Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, or any of the characters from the anime and/or manga. Everyone else is mine :)


Kagome didn't want to admit it, but telling the girls had been a huge relief. Before, she'd been so afraid of slipping up in front of them, she was hesitant to hang out with them anymore. But now, maybe things could go back to normal: relatively speaking, anyway. They'd left the girls outside the restaurant, Yuka promising to come by the shrine sometime soon, so they could see her without her cloaking bracelet on.

Inuyasha was silent on the way back to the shrine. Kagome understood why; she'd just taken a huge risk, confessing their secret to her best friends. Yuka, they knew, was safe, but Ayumi and Eri were only human, and could reveal their secret at any time. Kagome hoped that twelve years of friendship would earn her their discretion.

She snuggled in closer to Inuyasha; the air was getting cooler as the sun was growing lower in the sky. He slung an arm about her waist and tucked her into his side. "I'm ready for a bath," she said, reaching up to nuzzle his mark. He growled and kissed the top of her head. "How was your day?"

He laughed bitterly. "Sess is trying to get me to sit in on a big meeting tomorrow with the wolf and Kashikoi. Something about determining a new Lord of the East. Like I would be of any use or have any interest."

"Inuyasha," Kagome admonished her mate gently.

He looked at her questioningly. She reached up and kissed his cheek. "You know your brother values your opinion."

"Keh," was his response, but he ruffled her hair as they turned onto the shrine's street. Inuyasha suddenly paused, his hidden ears lying flat against his head.

"What is it?" Kagome asked him.

He growled and looked at the torii gate at the bottom of the shrine steps. Kagome followed his gaze, and saw two wolf youkai standing in front of the steps, as though they were guarding the shrine.

"What the fuck?" Inuyasha muttered.

Kagome peered hard at the youkai. "It's Ginta and Hakkaku!" she breathed.

Even though they were still halfway down the block, the wolf youkai heard her say their names, and looked up. They smiled when they saw Kagome, and headed towards them, waving, faces grim.

"Kagome," Ginta said, the smile not quite reaching his eyes. "We heard from Kouga that you were alive. I'm sorry we haven't been by to see you yet."

"I'm glad to see you both," Kagome said warmly. She saw their faces, though, and paused. "I take it you're not here on a social visit," she added slowly.

Hakkaku ran a hand through his mohawk nervously. "There's…there's been a problem at the shrine," he said.

"Hakkaku!" Ginta warned.

"What kind of a problem, wolves?" Inuyasha said sharply.

Ginta frowned. "It's not a problem yet, exactly."

"Ginta," Kagome replied, "I think you better tell us what's going on."

"Bears," Hakkaku said simply.

"Bears?"

"Bears," Ginta confirmed. "About fifty of them. On their way to the shrine. For you."

Kagome froze. Inuyasha gripped her arm tightly. "Where's the family?" he demanded.

"Ayame took them to Sesshomaru's," Hakkaku said. "Kagome, we are supposed to take you there, too, while Inuyasha and the Lords handle things here."

"Like hell I'm going to leave," she said firmly, pushing past the ookami and heading for the gate.

"Hold on, nee-san," Ginta said, forgetting her relationship with Inuyasha and using their familiar term for her. "We are under strict orders not to let you near the shrine."

"Don't push me, Ginta," Kagome said harshly. She let her aura out, and it formed a barrier around her. "I'm going."

Inuyasha didn't know whether to kiss her or sling her over his back and take her to Sesshomaru's himself. "You're not getting near her now, boys," he chuckled. "I'll take the heat on this one from Kouga, don't worry." Kagome stormed up the steps, her barrier expanding with each step she took. Inuyasha rushed to follow her, Ginta and Hakkaku next.

When Kagome reached the top of the shrine steps, what she saw closely resembled the eve before a battle. Wolf, boar, and inu youkai that were humanoid were wearing full armor. A few kitsune were practicing fox magic in a circle; Kagome realized with a pang of sadness that Shippo wasn't among them. Animal youkai slunk in between the humanoids, growling and snapping at each other. The smell of bloodlust was in the air, potent enough for even a human like her to detect. She pulled back her barrier, careful not to purify anyone, and pushed her way through the crowd. When she reached the center of the courtyard, she saw Kouga, Kashikoi, and Sesshomaru, huddled close together.

She raced over to them, not caring who she was or who they were—her only concern was for her home and her family. "What. The. Fuck?!" she snarled through clenched teeth when she reached them. Her fists were raised. She was looking to punch somebody, soon.

Kouga looked horrified at her choice of words, but the Lords of the South and West merely stared down her angry countenance until she submitted. Which she would not have done, had Inuyasha not come up behind her and put his arms around her, squeezing until she relaxed.

"Good girl," he whispered, letting her go slack against him for a moment. He looked at the three remaining Lords. "Kouga's men said bears. How long until they're here?"

Kouga looked beyond pissed. His normally sleek ponytail was messy, hairs escaping everywhere, and his eyes were tinged red. "Our intelligence was wrong. We thought we had three or four days to prepare, so we were gonna meet tomorrow, but it looks more like it will be within the hour. We got here as soon as we could—I already had Ginta and Hakkaku staking out the shrine as extra security." He looked at Kagome, but spoke to Inuyasha. "She shouldn't be here."

"Like I told Ginta and Hakkaku—like hell I shouldn't be," she hissed, her pupils small with rage. Her aura sparked against Inuyasha, desperate to get free and unleash her fury.

"You've got to relax, mate," he said to her frankly. "I ain't letting ya go until you do."

"The Lord of the North is right," Kashikoi said, pacing the length of the group. "A frantic miko is the last thing we need here. That's why you should go." He looked her full in the face, his beady eyes boring into her chocolate ones.

"You don't understand," Kagome said, now physically chafing against Inuyasha's grasp. He was struggling to hold her without hurting her. "This is my home! I'm not gonna leave just because it makes you feel better."

"Then you must calm yourself, miko," Sesshomaru responded. She paused her actions to take him in. Sesshomaru, as always, was the quintessence of calm; nothing phased him; nothing excited him; nothing worried him. His long hair was tied back perfectly; unlike Kouga, no hairs were out of place. His golden eyes, as hardened cold as Inuyasha's blazed hot, held her dark brown ones steady. She took a deep breath and allowed Inuyasha to nuzzle her neck as she tried hard to listen to Sesshomaru's advice. "There is very little time," he told her. "Go get ready to defend your home."

Kagome jumped against Inuyasha, startled. Sesshomaru was…gonna let her fight?

"Father!" came a nearby cry. Sayua joined the group, with Asuka and Hideaki close behind her. "They are coming. We must prepare."

"Little brother," said Sesshomaru quickly, "get the miko's things. Get Tetsusaiga. Kagome—yes, this Sesshomaru knows your name," he added, a little impatient at her surprise, "go get changed. Your school uniform will not provide you much protection in this battle."

Kagome reached out and kissed Inuyasha quickly, tweaking his ear. He winked at her and together they raced back to the shrine house to change and get their weapons.

"Ready, mate?" Inuyasha asked her.

Kagome grinned; the bloodlust was getting to her. "I'm ready."


Quietly, around the shrine, masses of bear youkai surrounded what remained of Inuyasha's forest. They wore armor on their chests, their lower arms and wrists, and their calves. Their bloodlust was just as great as those who protected the shrine.

In the middle of the youkai was Hokutou. He was a tall bear; not a giant like his brother, but he still stood close to seven feet tall upright. His fur was brown, like his brother's, but his eyes softer and more intelligent. He stood among his men, listening to the reports from his scouts. When he heard that the three remaining Lords had amassed an army to protect the miko and her family, he grinned, drool dripping from his fangs.

For days, for weeks, he had been waiting for the right moment to strike the miko and her family. Every day, his spies brought him reports of everything that happened at the shrine. She had brought about the death of his brother and his best friend, Kurokama. With her great powers of purification, she would bring about destruction to many, many more youkai, if something wasn't done. So Hokutou took it upon himself to end her, and with her, the remaining Lords, as well. He couldn't believe that the Lords had wanted the half-breed to take over as Lord of the East, when he, Hokutou, was the rightful heir. His brother hadn't officially named him, but he knew that would have been what Ussuri wanted.

Beside the bear youkai was the witch, mysterious as always. Her hood covered her face, so Hokutou could not read her eyes. The first time they'd met, he could smell her youki, but since that time, she'd carefully disguised it

"You ready, witch?" Hokutou said, turning to the woman beside him.

"Ready, Hokutou-sama," she said quietly. She turned to him; he could see her dark eyes burning fire from beneath her hood. "I have one favor to ask," she added.

"What is it, witch?" he replied.

"On the grounds of the shrine there is a shed that houses the Bone Eater's Well," she said. "Do what you like to the rest of the property, but the well is not to be harmed." She paused, as if debating how much more to say. "My research has shown that it once provided a link to the past. I may be a witch, but I recognize the sacredness of that connection. We cannot destroy it."

"Fine," Hokutou replied shortly. "I'll tell my people."

"And one more thing." The witch pulled out a potion bottle. "Give me your hands, my Lord."

Hokutou hesitated. "What is that?"

She popped open the bottle; a purple haze began to seep out. The jyaki coming from the bottle was suffocating.

"This poison will coat your claws," she commented. "It's a very powerful poison that counters youki and makes the healing process impossible for a demon. Kurokama used it on Inuyasha, but the miko was close and was able to rescue him. Keep them apart, or kill her first. Then use your claws to tear apart the half-breed. This poison will end him; he won't be able to recover. You only get one shot at this, my Lord, so please try to refrain from using your claws on anyone else first."

"Understood." Hokutou eagerly held out his hands and allowed the witch to pour the poison over his claws. They glowed ultraviolent for a moment, then faded as the poison entered the tips. Hokutou's eyes tinged red with bloodlust. He couldn't wait to slaughter everyone inside the grounds, and make himself the Lord of all the youkai lands. His paws rubbed together in anticipation.

Yes, he thought. Revenge would be sweet, indeed.

Notes:

Here we go! Will the bears attack? Will Hokutou get to Kagome and Inuyasha? As always, thanks so much for reading, and see you at the next update!