned and gripped his friends hand in welcome. "Good to see you intact."

Kazuhisa smiled and nodded. "Why are you all here?"

"We were in the area and I could hear your thoughts." Saza grinned broadly. "You are not particularly quiet when you start thinking."

Kazuhisa narrowed his eyes. "Gee thanks."

They walked over to the roaring fire and Seihomaru handed them each some meat from the boar. Water was passed around and Kiya finally got up and stretched. "Are we leaving when night hits? Or will we be staying?"

Seihomaru glanced at him and shook his head. "We leave as soon as the sun sets. I want to get back to the Shinden-zukuri and listen to everything."

With everyone into agreement, they quickly ate their meal and after several hours when the sun had finally set they gathered their belongings and readied to head in the direction of the Shinden-zukuri. They all knew it would take them weeks to get back into the area where they had built the Shinden-zukuri and Seihomaru was anxious the entire trip, almost as though a sense of dread kept his mind occupied.

Taizo could hear all the frazzled thoughts on his hosts mind and he sighed softly as he sat on the small island that housed the tree of life. The uneasiness that flooded the pools were enough to cause ripples in the water and the earth under him to vibrate uneasily. 'Seiho, relax.' He muttered, his hand on the ground beside him, feeling the rumbling.

'I only want to hear what was discovered.'

'You are uneasy about something.' Taizo snorted, pushing to his feet and placing his hand on the tree. 'I can feel it.' He could hear random thoughts but nothing specific and now he was curious as to why he couldn't pin point the exact cause.

Seiho sighed. 'I will be taking rest tonight when we stop, we can talk then.'

Taizo raised a brow. He could understand the hesitation on speaking anything out loud, but they were spirit and host, so anyone overhearing anything that they said should not be a concern. The fact that his host was so good at hiding what his thoughts were even to him was concerning. It was very similar to Kazuki when he didn't want anyone including himself to know exactly what he was thinking. Frowning, Taizo went to the tree and rifled through all the barriers that had been set in place shortly after they had completed their full bond. The one he discovered was one that he had not been aware of and yet it was there, as faint as it was.

'Why do you hide your thoughts?' Taizo questioned uneasily.

'I do not want anyone to know.' Seihomaru's voice echoed in the area.

'The twins cannot hear what we say.'

'Are you certain of that? Or is that merely a guess.'

'I cannot be a hundred percent certain, but-'

'Then we speak when I rest.' Seihomaru stated firmly, cutting Taizo off.

Taizo furrowed his brow and sighed lowering his hand from the tree. 'Very well.' For some reason, the silence was stifling. He was used to long periods of it and yet this felt very wrong. He silently wondered if he had somehow missed something and it had been right in front of him, something to indicate that he had somehow led his host astray and yet as he frantically scrambled through his thoughts, he could think of nothing that would signal concern. Was the stress of the whole situation too much for his young host? Shaking his head, he growled in frustration.

Had he pushed too hard when it had come down to his future mate? Was his host unhappy with how things were playing out and he was somehow the cause of all the uncertainty? With a swallow, he paced back and forth on the small island, searching and wracking his brain for any indication. When Seihomaru entered the pools, the look of wariness and uneasiness very evident on his face, Taizo stopped pacing and shivered.

Seihomaru walked over and sat down beside the tree. "You kept me distracted the whole time with your constant worry."

Taizo remained rooted where he was.

"I suppose it was a good thing though, the more I felt your uneasiness the more my head was preoccupied with that rather than with the news that I fear we will hear as soon as we get home." Seihomaru glanced at Taizo who had yet to move an inch. "What's wrong?"

Taizo swallowed. 'Past fears haunting me.'

"Tell me." Seihomaru smiled softly.

Taizo shook his head. 'I do not like to think about it. The fact that you have placed a barrier up to prevent me from hearing your thoughts is disturbing to me.'

"I just don't want the twins to invade my thoughts, Taizo. The last thing we need is for them to know exactly what we are doing. This isn't a permanent thing." Seihomaru waved his hand insisting that Taizo sit.

Taizo shuddered. 'Regardless, with my not knowing your thoughts, I cannot do my task properly.'

Seihomaru nodded. "So you want me to drop the barrier?"

Taizo nodded. 'I do not like it. I can feel the sense of dread and fear, but I do not know where that is coming from.'

Seihomaru chuckled. "Fair enough. Although, I am not sure how to drop it."

Taizo peered at him. 'You put it up without knowing how to take it down?' With a grunt, he walked over to the tree and placed his hand on it. As soon as he felt the barrier he pushed.

Seihomaru flinched from the slight pressure in his head. "Ow."

'You putting up barriers such as this and my having to take them down is painful. Talk to me first before placing another. My taking this one down is going to give you an ache in the head, much like indulging in too much wine.' Taizo snarled, pushing against the barrier again. He felt it crack and Seihomaru grit his teeth against the sharp pain that exploded in his head.

"Oh, Gods!" Seihomaru cursed, it was as though someone rammed him in the head with the hilt of a sword. His stomach flipped and he clenched his eyes shut as the pressure built to an almost unimaginable force. "It feels like you're tearing me apart inside!"

Taizo nodded his head sadly. 'This is going to hurt.' He apologized before he shoved the barrier out.

Seihomaru flinched violently and fell back against the dry earth and he curled up into a tight ball trying to stop his body from twitching. It felt as though his head was about to explode and he snarled softly.

Taizo knelt beside him and placed his hand on his head gently. 'Shh. It is over.' He ran his hand over Seihomaru's eyes and whispered softly, urging the power within him to fill his young host. 'Please don't do anything like that again. If you wish for me not hearing your thoughts tell me, I will respect that and close off things from here. I control this place, not you.'

Seihomaru refused to open his eyes as his head thudded from the sharp ache that throbbed behind his eyes. "Didn't know." He grunted between clenched teeth. With a gasp, he jolted up and quickly expelled his meal onto the earth beside him. With a loud groan, he flopped back down, but he didn't fall onto the hard earth. Instead, he fell into Taizo's waiting arms and he felt his youki wrap warm arms around him, cradling his head in his lap.

'Now you do.' Taizo whispered, running his fingers through his host's hair. With a sigh, he watched his host struggle with the pain his body shuddering as though from the cold. 'This will make you ill when you wake.'

Seihomaru shivered uncontrollably. "I was already ill." He indicated the remnants of his meal.

Taizo rolled his eyes. 'I mean this will cause you to fall ill.' His eyes landed on the stomach content and he grunted. 'You will most likely feel overly heated and suffer chills and bouts of that.' He waved his hand at the gooey mess on the ground.

Seihomaru groaned. "I hate you right now."

Taizo smiled. 'I know, but you brought this on yourself. I only took down the barrier you placed without first consulting me or not knowing what the consequences would be.'

Seihomaru opened his eyes which were glassy and unfocused. "How long does this last?"

'I do not know. Never had a host put up barriers such as that before. Your father only placed me into a sleep.' Taizo sighed. 'Have you ever been ill before?'

Seihomaru closed his eyes and he nodded his head slowly. "Once, I don't really remember it though."

'I can only presume then on how long you will feel this way.' Taizo grunted.

Seihomaru shot up again and lurched when his stomach tightened. With a loud groan, he leaned away from Taizo and heaved in loud bouts of air as his body convulsed with more sickness. Shuddering once he had released more stomach contents, he fell back into Taizo's waiting arms. "You don't feel any of this?"

Taizo grinned. 'I feel what you feel, although I am only a spirit so it doesn't affect me the same way.'

"I really hate you."

Taizo gently patted his head with a soft chuckle. 'Sleep.' He whispered softly.

Kazuhisa glanced over at Seihomaru for a moment when he groaned and he shared a brief look with Saza. "He got pale suddenly."

Saza nodded his head, his eyes watching Seihomaru closely. He lifted his hand and placed it on his forehead and put his other hand on Seihomaru's. "He's hot to the touch."

Kiyohira walked over and peered down at their young lord. "Did he fall ill?"

Saza nodded. "Appears that way."

Kiya snorted. "My mother always said that you feed the cold, starve the fever."

The youkai stared at the young guard. "Oh?"

Kiya nodded and placed his fur over Seihomaru and shrugged. "That is just what she said."

Kazuhisa grunted. "So now what?"

Heisuke knelt down beside Seihomaru. "We need to get him to shelter. Out in this cold will only worsen the sickness."

"There is no shelter around here." Saza protested.

Kiyohira gave a heavy breath. "We need to find something."

Kiya stood up and glanced around him for a moment. "Keep him warm and I will go look for something to shelter us from the wind. For now pull the lean-to's over to keep the wind off him." He glanced up at the dark sky. "The weather doesn't appear to be improving, but having gotten sick myself in the past I know that the slightest chill will make it worse."

Saza raised a brow but nodded his head. He watched as Kiya darted out of the small clearing and then his eyes went back to Seihomaru who shivered against the slight breeze. Grunting, he unclasped his fur and placed that over the young lord. "Bring the structures over."

Shinzou dragged one and Eiichi grabbed the other one, situating them close to Seihomaru's shuddering form and attempting to keep the frigid wind off him. With a frown, Shinzou placed his hand on Seihomaru's forehead and he lifted worry filled eyes to Saza's. "Mahiro got sick last year and it was rough. Hopefully, Kiya can find something to use as shelter."

Saza nodded his head in agreement. "This will delay our return to the Shinden-zukuri."

The hour seemed to linger on far too long by the time Kiya came back into their camp and all eyes moved to him. "Unless we wish to swarm a human house, we are out of luck. There isn't even a cave in the area."

Kazuhisa growled sharply. "Then we go to this human house."

Saza's eyes turned to his shocked. "You can't be serious."

"What other option is there?" Kazuhisa narrowed his eyes. "Look at him, he is worsening by the minute we linger here."

"Bloody hells. Two more years. He couldn't have waited until his body had formed a tolerance for the climate, instead, he insisted on trudging in the cold for this shit." Saza snarled and stood up. "Use one of the lean-to's to carry him and make sure no part of him is exposed to the wind."

Shinzou and Eiichi began moving the poles from the lean-to for a makeshift stretcher. Heisuke and Akinari undid the clasps on their furs and placed them onto the stretcher first before Kiyohira and Kazuhisa moved Seihomaru onto it. As quickly as they could they covered him with more fur and lifted him, following Kiya. "How far is this human hut?"

"Not too far, about two miles." Kiya grumbled. "I am certain the humans will not be happy about this."

Saza snarled. "No kidding."

One of Heisuke's guards placed his hand on his hilt. "I am certain we can sway them to agree with our terms."

Saza shook his head. "No bloodshed if we can help it. Kiya is less threatening than we are, so you will speak with them."

Kiya blinked stupidly at him. "You can't be serious. I have never spoken to a human before."

"It's easy, open your mouth and speak." Saza curled his lip irritated over the whole situation. "Now go."

Kiya ground his teeth together but did as he was told. Running in the direction the human house was, he made it in less time than he first thought. Nervously, he walked up to the house. Giving a quick tap on the wooden frame, he waited as movement from inside indicated someone approaching. The curtain moved to the side and the small child looked up.

A man came to the door next and pulled the boy inside. His eyes widened fearfully and Kiya quickly held up his hands. "Please wait." He said slowly.

The human swallowed fearfully but nodded his head. "What does a youkai want here?"

"I am not here for any ill purpose. Only that we are seeking shelter from the cold. We have a sick party member and we have need of your hut." Kiya muttered, his eyes glancing over his shoulder to see where the others were.

"What makes you think we care what happens to youkai?" The human man spat.

"Care or not, we are entering the establishment. I am giving you a chance to do so willingly." Kiya muttered. "It would be in your best interest to do so without complaint."

The man frowned and peered past Kiya but he didn't see anything in the darkness. His eyes landed on Kiya's golden ones curiously. "Why not kill us and take the house?"

"We do not wish for bloodshed. Besides our Lord would be rather upset if we did." Kiya sighed. "Please, we will only stay until he has rid himself of this illness and then be on our way."

A woman appeared behind the man and she scolded her husband. "I will set up a place for you to put him near the fire." She pulled her husband into the hut and spoke softly with him. "This might be to our benefit."

"How do you figure?" The man questioned angrily.

"If we ever need anything, this might help us. I know they are youkai, but if we help them then they will not try to kill us after."

"Since when do youkai ever hold up their end of the bargain? I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't kill us just to take our house." The man muttered.

"Look they sent one to speak with us first. Sure they are merciless killers, but having a youkai on our side can be useful. Especially seeing as the bandits are running rampant this year. Because of this cold, they are taking anything. I would rather help a youkai than those damn vagrants that have taken up with the outlaws." The woman insisted.

Kiya rolled his eyes. With a quick wave, he motioned for Saza as soon as they came into sight. Holding the cloth cover aside, he waved his companions inside. The man and woman stepped back and pulled their small children behind them. Despite her earlier words, the woman was now emitting terror and hesitation.

Shaking herself out of her fear, the woman waved over to the roaring fire in the middle of the room. "P-put him there." She waved her hand her eyes falling onto Seihomaru when he came into view. She gasped softly at how pale he was and the beads of sweat that covered his forehead. Almost instinctively she rushed into the room she shared with her husband and gathered a few things she used when her children were ill. Coming out of the room, her eyes fell onto the heavily armed youkai that filled her small hut.

Kiya crouched beside Seihomaru and he felt his forehead briefly. His eyes landed on the woman and he nodded at her. "What is your name?"

"Maori. This is my husband Renji." She knelt down and felt the boys forehead. "How long has he been sick?"

"Not long. It came on him quickly." Shinzou muttered wrinkling his nose from the smells that were in the room. The air was somewhat stale and musty but with smells of fresh baked goods and hot soup.

Saza stepped forward and gripped her wrist when she made to pour some of the liquid from the vial into a cup. She froze. "What is that?" He snarled.

Kazuhisa stepped forward and pulled Saza back. "Easy. She has young of her own, she probably uses that concoction for them when they are ill."

Maori nodded. "It helps reduce fever." Her hand trembled slightly. Never in her life had she been touched by a youkai but despite what everyone saying about them being cold and heartless, these males in her hut now held concern and worry. The male's hands were warm and strong. "What are your names?"

Kiya lifted his head. "I am Kiya, this here is Seihomaru."

Saza grunted but allowed himself to be moved over by Heisuke. Shinzou watched everything the woman did and made a note of it. "What is that that you are using?"

"It is a mix of fish oils and various plants and herbs. Some roots mixed together. It tastes terrible, but it cures sickness very effectively." She waved for her daughter to bring over the basin of water and she soaked a cloth and wrung it out. Folding it she placed it onto Seihomaru's head and sat back on her heels. "Now all we can do is wait."

Renji scoffed not at all comfortable with the situation and he kept his son with him. Kazuhisa shook his head and glanced over at the fire curiously, noticing that the wood supply was low. With a faint whistle, he pulled Saza and Kiyohira outside with him. Eiichi sat against the wall of the hut and pulled his knees up to rest his arms on them. Silently, he watched.

Heisuke stood uncomfortably beside the door, and his four guardsmen stood outside, minus Akinari who had assisted in carrying the stretcher. Leaning over he whispered to his companion. "Keep your eyes open for anything out of place. Knowing the others, they will not enter, so I will post them outside to watch for signs of danger."

Akinari nodded his head. Without another word, Heisuke went outside to speak with the four guards and Seihomaru's immediate guards outside. Knowing that Shinzou and Kiya would stay close to Seihomaru, and Eiichi and Akinari inside, nothing should happen.

Shinzou glanced over at the male of the house then his eyes fell onto the young boy. With a grin, he reached into his bag and pulled out a small toy he had made for his son. Holding it out for the boy, he almost frowned when the man almost stopped the child, instead, he held himself back and allowed the child to move forward.

The boy who was no more than four or five years of age reached out for the toy and turned it in his hands curiously for a few moments. Shinzou laughed lightly and held out his hand for it to show the boy. Instantly the boy's eyes locked onto his hand and gripped them more focused on them than the toy. With a raised brow, Shinzou watched as the boy flipped his hand over to peer more at the claws and markings around his wrist. The boy glanced up at Shinzou with a wide open mouth.

He grinned widely and flexed his hand.

"Do dey huwt?" The boy whispered his eyes alight with curiosity.

"Me?"

The boy nodded.

"No. They are much like your nails."

The boy looked at his hands and the flimsy nails but he shook his head. "Dey not shawp."

Shinzou looked at his claws and chuckled. "I suppose not." Hoping to draw the boys focus from his hands, he wrapped the string around the toy and waved for the boy to watch. With a yank, he released the top which spun furiously on the wooden floor for a few moments before it toppled over.

The boy clapped his hands together excitedly and watched against as Shinzou showed him how to wind it up and release it. Shinzou watched as the little boy did it a few times before he stopped and looked at him again. "Awe yew ewil?"

Shinzou blinked a few times trying to register the words. Kiya laughed. "He asked if you are evil."

Shinzou wrinkled his nose. "Do I look evil?"

"Yew habe waw phaint on yew phaze."

Shinzou frowned again. "How old are you?" Even his own son spoke better than the little boy and he was years younger.

The boy held up five fingers.

"Do human children age differently than youkai?" He asked genuinely curious.

Renji snorted. "Youkai have children?"

Shinzou glanced at him and nodded. "I have two pups of my own. I was merely curious because his words are that of an infant."

Renji shrugged. "Never been in the company of youkai to tell you one way or another."

"His speech is normal for one his age." The woman smiled. "How old are your children?"

"My daughter is turning two this year and my son is three."

Kiya grinned. "With another on the way."

Shinzou narrowed his eyes at the young guard. "Indeed." He turned his gaze to the boy again. "War paint?" He lifted his brow not entirely sure what the boy was referring to.

The little boy nodded and walked over putting his fingers along the markings that sat on his cheeks.

"Oh! Those." Shinzou chuckled. "That isn't war paint. Those are my heritage markings. What is war paint?"

Maori shook her head. "Bandits put charcoal on the faces, sometimes various colors to make themselves seem more imposing. When men go to war they paint their faces as a distraction hopefully." She shrugged. A low groan beside her stole her attention and Kiya sat forward with wide eyes as Seihomaru slowly woke.

"Thank the gods, you're awake." Kiya muttered.

Shinzou stood and crouched down beside their lord. He noticed the glassy golden eyes and unfocused vision. Seihomaru was still sweating pretty heavily and panting against the heat. "Easy. Do you want some water?" Shinzou asked.

Seihomaru blinked trying to focus his gaze but he nodded instead closing them. "What happened?" He croaked out.

"You have a fever." Kiya said softly watching as Maori reset the cloth and placed it against Seihomaru's head again.

Seihomaru sighed. "That feels good." He whispered. Shinzou helped lift his head and allowed him to sip at the cool water. Once finished he nodded. "Why do I smell humans?"

Shinzou and Kiya glanced at each other for a moment. "Rest." Shinzou muttered shaking his head.

"Shinzou." Seihomaru muttered.

"We can talk after you rest." The guard insisted.

Kiya placed his hand over his mouth to stifle the giggles that wanted to escape his lips. Shinzou smirked when Seihomaru sighed and fell back into a deep sleep.

"Looks like he will be alright." Maori smiled and stood up dusting off her kimono. Her daughter sat on a stool behind her and also stood up. Kiya's eyes fell onto the young girl and he lifted his brow curiously. He had only ever seen young children or adults but never a young girl close to the age Seihomaru was. The kimono she wore was far too large for her frame and she appeared to be at that awkward stage in life where she was growing taller than her mind believed her to be. She was skinny and looked to be underfed. Her long black hair was piled loosely on her head and her eyes were nervous.

Renji stepped forward. "The night grows late. Would you like bedding or something?"

Shinzou shook his head. "We do not need to rest. Go about your tasks, we will be fine."

The man scoffed again before he escorted his family into the next room. Kiya rolled his eyes. "Well good news is they are well protected for the night." He snickered.

"Baka." Shinzou mumbled. His eyes fell onto the small wooden toy his son had insisted he take for good luck and he allowed a smile to drift over his lips. For the better part of the evening, he sat there toy in his hands thinking on his family. Seihomaru had not yet awoken but his fever had broken and now the young lord slept quietly. Shaking his head, he finally stood and stretched.

Kiya glanced over with a raised brow. "Leaving?"

Shinzou shook his head and wandered over to the few items the humans had in their small hut. His eyes drifted over the scrolls and small utensils with curiosity. There were five wooden bowls and five cups. Ten wooden sticks that were all piled neatly by a small basin filled with water. The small table in the corner held a cracked ink well and a stick with a sharpened point. With a raised brow he lifted the writing utensil and rolled it around in his fingers. He had seen many writing tools with a brush made from horse hair or boar, but never one with a sharpened wooden tip like this one. Placing it down, he lifted one of the scrolls and read the list of items on it.

There was everything from an itemized inventory of what the man held in his ownership, right down to his family line. The man had an elder son who was apparently off on some hunting expedition with some friends. The man owned very little from what he read, but he had a stocked field of crops and a small penned area for fowl and rabbits. With what he read the man had no experience with fighting or sword play and had only ever been schooled as a farmer. "Unfortunate." He whispered.

"What is?"

"With this news of a coming war, this man has no combat experience." Shinzou muttered.

"It seems that many humans do not know how to fight." Kiya said absently.

Shinzou nodded. "How do they expect to survive with the constant threat of violence? It's everywhere."

Kiya shrugged but before he could comment a low groan escaped Seihomaru and they both turned their heads to him. Seihomaru pushed himself up and furrowed his brow. "Ugh, I feel terrible."

Shinzou walked over and handed him a cup of water. "It happens when you dispel what you ate."

Seihomaru narrowed his eyes as he sipped at the cup of cooling liquid. His stomach was growling and his throat felt like someone had poured hot metal down it. Everything he tasted or smelted was rancid and he winced at the dull throbbing in his head. "What the hell happened?"

'Uh, did you forget that I removed the barrier?' Taizo muttered in his head.

'I didn't forget.'

'I did warn that it would make you ill.' His youki grumbled.

"You fell ill." Shinzou explained.

Seihomaru frowned as he looked around the hut. "Where are we? And why do I smell humans?" He attempted to push himself to his feet, but Kiya placed his hand on his arm and shook his head.

"Best if you stay still for a little while until you regain your equilibrium."

Seihomaru turned his head to protest but the human male exited the room. Their eyes locked and the male stopped with his mouth open. "Well, youkai seem to recover from illness quickly." Renji commented.

Seihomaru peered at the human. "It would appear so." With a grunt and a wave of his hand as Kiya tried to stop him again, he pushed to his feet and swallowed as his world decided to tilt dangerously. Shinzou darted forward and placed his hands on his back just as he saw Seihomaru sway and almost lose his footing. "Oie, easy." He whispered in his ear.

Seihomaru wrinkled his nose and grunted. "I wish to get moving."

Shinzou chuckled softly. "Are you well enough to travel?"

Seihomaru nodded his head. "Where are the others?"

"Outside."

Saza lifted his gaze and watched as the human male exited the hut heading towards the wood that had been piled up beside the hut. Immediately the man stopped and stared at the many logs that had been chopped and piled up. With a startled glance at the youkai who had stayed outside all night he blinked at them, shock clearly written over his face.

Kazuhisa grinned, his fangs flashing in the early morning light. "Good morning."

Renji nodded his head. "Your doing?" He waved his hand at the large pile.

Saza, Kiyohira and Kazuhisa nodded their heads. "Least we could do as thanks for allowing us entry." Kiyohira smirked.

Renji turned to stare at the large pile of wood. "This would have taken me all winter to chop all of this." He said exasperated.

The three youkai glanced at one another with raised brows. "Interesting."

Saza turned his gaze to the door when Seihomaru's scent reached him and he stood up frowning. "What are you doing out of bed?" He snarled.

Seihomaru lifted his hand and he shook his head. "No objections. I wish to depart as soon as possible."

Shinzou followed behind him and he shrugged his shoulders when Saza looked at him pointedly. "He insists he is well enough to travel."

Saza bit the inside of his cheek to hold back his own protests, but he couldn't fault the young lord for wanting to leave the human hut quickly. He had remained outside to get away from the smell of burning logs and the stifling air inside that was mixed with sweat and dirt. He took in Seihomaru's pale face and dark circles under his eyes and Saza shook his head. "We have at least another two weeks travel, you are not well enough to be out in the cold."

Seihomaru grunted. "Can we cut the time in half if we travel in our true forms?"

Saza frowned. "You have not yet trained for that."

"I haven't, but I am certain that you can." Seihomaru leaned against Shinzou who rolled his eyes at the comment.

'I can tell you how to do it.' Taizo muttered quietly.

'You don't even talk to me right now.' Seihomaru growled at his youki, not at all forgetting the massive pain his youki had caused.

'None of that was my fault.' Taizo protested. 'You brought that on yourself.'

Seihomaru sighed. Taizo wasn't wrong, his attempts to keep the twins out of his head backfired on him and now he was suffering the consequences. 'Sorry.' He mumbled.

'I understand the reason why you did it, and now you know the reason not to do things on your own.' Taizo smiled. 'You really have not gotten over the illness, why do you insist on leaving?'

Seihomaru shook his head as another wave of dizziness took over. "Dammit." He snarled. "Take me back inside." He whispered quietly to Shinzou who smirked. All he wanted was to get back home and crawl into his familiar bed, not be stuck in a human home. With a shake of his head, he crawled back under the furs that his clansmen had surrendered to keep him warm and he placed his head down with a groan. It was going to be a long few days, although without knowing just how long he was going to be ill for, he couldn't place a time frame on when they would depart.