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The sun began lightly cresting above the trees, filling the air with the pleasant scent of blooming flowers and morning dew. As the sun shined on Kagome's face she could feel herself beginning to awaken for the day. She heard the unmistakable sound of Inuyasha awakening as she rolled up her sleeping bag and began eating a snack she'd brought from modern times.
"Good morning Inuyasha," she said offering a piece to him. "What the hell is that?" He said lightly sniffing it a few times. "It's a protein bar, it's good for your muscles. Just try it" She said taking a small bite and extending her hand to offer it to him again. After a few more sniffs he took the bar and lightly nibbled on it before swallowing the pieces. "It's alright, still nothing compared to a home-cooked breakfast if you ask me," he said smugly as he handed her the bar back. "You don't have to be a jerk," she said taking it back and putting it back in her bag.
As the two bickered back and forth, Miroku and Sango began to awaken to the ever-familiar sound of Inuyasha and Kagome's argument. "I see those two have decided to get an early start," Miroku said with a yawn as he rose for the day. "What could they possibly be fighting about now?" she said slowly scratching her head and rubbing her eyes. "I'm sure Inuyasha spoke thoughtlessly and offended Kagome in some way," he said. "Well that's obvious, I wonder what he said though," she said as she took out a small piece of bread she had saved and shared it with Miroku. "Knowing Inuyasha, it could be anything," he said with a slight chuckle as he graciously ate the bread she offered. "I'm sure we'll find out sooner or later, we always do," she said, relaxing on the grass as the rays of the sun began warming her.
After a few minutes of arguing, Kagome finally ended it with a firm "SIT BOY!", firm enough to drive Inuyasha into the ground like a tent stake. She triumphantly stood over him as he lied disoriented in the hole he dug for himself. "What the hell was that for?" he said slightly dazed in the hole. "For being an inconsiderate jerk that's what for!" she said quite loudly as she glared down at him. "Hey! I wasn't trying to be a jerk! All I was saying was that a freshly cooked meal would be better than that food you brought! It's not my fault you took it so negatively!" he yelled back at her getting slightly closer to her face.
As Kagome became dangerously close to making Inuyasha SIT again, Inuyasha's head turned slightly toward the North-West. "That scent, why do I know that scent?" Inuyasha thought to himself as he began smelling the air once again. "It's like Sesshomaru but it's not him. Who the hell is this?" He thought. As Inuyasha was pondering to himself, he failed to notice the growing annoyed expression on Kagome's face. "Are you even listening to me!" she yelled as he was scanning the forest.
"Miroku, Sango, keep Kagome back." He said as his hand began caressing the Tessaiga's hilt. "Huh?" Kagome pondered as she began to notice the deadly serious expression on Inuyasha's face. "What's going on Inuyasha?" she asked slightly concerned. "Someone's coming, they smell familiar but I'm not sure if they're friendly or not so stay back until it's safe." He said concerned as he began scanning the area again. "Luckily Shippo is with Kaede. If whoever this has Inuyasha this concerned, it could be really dangerous for him" Kagome thought as she got closer to Miroku and Sango and readied her bow. As the moments passed, the scent grew stronger and Inuyasha could feel the hair on his neck standing straight up. "Who the hell is this? I've never been this anxious before, what the hell is going on?" he thought to himself. He had never been one to feel much fear before, especially for a potential opponent whose scent wasn't unfamiliar. "Wait, I know that scent," He said as a look of shock washed over his face. "Indeed you do, Inuyasha." an unfamiliar voice said from behind a grove of trees.
As everyone's attention turned to the grove, out stepped a very well-dressed younger man wearing a black and purple kimono, similar in some ways to Sesshomaru's but different in its own. "Azuma! What the hell are you doing here!" Inuyasha said as gritting his teeth tightly. When Kagome finally got a good look at the man, she could see he looked very similar to Inuyasha and Sesshomaru but he seemed older and much more mature than either of them. "Oh come now Inuyasha, is that any way to greet your favorite cousin?" Azuma said with a slight smirk.
As the words left his lips, a gasp overtook the group as their eyes all shot to Inuyasha. "I was unaware you had any family other than Sesshomaru," Miroku said slightly shocked. "I'm not surprised, It's not like little Inuyasha here to very family-oriented," Azuma said as he walked closer to the group. "I'm not little you bastard! I'm a grown adult so stop treating me like I'm still a child!" Inuyasha barked at him with a scowl. As he gritted his teeth again at Azuma, a voice finally spoke out among the group. "Are you planning to attack us for our jewel shards?" Kagome said from behind Miroku and Sango.
The sound of her voice had caught Azuma's attention, his head turned toward the rest of the group and he took a deep inhale. "I see you're still surrounding yourself with humans my dear cousin," He said as he walked closer to them. "Yeah, what of it? You got a problem with my friends?" Inuyasha growled again as he prepared to draw Tessaiga. "Calm yourself Inuyasha, I merely wish to introduce myself since you are still too crass for manners," Azuma said. He walked up to the group and bowed respectfully to them.
"I am Lord Azuma, Inu Yōkai of Tsushima, and first cousin of Lord Sesshomaru and Inuyasha." He said calmly. After a few seconds of silence, Kagome stepped forward and bowed back to him. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Azuma, my name is Kagome Higurashi." She said. "Kagome, you don't have to call him Lord," Inuyasha scoffed as he crossed his arms and huffed. "He's about as special as Sesshomaru and you never call him Lord Sesshomaru." He said. Azuma simply smiled and introduced himself to both Sango and Miroku as well. "It's nice to meet you, Lord Azuma, My name is Miroku." He said. "And I'm Sango, it's an honor to meet another member of Inuyasha's family," She said respectfully bowing. "Would you guys stop bowing already, in case you've forgotten we still have jewel shards to collect," Inuyasha said?
"What are these jewel shards you speak of?" Azuma asked curiously. "Do you speak of the Jewel of Four-Souls that other human you were so taken with protected?" He asked. "Yes, The jewel was split into several shards some time ago and we've been hunting them ever since," Kagome said. "And no we don't want your help Azuma so why don't you take a hike!" Inuyasha barked at his cousin. As the rage from his younger cousin's constant disrespect began to turn his eyes red, he was stopped from acting by Kagome's voice.
"SIT BOY!" She yelled causing Inuyasha to be forced into the ground once again. "Now stop being so rude! Your cousin has done nothing to deserve it so cut it out or you will reach the other side of the planet before you get back up!" She yelled at him. A minute or two of silence passed before the light sound of laughter began filling the air. As everyone looked back they could see Azuma laughing slightly. The very sight was enough to cause everyone to be taken back a bit. They had been with Inuyasha for a long time and in all that time they had never seen a demon genuinely laugh before, let alone a powerful Inu Yōkai such as this.