A/N: Phew, that took longer than expected. Hope you like it!
For the previous chapter: sorry for forgetting the proper kimono wearing way. Ofc kimono hem is an easy fix and requires just tugging the extra fabric more. Besides, apparently, there are some differences in what was work in this time period and what I described, Sorry for that, guys!
I hate rewriting previously posted chapters, so let this mistake remain as a reminder to do more in-depth research for me. Please, overlook it this once, okay?

Beta; Cstorm86

An Unexpected Guest

A man and a woman walked down a road. The woman had her hair bound in a high ponytail, while the man had a short tail of hair that was often referred to by the woman as a 'rat tail'. And, when we're on the topic of tails, there was a third companion to this little party, a nekomata who had two fluffy tails and rode on the female's shoulder.

As they walked through the countryside, following a dirt road that led westwards, the man, dressed in dark robes of one of the Buddhist monk sects, carried a staff with gold rings tingling as he stepped. The woman at his side had a bone boomerang strapped to her back and wore a plain kimono. They looked a bit odd, but they sounded even odder.

"We really should speed up on our way," the woman said, looking towards the western horizon. "We cannot afford to arrive too late."

"I know, I know," the monk reached up to scratch the back of his neck. "But we really couldn't leave those village ladies to be subjugated to life without their abducted men. We had to go and release them. And the poor princess turned youkai."

"Hm."

"And I know that the snow lady thing was my fault... The heavens coming to kick me for my past..." he trailed off for a moment. "But the endeavor with the snotty lord and the bear youkai was all your fault for the delay."

There was a small pout on the man's face, which the woman chose not to acknowledge.

"But now we will be firm and not stray from our path until we ascertain the safety of the Shikon Miko and the jewel..." she started firmly, but the ending of the sentence was spoken in a faltering tone.

And that was because down the road towards them ran a distressed woman, chased by what appeared to be a flying oni head.

"Help!" the village girl screamed as she ran.

The monk glanced her way, his pout gone, his hand reaching to the string of beads around his right wrist. The woman with the boomerang sighed.

"Just don't scare the girl more than she already is. And if you ask her to bear your children consider yourself fiancee-less."

"Oh, come on, I don't ask the question that often!" he ran after her and towards the youkai head.

"I am the only one you didn't ask, monk!" the slayer yelled back at him before she threw her boomerang to fly above the head of the fleeing village girl.

"As if that thing wouldn't scare her enough..." the man muttered when the girl shrieked and ducked into the ditch beside the road, while the youkai dodged the weapon.

.

Kagome smiled at Inuyasha. His brown eyes lightened to the radiant golden hue, just as his hair became white again. The human ear she'd tweaked playfully a moment ago vanished, replaced by the familiar dog one.

"Welcome back," she said and tweaked one of the adorable furry appendages. He scowled and his ear trembled in her soft grasp like a butterfly.

"I never went away," he grumbled, but didn't lean away from her touch.

"I know. But this is my favorite form and I like when you turn back," she confessed. Her words made him blush a little. This was the true form of the mighty forest spirit, the protector of the village and her dearest friend. And her future husband. She liked his human form, but this one felt more natural, more aligned with his personality.

"Crazy wench,", he mumbled and leaned in to kiss her gently. It was just a light press of his lips on hers, but it left her with this tingling feeling she often felt when he did that.

This time it was her turn to blush. They both tried to act more affectionately and show their feelings to each other, but neither of them had any experience and most times they both got embarrassed and awkward. She thought he was very cute trying to show his soft side to her. The entity that could save a whole village from a youkai raid with ease got frustrated and flustered when she called his ears adorable and giggled at his threatening growls. The dangerous, unpredictable forest spirit of legends was at the same time the boy that blushed and hesitated when he wanted to hug her. Then he'd curse and wrap her in his arms, almost crushing her against his chest. She'd blush at the sudden embrace and stroke his hair, only to giggle when he sniffed her neck.

She'd tentatively touch him when he sat, lost in his thoughts, sit beside him and he wouldn't move away from her. She'd lean towards him to rest her head against his shoulder and he wouldn't pull back. She'd refuse to go to bed during his human night, sitting beside him and waiting for the sunrise, just like today. She prayed that they'd do that forever.

This feeling that warmed her, that kept her smiling at him even when he was being an idiot, it was unlike the feelings the heroines of romance dramas had. It was different from the resigned acceptance she'd seen in many village women. It didn't lack passion, but it moved at a steady pace, allowing them both to adjust to each other and being close to one another before they took another step. Thanks to it, even while this was all new to her, she never felt scared of loving this man looking at her. When she looked in his golden eyes she felt that he didn't fear her either, even if it all was new to him too.

Which didn't mean that they both wouldn't get flustered if anyone stumbled upon them hugging.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?" Kagome asked after a moment. The hanyou shrugged.

"That rolled up eggs and stuff thing," he decided.

"Sounds perfect," she stood up from where they sat in the first rays of the sun that flooded the engawa of the house.

"I'll wake the kid," he declared, and rose as well. His ears were perked up, and she knew he was going to give her little time to prepare the food.

Kagome went to the kitchen, humming a soft tune. To the villagers she was already Inuyasha's wife, since she lived in his house. Big wedding ceremonies were for the wealthy, most peasants didn't trouble with them- besides she had no family to make the party for. Kaede didn't care much for these.

Still, preparing the breakfast, Kagome felt very much like a wife.

Well 'her 'husband' was nothing like plain, mellow villagers. It was only right his wife was nothing like the village women. It was totally fine with her. After all, it was what she wanted- to stay at his side forever.

"Kagome!" Shippon ran into the kitchen, hiding behind her legs. "Inuyasha dragged me out of my bed."

She was about to soothe the boy, but a voice stopped her.

"Your ears will fall off, you liar!" Inuyasha walked in the kitchen. "I pulled your blanket off your bed. You just clung to it like an idiot,"

Kagome patted Shippou's head and shook her head.

"I find Inuyasha not guilty," she declared. The boy pouted.

"You never take my side anymore, Kagome! It's not fair!"

"Kehl Life ain't fair!"

"Well, Shippo," Kagome picked him up to look in his face. "It'd be very bad of me to not take my man's side."

In her peripheral she caught a certain hanyou flushing and looking at her with glossy eyes before he looked away, pretending to be busy checking what was in the pot. The miko put a barrier in front of his hand when he tried to reach inside and snatch a piece of meat. He glared at her and saw her scowl.

"Prepare the bowls," she commanded, her finger pointing towards the right cabinet.

And this powerful. otherworldly, wild forest creature obeyed grumbling as he went to prepare dishes. Shippo snickered and was about to say something. Kagome pinched his cheek before he could.

"And you go feed the chickens before I finish our food."

"And no eating the chickens," added Inuyasha. Kagome giggled at the little boy walking out grumbling.

Yes, this was a new life, so different from her old one. But Kagome chose this life and felt as if this was the fate's way of repaying her for all the years of sadness and loneliness despite living in a sizable village.

She was done preparing the food and distributing it to three shallow bowls provided by Inuyasha, when two youkai entered the kitchen.

The first was Shippou, who ran in from the outside.

"Inuyasha! There's a three eyed cow in the yard! It's grazing!" the panicked boy exclaimed as if grazing was akin to flailing. Inuyasha, holding a handful of chopsticks, turned his head sharply towards the kit.

"What?" he barked, his voice promising that if it was a prank, Shippou would regret his poor sense of humor.

"Ah, that's just Mo-Mo," said the second youkai, that entered the kitchen. Kagome dropped the bunch of herbs she had been planning on adding on top of the dish, staring.

The man was shorter than her, very old and thin. Big round eyes blinked lazily in a wizened face adorned with a nose one couldn't forget. Clad in a dark kimono, he didn't look much like a threat, but Kagome knew looks could be deceiving.

And, somehow, he came inside Inuyasha's den.

"What's for breakfast?" he asked the three startled youths, as if his presence in the hidden lair of the forest spirit was the most normal thing ever. How could it be? Why hadn't she felt his youki? Or Inuyasha hadn't smelled him?

"A youkai!" Shippou yelped and ran to hide behind Kagome's leg.

"Um... Who are you?" Kagome asked after a second. The youkai had no vile aura, but he was a stranger and she didn't know why he was here, so she thought it best to act kindly and not shriek in fright. Besides, she doubted panicking would help, especially when she heard Inuyasha's barked words.

"No matter who he is! Get the fuck out of my territory or I'll rip your head off!" Inuyasha stepped so he could shield Kagome and Shippou with his body, his claws raised as he crouched down in a position that was clearly a preparation to leap at the intruder. A low growl came out of his mouth.

"This is the one?" the old youkai asked, apparently questioning his left shoulder.

"Yes!" the shoulder confirmed in a familiar voice. Kagome blinked at it. "Master Inuyasha, please stay your anger!"

"Myouga!" Inuyasha barked, lowering his stance and readying himself to leap. It was hard to decide if he was going to target the strange old youkai or the familiar old youkai sitting on his arm. "You let him in?"

"Oh, no! Please, Let me explain!"

Kagome decided to grab the man of her life by his shoulder, just in case he wouldn't want to wait and let the aged retainer explain things to them. The hanyou spared her a glance, and she gave him a stern look to tell him that she was going to hold on to him no matter what he did.

"Phew" Myouga sighed, obviously reading the signs of their silent conversation as they were and seeing Kagome as his defender. "First of all, I didn't let him in, he can pass through the barrier himself.

"Touga brat number two," the stranger said, ignoring the conversation and the growl that vibrated in Inuyasha's chest. The forest spirit fell silent anyway, staring at the short, frail looking youkai. "You've got the Tessaiga, right?"

"Uh, yeah. What of it?" Inuyasha said gruffly, trying to hide his confusion.

"Did you know Inuyasha's father?" Kagome asked. Well, the youkai surely was old enough to know many long gone people. If he really could go through the barrier, it surely meant that he not only knew, but also was a good friend of the daiyoukai.

"Ha! The idiot broke swords faster than I made new ones, until I made him one out of his fang," he chuckled at Kagome's surprised look. "That, he couldn't break that easily."

"Or he didn't want another tooth extracted," Myouga chuckled too..

"Hah' We can reminisce later. Now, let's eat!"

With a startling speed the still unnamed youkai went around the group and snatched the bowls of food. One after the other got turned upside down over an open maw that swallowed all with no trouble.

"Hey!" Inuyasha yelled. and lunged after the old man, who dodged him with amazing agility, while dumping the contents of the last bowl into his mouth.

"Mmm, quite tasty," the stranger smiled and looked at Kagome. "Did you make it?"

"Yes. It was our breakfast," she answered a tad sourly, sparing a glance at the now empty bowls. There was nothing left of her hard morning work, and her belly didn't like the idea of waiting for her to make something new. The man acted as if there was no angry forest spirit in the room, one that shared in Kagome's hunger and had a much shorter temper.

"And you ate it all!" he bellowed, still pinned to place by Kagome's grip on his arm.

"Oh, I did," the old youkai scratched his head, narrowing his eyes in thought. "What did I do? Did I do anything? Was it bad?"

He turned the bowl he held in his hand, looking at it with surprise, blinking owlishly at it as if he saw it for the first time in his life. He put it on the table next to the two others and turned to face the seething Inuyasha. "Well, if you are finished with your food, we can talk now, Touga brat number two."

"But we didn't eat anything!" Shippou pointed out from behind Kagome's leg.

"Talk about what?" Inuyasha asked, still miffed, but also confused by the old man's bizarre actions. His ear cocked to the side.

"Lord Inuyasha," Myouga spoke, waving all his hands to get everyone's attention. "This is master Totosai, the most skilled swordsmith in the lands. He forged your sword."

"Oh," Kagome gasped and glanced to where Tessaiga rested against Inuyasha's hip. The hanyou reached a hand to brush his fingertips against the hilt.

"So? What does he want?" the forest spirit growled, eyeing the swordsmith, who was peering towards where the pantry doors stood not entirely closed. The hanyou was ignored

"He came to see you perform the Kaze no Kizu again and help you perfect the technique," Myouga informed. "I went to fetch him when you defeated the boar youkai."

'Kaze no Kizu?' Kagome blinked. She'd heard the name before...

"Keh!" Inuyasha waved his hand. "I don't need any old dried up youkai to teach me sword fighting! I can handle my sword without stupid pointers from a dude that ate my breakfast!"

Totosai stopped looking longingly at the pantry door.

"Show me Tessaiga, brat number two," he demanded. Inuyasha put his hand on the sword's hilt, twisting a bit, as if to hide the katana from the old youkai's round eyes. He glared at Totosai, who made no move to approach him, just stared as if he had all the time in the world.

"You want Tessaiga? Fine! I'll give it to you!" The forest spirit was never a patient man and would lose a game of stare against a chicken. In a second, Kagome realized what he was planning to do.

"No!" she screamed and leaped to grab Inuyasha's wrist before he drew the sword. He scowled at her, so she quickly explained her choice of action. "You want to fight, fine, but no fighting in the kitchen! Get out, all of you!"

She looked back at the master swordsmith. She was used to talking like this to Inuyasha and Shippou, but this was a strange youkai. Would he even listen to a human? She focused on the tip of her finger that she used to point at Totosai. Her finger glowed a barely there light of reiki.

"You too, master Totosai. I mean, I'd rather you didn't fight, but even training in the kitchen is an outlandish idea. Besides, if the Kaze no Kizu is what I think... You better go to the forest," she added, remembering what Tessaiga had done to that manor when Inuyasha had let loose.

"Uh..." the swordsmith scratched his cheek, looking straight at her thoughtfully. She relaxed when she saw him consider her words. "Who are you?"

"Oh," Kagome gasped, realizing that this was a valid question. "I'm Kagome. I'm Inuyasha's intended mate."

The old youkai blinked slowly, then chuckled and looked over her shoulder at Inuyasha.

"A mate, eh? Ain't you too young for that?" he asked, then glanced down to Kagome. "Hey, maybe you'd rather have a mature man, with steady income? I'd like getting nice food and hot baths."

That was all he managed to say before Inuyasha's growl grew too loud. Kagome felt the surge of hot red youki behind her and yelped when Inuyasha ran past her, eyes blazing and fangs bared.

"Shut up, you senile geezer!"

"Oh, no!" Myouga gasped from Kagome's shoulder. Totosai dodged Inuyasha's swipe of claws. He stepped back and to the side, then ducked behind the opened shoji to the engawa. With an angry bark, Inuyasha followed.

It was when Inuyasha ran out of the kitchen, that Kagome finally unfroze from the shock of Totosai's words.

The ancient swordsmith had just... and then Inuyasha had gotten angry... and now they were outside...

"We have to save him!" she bent down to pick up Shippou and ran after the forest spirit. What master Totosai had been thinking, teasing Inuyasha like this? Had he a death wish?

Kagome ran onto the engawa when she heard a clang of metal hitting metal. She gasped when she saw the grassy yard basking in the sunlight. Inuyasha stood there, frozen for a second as Tessaiga vibrated in his grip from what Kagome supposed was a parry of a battle hammer. Master Totosai tilted his head, listening intently. Then he gave a firm nod.

"It's clear now," he said.

"What's clear now?" Inuyasha asked, obviously stunned that Tessaiga didn't cut the hammer the swordsmith held in half.

"Truly, this matter can't wait any minute longer," Totosai hummed to himself.

"What couldn't wait any minute longer?" Inuyasha's ears twitched as more and more of his shock phased into annoyance. The smith outstretched his hand towards him.

"Give me Tessaiga, boy," he ordered. Inuyasha scowled.

"Why?" Inuyasha's ears laid back, his eyes narrowing at the demand.

"You abused the blade for long enough. I will end its suffering and reforge it. To a pan, maybe. It will have more dignity that way."

Kagome gasped at that.

"Please, master Totosai, don't say that!" she pleaded and was about to tell him how Inuyasha protected her and other people with Tessaiga. But she never had a chance.

"Fuck off, old fart!" Inuyasha barked and made a move as if he wanted to hug the sword to himself. "It's mine!"

"Well, you are definitely handling it wrong," Totosai shrugged and glanced to where Kagome stood. "Are you sure he performed the Kaze no Kizu? He looks like he's more likely to use the Sword of Earth as a shovel."

"I'll use a real shovel to bury your sorry ass when I'm done with you!" Inuyasha threatened.

"He did," Myouga confirmed and shook his head at the two men standing in the grass. "I must admit that Lord Inuyasha has been slacking off on his katas that his noble lady mother had shown him, but up until last fall he had been sealed to a tree. Besides, the boy is in the midst of courting. And he is a fool that lacks discipline. But..."

"Oi! Which side are you, Myouga?" Inuyasha yelled. Kagome gave her fiancee a soft smile, that gave him pause, then she started walking towards the small steps that led to the ground level.

"Master Totosai," she said, trying to sound and act just like Kaede would. "I can assure you that Inuyasha is not weak, nor is he lacking convivtion and honor. He never failed to come to the aid of those in need, never hesitated to save innocent lives, never drew the sword to do anything less than to protect and defend. If, by any chance, you find his skills lacking, please, help him improve and I'm sure he will grow up to meet your high expectations. He is a hot-head, and a stubborn one, but I have no doubt he can pass any test you want to put in front of him."

"Oi! Which side are you on, Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, the words more grumpy than angry. She stopped beside the now pouting forest spirit and looked at the aged swordsmith with her best puppy eyes, going so far as to clasp her hands in front of her, mimicking Ayumi when she wanted to persuade someone. A tiny hopeful smile appeared on her lips.

"Well..." Totosai scratched the top of his head. "When a pretty little thing like you asks so nicely... I may postpon making Tessaiga into a pan... For the time being."

"You..." Inuyasha started, but then fell silent. Kagome glanced his way, surprised by his sudden silence.

Something banged on the gate in the wall surrounding the manor. It wasn't overly hard, but could be easily heard. Then a voice reached Kagome's ears.

"Kagome! Lord forest spirit! Please, help us!" yelled two familiar voices from the outside. They sounded desperate and frightened. They reminded Kagome about herself from many months before, when she had run to free Inuyasha and ask him to save the village from youkai.

"Yuka, Eri!" she called out, while Inuyasha left her side and went to open the gate just enough so he could pull the two startled, frightened girls inside. They looked at him with wide eyes that shone in their pale faces. They grabbed onto his sleeves when he moved a step back, Eri falling to her knees. Both were crying and Kagome felt her heart clench. Whatever reason they had to come into the forest and seek out the den of the forest spirit, it had to be terrible.

"Please, save the village!" she cried and held onto his sleeves despite him growling and scowling down at them. "Please!"

Yuka turned to look at Kagome, hope in her tearful eyes.

"Please, Kagome. We need your help," she whispered with trembling lips.

How much courage they had to muster to venture in the forest and look for the den. How much courage it took to grab onto the forest spirit himself. And ask him - and Kagome - for help, when he was still cross with the village for what the smith's family had done.

As Kagome started to walk towards her friends, she realized that it wasn't courage, it was deep, quivering desperation of people who knew they had no other option. She remembered that feeling well.

"What happened?" she asked, reaching for Yuka, who let go of Inuyasha and went to her to hug her.

"A youkai appeared. A terrible youkai of power we never had seen before," she sobbed into Kagome's shoulder. "He took down Lady Kaede's barrier as if it was nothing. He came to the shrine and demanded that the village summoned the forest spirit or someone called Totosai. If we refused he would... he would..."

"His acid whip..." Eri hid her face in Inuyasha's sleeve, as if he wasn't the noble guardian spirit of the forest. The hanyou winced and yanked his sleeve free.

"Stop smearing your snot on me!" he barked, then leaned in, sniffing her. Kagome frowned at him at first, but resigned herself to stroking Yuka's back.

"You're safe now," she soothed. "Tell us, who is this youkai?"

"He... He didn't say his name," she whispered. "He is a tall man in white, his hair is white and long. And he wears a fur thing over his shoulder. And... And..."

"He misses his left arm," Eri looked at Inuyasha, then wiped her eyes with her own sleeve. "He..."

"I guess he caught up to me," muttered Totosai to Shippou, who was standing next to him, his little tail trembling with worry. Kagome felt her heart speed up. There was one youkai that matched this description. But what could he possibly want with Totosai or Inuyaha? Was he looking for revenge for his lost arm and trampled pride?

"Kagome, you st-" Inuyasha started just as the miko freed herself from Yuka's arms.

"I'll just grab my bow and we're off," they both glared at each other. Kagome took a firm step towards the hanyou, who scowled.

"You're staying on your ass and don't stick your nose out of the barrier," he growled.

"You're not going to face him alone." Kagome hissed and grabbed his wrist. "If I can't help you fight, I can at least help the wounded villagers. You know that if you don't let me go with you, I will follow you anyway."

His eyes widened just a little at that last sentence, and Kagome looked at him with love and determination. She wasn't going to sit here when he went to face his brother alone. She was his future mate and he had to realize she was going to always be at his side.

"Fine. Take the fox. And you two better stay outta the asshole's sight." the forest spirit agreed. Kagome grinned and squeezed his wrist a little before she ran back inside to fetch her basket with herbs.

"Me? Why do I have to go too?" Shippou winced when Inuyasha grabbed him.

"We're a team," the hanyou said sardonically.

Yuka and Eri cried in each other's embrace as they knelt in front of the manor, observed by a bunch of white dogs scattered around the grounds. They saw their friend climb on the forest spirit's back before the mighty protector of the woods leaped over the wall that separated his den from the rest of the world. A wave of relief washed over them.

Then they shrieked when a big, horned head nudged their shoulders.

"Come," Totosai said from the back of his noble, three-eyed steed. "You want to see Touga's brats go all out on each other, right?"