Chapter 2! Review if you enjoy!
The group watched Azuma chuckle for a few minutes, still in awe at the sight before them. As he stopped, a low growl was heard from Inuyasha's hole. "Would you please stop doing that!" He growled at Kagome as he stood up. "Then stop acting like such a jerk to your cousin! He already better than Sesshomaru!" She yelled back at him. "Thank you, Miss Kagome, you have such lovely manners for a human," Azuma said humbly. "Th- Thank you," Kagome said slightly taken off guard. She had never seen such humility in a full-blood demon of this caliber before. She remembered the first time she met Sesshomaru, how he used a demon disguised as Inuyasha's mother against him. How he tried to kill Inuyasha and steal Tessaiga, and how cold and remorseless he could be toward humans. Something about Azuma seemed different though.
"I'm leaving! If anyone else wants to get back hunting jewel shards then you're welcome to follow me," Inuyasha spat as he started walking away. The rest of the group sighed heavily. They had been dealing with Inuyasha's stubbornness for a while now, but they had never seen him so hostile toward another demon before, other than Sesshomaru. "Lord Azuma, we would be honored if you would accompany us," Miroku said slightly defeated by Inuyasha's attitude. "It would be my pleasure to accompany my dear cousin's party," Azuma said slightly smiling. "I'm not your "Dearest Cousin" you jack-ass!" Inuyasha yelled, still walking away.
As the group began walking in Inuyasha's direction, Azuma slowly walked up to Sango and began lightly petting Kirara as she purred on Sango's shoulder. "Your Nekomata is very well taken care of," He said as Kirara began nuzzling up to his hand. "Thank you, she's been my most loyal friend since I was a child," Sango said slightly smiling at Azuma. "So, if I may be so inquisitive, where does this tension between you and Inuyasha stem from?" Miroku asked slightly annoyed at Sango's light attraction to Azuma."I was going to ask the same thing, all you have to do is meet Sesshomaru to understand the hatred between the two of them, why is he so hostile toward you?" Sango asked curiously.
"Because he's a pompous ass just like Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha yelled 40 yards ahead of them. Azuma closed his eyes and lightly sighed.
"I'm not proud to admit it but I had a bad habit of treating Inuyasha poorly in his earlier years," Azuma said as he opened his eyes. "Nothing as bad as Sesshomaru mind you, I've even stopped him from killing Inuyasha a few times," He said slightly smiling, knowing he was getting under his little cousin's skin. As the whole group heard Inuyasha growl annoyed, they let out a light chuckle. "Speaking of Sesshomaru, why don't you go visit him?" Inuyasha said annoyed. "I already did actually, he and a little green thing were traveling north along with a young human girl. I thought my eyes were going bad when I saw Sesshomaru of all people had taken a human companion along with him," Azuma said back to him. "We were all shocked the first time we met her, he seems to care about her though," Kagome said. "Ha, don't count on it. Whatever reason Sesshomaru has for keeping that girl, I can guarantee it has nothing to do with him caring about her," Inuyasha said harshly as he started to slow down.
"Don't be so quick to judge Inuyasha, even your father, and my uncle, The Great Dog General had a soft spot for humans. That's why you are here, is it not?" Azuma said calmly as he kept pace. "Yeah, whatever," Inuyasha said dryly back to him. "If I may inquire, how many shards of the Jewel do you currently possess?" Azuma said as he looked over to Kagome. "Only about half of them or so, we had more but they were stolen," Kagome said. "Stolen? Who may I ask stole them?" Azuma said as he tilted his head inquisitively. "A bastard half-demon named Naraku," Inuyasha spat as he looked back at Azuma. "And when we find him again I'm going to kill him for everything he's done," Inuyasha said with a hint of pain in his voice. As the group continued walking, Azuma stopped as he stared at Inuyasha intently. "And what has he done exactly?" He said very sternly and concerned.
Over the next few hours of walking, the group explained everything that Naraku had done to all of them. As the went on, Azuma began to feel a sense of sorrow for his dear cousin. He may have only been a half Yōkai, but that half was still a part of his family. When the group finished, Azuma's eyes fell on Inuyasha with a deep sense of empathy. "Inuyasha, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry that dirty amalgamation of demon filth succeeded in doing this to you," He said sorrowfully. "And all of you, I can't imagine the pain and hate you must harbor for this filth that has wronged you so," He said compassionately. The group was once again taken back by the empathetic ability of this Yōkai, they had never seen such humanity within a Yōkai before.
"This must have been what Inuyasha's father was like, he's nothing like Inuyasha nor Sesshomaru" Miroku whispered to Songo. "I heard that Miroku," Inuyasha said annoyed. As the group continued, a familiar sense hit Kagome, jewel shards were approaching. "Guys! Multiple jewel shards are coming this way!" Kagome said as she readied her bow. "Wolves are coming as well," Azuma said as he readied his claws and stared at the forest. "Wolves?" Miroku said slightly concerned. "Kōga! That mangey bastard!" Inuyasha said as he drew Tessaiga and readied himself for a fight.