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The group continued walking until they finally arrived at Kaede's village, mere hours before sunset and Inuyasha's transformation. As they approached the huts, they heard the familiar voice of their young fox companion Shippō. "They're here Lady Kaede!" He said excitedly as he rushed out of the hut and towards the group. As he approached, however, he noticed the new face accompanying them and stopped short. "I- Inuyasha-" He said slightly trembling. "Why is Sesshomaru with you," He said as he looked frightened at Azuma."Shippō, that's not Sesshomaru," Kagome said trying to reassure him and calm him down. "We- Well then who is he? He sure smells like Sesshomaru" He said still afraid. Azuma looked down, noticing the scent of fear in the air, and calmly walked to Shippō and knelt. "Hello little one, there is no need to be afraid of me. I'm not going to hurt you," He said to Shippō with a light smile.
As he extended his hand in greeting, Shippō flinched slightly, expecting something bad, but once he opened his eyes he saw Azuma reaching out a hand in friendship. "Oh, well then hi. My name is Shippō," He said as he cautiously took Azuma's hand. "Lord Azuma, Demon lord of Tsushima and first cousin of Lord Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. It's very nice to meet you, my young friend," He said graciously, slightly taking Shippō off guard. "My, you certainly are much more friendly than Inuyasha OR Sesshomaru," He said, causing Inuyasha to growl annoyed again. "Watch it Shippō!" He said as he growled.
Once all the group had said their hellos to Shippō and Kaede, they prepared to settle in for the night as they were outmatched while Inuyasha was human. "This is very good Lady Kaede, could I trouble you for another bowl?" Azuma asked as he finished his meal Kaede had made for the group. " Certainly ye may, very rarely do we get demons with such manners," She said as she refilled his bowl of rice and fish. "Yeah yeah, Azuma is SO great," Inuyasha said as he clutched Tessaiga and ate. "What's wrong now?" Kagome asked as she stopped eating. "All day long it's been "Oh Azuma you're so nice, Oh Azuma you're so polite," I'm sick of it already!" He said as he finished his meal and got up. "I'm sleeping outside, I'd rather be attacked in my sleep than sit here and listen to you all praise my pompous ass cousin all night," He said as he stormed out. "Inuyasha can be such a pain sometimes," Kagome sighed as she started to get up. "Stay, Miss Kagome," Azuma said as he finished his meal and rose to his feet. "I will go and speak with Inuyasha, it would seem I have offended him," He said as he started toward the door.
"Would you like me to go with you, Lord Azuma?" Miroku asked while eating. "Thank you, but no. I need to speak to Inuyasha alone," He said as he exited. "Oh man, I wonder what the 2 of them are going to talk about," Shippō said through bites. "Hopefully whatever issues they have will be worked out and Inuyasha will get out of his mood," Sango said as she made her pallet for the night. "I certainly hope so, even Sesshomaru does get under his skin this badly," Kagome said as she looked toward the door worried about Inuyasha.
While following Inuyasha's scent, Azuma took the time to reflect on what he would say to him. He remembered how he had ignored and scolded Inuyasha as a child, and how deep down, he knew exactly why Inuyasha resented him so much. While walking through the village towards the forest, a very familiar scent was carried along with the breeze, a scent which made Azuma smile slightly as he walked toward it and Inuyasha. As he approached the scent, he could hear the unmistakable voice of his older cousin Sesshomaru along with Inuyasha and that little green thing that followed him.
"For the last time Inuyasha, I am not here to steal Tessaiga from you," Sesshomaru said in his usual monotone voice. "Lord Sesshomaru is here to see your kin, Lord Azuma," Jakken boasted as usual. "Yeah, well he's not here! He's at the village getting his ass kissed by everyone in sight, as usual!" Inuyasha yelled clenching his fists. Azuma couldn't help but chuckle lightly as he approached the two of them as they stood apart. "I decided to come and talk to you dear cousin," He said as he stepped into the clearing. "Oh great, you're back," Inuyasha grumbled as he stepped aside knowing that tonight he was completely out of his league.
Azuma looked from Inuyasha to Sesshomaru and nodded respectfully. "Lord Sesshomaru," he said as he bowed his head. "Lord Azuma," Sesshomaru said back to him as the two locked eyes. "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" He asked with a slight smirk. "It would seem a half-demon named Naraku is in the area, I spotted a large cluster of demons heading this way about 100 miles back, I believe they had multiple shards of the Shikon Jewel in their possession as well," He said still not breaking eye contact with his cousin.
"What! Naraku!" Inuyasha said furiously. "And it would seem you are powerless tonight, perhaps Azuma can protect you?" Sesshomaru said.
"Oh? I had no idea Inuyasha's safety meant so much to you," Azuma said slightly condescendingly. "Do not insult me, Azuma, my animosity for this half-demon has not changed, I am merely here to wait for this filth to arrive so I may kill it for previous transgressions," He said back. "It is an honor to be in your presence again Lord Azuma," Jakken said groveling at Azuma's feet. "Hello Juken," Azuma said still staring. "Um- It's Jakken M'Lord," Jakken said slightly defeated. "My apologies, Jakken," Azuma said finally breaking eye contact and looking down at Jakken.
"Jakken, return here at once," Sesshomaru said looking at Jakken. "Ye- Yes M'Lord," He said scurrying over to Sesshomaru's side. "Sesshomaru, you surprise me," Azuma said slightly smirking. "Taking in a servant is one thing but jealousy? I thought that beneath you," He said smirking even harder. As he did, a low growl could be heard emanating from Sesshomaru as his eyes began to turn red. "Do not test me, Azuma, I will not hesitate to kill you, lord or not," He said staring at Azuma once again. "Calm yourself Sesshomaru, I'm not going to wreck these human's village over a family squabble with you," He said trying to defuse the situation. He knew he could rile Sesshomaru up if he wanted too but that never ended well for either of them so he knew not to push him too much.
"Oh? Have you inherited Inuyasha's love for humans as well?" Sesshomaru asked as his eye started turning back to normal. "Not so much love, dear cousin, more of an understanding per se," He said with a smile. "It would seem you've managed to find your understanding of humans all well, Sesshomaru. The girl Rin is far from a demon yet you allow her to accompany you, why is that exactly?" Azuma asked. "The girl is free to come and go as she pleases, I do not allow nor do disallow anything," Sesshomaru said as he turned to walk away. "I shall be in the area until morning. Farewell Azuma, and to you as well Inuyasha," He said as he began walking back into the forest. "M'Lord! Wait for me!" Jakken yelled as he tried to keep up. "Farewell Lord Sesshomaru," Azuma said as he disappeared into the treeline.
"So what do you want Azuma?" Inuyasha's said harshly as he sat under an oak tree and looked away. Azuma walked over and sat down beside him. "I want what I came here for, I want to make peace with you dear cousin," He said back as he crossed his legs and lowered. "Will you stop with the "Dear Cousin" crap already? You never could stand me and you were never there for me so just stop!" He said with a hurt tone in his voice. "Inuyasha, I'm sorry," He said with a deep sigh. "I should have looked out for you more after your father died," He said regretfully as a small tear streamed down his face. "I was arrogant and prideful just like Sesshomaru, I let him convince me that you weren't worthy to be in our family. I'm sorry abandoned you, and I'm sorry I wasn't there when your mother died," He said wiping the tear from his face.
"Save your tears, Azuma, I'm not angry about that anymore. Well, not as mad anyway," Inuyasha said still looking away. "I'm just tired of you having everything and everyone in the palm of your hand," He said still hurt. "You and Sesshomaru automatically have respect because your full demons, all I ever hear is how I'm a dirty half-blood. Now you show up again and my friends like you more as well? No way!" He spat. "You are very mistaken Inuyasha, your friends merely respect me. They truly love and care about you," He said as he took out a small gourd and took a drink.
As Inuyasha huffed slightly, he started to sniff and turn his head. "Azuma? Saké?" Inuyasha said as he couldn't help but smile a little. "Yes, would you like some?" He said back with a devilish grin. "Of course you would show up with saké on the one night of the month it will seriously affect me?" Inuyasha said with a cocky tone as he took the gourd, took a drink, and passed it back to Azuma. "Well, it's not like it's the first time," He said as he took another drink. "Hm, do you remember the time you drank a full gourd of saké by mistake after you mistook that wasabi for a "weird carrot" as you called it?" Azuma said with a slight chuckle. "Oh yeah, I thought a volcano erupted on my tongue," Inuyasha said slightly laughing. "Once it hit you, you kept howling at the moon and chasing your hair," Azuma said, now laughing alongside Inuyasha.
"Those were good times, weren't they?" He said with a sigh as he sat back and looked up at the sky. "I guess. I know it was never boring when you were around," Inuyasha said looking up as well. As the two watched the stars shine and shoot across the sky, they were interrupted by a scream heard coming from the village. "Huh!" Inuyasha said as he rose to his feet. "Somethings happening at the village! We have to go help!" He said as he began running. "Is it that Naraku demon?" Azuma asked running alongside Inuyasha. "If it is I'll kill him! Human or not!" He said with fury as he ran. He knew he stood no chance but if it meant killing Naraku, he would try no matter what!