Warnings for this chapter: threats of violence and death, power imbalances
Miroku and Inuyasha grinned up at the ceiling, breathing hard and sweat sticking their hair to their foreheads. The air in the hut was significantly warmer than it had been when the others left. It was somewhat messier as well. Once he'd somewhat pulled himself together, Miroku glanced over at Inuyasha and laughed quietly at his expression. "And you said I looked smug."
"Only because you did," Inuyasha shot back, his smile growing even bigger.
Miroku chuckled and dragged him in for another kiss, letting his hands roam over the slick skin for a little while longer. Inuyasha hummed contentedly, the frenzied energy fading into sated happiness. Snatched moments between them, nothing more than scarce respite from their hectic lives, but it was enough. Miroku didn't know what the future would hold, particularly what a world without Naraku would look like, but for now, it was enough just to rest his head on Inuyasha's chest and feel the strong beating of his heart.
xXx
Sesshomaru stepped to the edge of the cliff and stared down into the valley below. Deep scars were cut into the rocky walls of the ravine, large boulders scattered across the ground, and the scent of Ryukotsusei was barely lingering in the air. He'd marked that scent two hundred years ago, in case his father's killer should ever break free again. He was supposed to be the one to kill Ryukotsusei. He was the one who was supposed to avenge his father while surpassing him in power. But somehow, Inuyasha had gotten there first. The months had washed away most of what had occurred, but the signs were undeniable. He had wondered, ever since seeing Tessaiga against the power of Hyoga, how Inuyasha had managed to improve his sword to that extent. He would never have thought that the answer would come from Ryukotsusei.
How had Inuyasha done it? How had a half-breed mongrel defeated such a powerful opponent? How had he learned to wield the Tessaiga in such a way? It was a disgrace, and he would not stand for it. He supposed that there was only one thing to do – he would have to kill Naraku, and show Inuyasha his place. And Tokijin could drink on the blood of the demon who had borne its fangs. Maybe then it would be as strong as he needed it to be.
Sesshomaru could smell the excitement coming from Rin as she peered over the cliff beside him. Strange child. He turned and picked her up by the scruff of her kimono, placed her on A-Un's back before he could question what he was doing. They shouldn't linger. As he stepped towards the far side of the cliff, feeling the wind on his face, there was another scent in the air. Cats. Leopard cat demons. He hadn't seen them around for a few decades. He stepped off the cliff, transforming into a ball of youki as A-Un sprang into the air to follow him, Jaken frantically clinging to one of their legs.
xXx
"Hey," Inuyasha called out as he stepped into Kaede's hut.
"Hey," Miroku echoed softly, sending him a smile from where he was kneeling with Kaede, sorting through medicinal herbs that Shippo had brought them. "Busy day?"
"I'll say," Inuyasha huffed, plopping himself down beside the monk and pressing a kiss to his temple. "Cut down and chopped up a bunch of trees for the new hut and hauled around the logs. People seem serious about getting it done, at least."
Miroku eyed him. "You know it's not your responsibility to make sure that Shizu and Shiori are accepted, right?" he prompted gently.
Inuyasha looked away, confirming Miroku's suspicions. "I just don't want anyone starting to think that they're not worth keeping around."
"They won't," Miroku reassured. "Shizu's been helping all the women around the village, and the children love Shiori. She and Shippo were leading a herd of children off to collect herbs earlier. And even if people have doubts, Shizu can take care of them both. She's been doing it for years."
Inuyasha rolled his eyes and neglected to mention how Miroku had been cooking Shiori's favourite meals for three nights in a row, ever since they started eating with them as to not put too much of a burden on the family they were staying with. Similarly, he didn't mention just how strangely, unspeakably lighter it made him feel to have another hanyou around the village. Seeing Shiori playing easily with the other children, watching Shizu with her daughter, warmed his heart and lifted a centuries-old weight from his chest. So yeah, he was going to make sure that they stuck around for as long as possible. No one could begrudge him for that.
"Where's everyone now?" he asked instead, absently sorting some of the herbs by smell so that Kaede would stop glaring at him for being useless.
"Hachi headed off this morning. Shippo is with the other children. Sango and Kirara went to hunt for tonight," Miroku said. "We're going to hold a feast for the other villagers to thank them for helping out on the hut."
"You hypocrite!" Inuyasha exclaimed.
"It never hurts to be polite," Miroku shrugged, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from smiling.
"It was Shiori's idea," Kaede said. "That child has more manners than the rest of you combined."
"You're just pleased that she complimented your cooking and Shizu asked you to teach her archery," Miroku muttered, pre-emptively ducking to avoid the light smack she aimed at the back of his head.
Inuyasha continued to toss some herbs around for a while until he gave up and propped his head onto Miroku's thigh instead. He dozed, fingers occasionally brushing through his hair, until he heard Kirara land outside. He went to meet them outside and helped them bring in the fish they'd caught.
Shiori insisted on helping Miroku and Shizu cook that evening, and Inuyasha found himself watching quietly from a corner. He could see so much of himself in this child, but at the same time, he'd never had her kind of courage. Maybe, if he'd found a place like this when he was her age, he would have been chatting easily with humans and playing with the children. He wouldn't have had to hide himself away, to build up walls around himself which he didn't think would ever be completely gone. Shiori would help to build this haven as much has he had. The villagers would come to love her and then, just maybe, they'd accept the next hanyou that came around.
They ate outside in the warm spring air, and the entire village surreptitiously made their way over to partake in the festivities. More food was brought, sake was passed around, and people began to sing and dance. Sango pulled out her weapons and began telling stories about the various demons she'd fought with each one. Kirara transformed as she leapt over the fire, dragging flames behind her as the villagers cheered. Shippo began to use his various trinkets and using them as props in his and others' stories. Inuyasha wrapped his arms tighter around Miroku and pulled the monk back against his chest, dropping a kiss to the top of his head as they lay by the fire, warm and happy and safe.
xXx
Kouga slowed to a stop as the wind brushed through the trees, bringing with it an unpleasant smell. The hunting party stopped around him, all lifting their noses into the air to sniff inquisitively. The rest of the pack back in the clearing slowly did the same.
"What's the matter, Kouga?" Ginta asked from behind him, ducking out from under Hakkaku's arm.
"Don't you smell that stench?" Kouga growled softly.
Hakkaku sniffed experimentally. "Cats?" He frowned. "Cat demons."
"They're not from around here," Ginta muttered, pushing to his feet.
Kouga stalked to the edge of the forest, the pack moving silently beside him. They hovered at the treeline, watching dark mottled shapes moving along the plain. The wolves growled menacingly, the fur rising along their spines.
"Whaddya think they want?" Ginta breathed. "What brought them here?"
Kouga scoffed and turned away. "Who cares?"
The others reluctantly tore themselves away to go after him. He knew that they'd like nothing better than to chew on some felines for a while, but they didn't have time to go looking for a fight. They had a lot of ground to cover to find Naraku's new den, and they couldn't afford to get into trouble.
xXx
Sango waved off Inuyasha as he went to work on Shizu and Shiori's house once more. Miroku and Kaede had already left earlier that morning to plant sutras around the forest, so that they might be able to defend the village easier in case of an attack. It left Sango with nothing to do, and that didn't sit right with her. She'd already tended to her weapons, cleaned her armour, and restocked as many of her poisons as she could over the past few days. She'd also slept more than she ever had before, outside of being injured. It didn't sit well with her.
It had taken several months to adjust to the pace of their new group, to realize that this was a journey that would span seasons and maybe even years rather than days or weeks. If she had known that when she first joined the others, she didn't think she would have been able to handle it. But things were different now. She'd accepted that her life as it was, as it had been before Naraku, was gone. She would never be able to go back to anything close to what she had in her village, but she'd found something different. She'd found a new life, a reason to live beyond Naraku's death. She knew where she fit with Inuyasha and Miroku and Kirara, but she was still finding her place in Kaede's village. She'd taken to weaving mats or patching clothing with the other women during the evenings, doing whatever she could to help out, but during the day, everyone was out in the fields. Inuyasha had brushed off her offer to aid in construction, claiming there were already plenty of bodies there, and telling her to take the time to relax. Sango didn't know exactly how to make that happen.
She ended up sitting under a tree at the edge of the village, Kirara in her lap, watching Shippo digging in the ground for insects. They would be leaving in a few days, she figured – as soon as the hut was built. There were still a few Jewel shards floating around, otherwise Naraku would be trying much harder to get theirs. And they still needed to find him. Sango knew that the uncertainty in their plan was weighing on the others as well. Tessaiga being stronger was a good step, but it wouldn't mean much if they couldn't find Naraku. Miroku had pointed out that Naraku would come after them eventually, whether through incarnations or in person, and they would simply have to be ready.
Kirara lifted her head with a trill and blinked sleepily at a patch of shrubs beside one of the houses. She then jumped to her feet as the branches rustled. A moment later, a dark shape stepped out into the open, and Sango dropped her hand from Hiraikotsu.
"Hachi?" she asked incredulously. "What are you doing here? You just left yesterday!"
"I had to hide somewhere in human territory or else the cats would get me!" Hachi said, shuffling over to them nervously. "They've come from the west – dozens of them!"
"Cats?" Sango asked, glancing at Kirara.
"The demon cat clan is moving in," the tanuki said, eyes darting around. "They're killing anyone who crosses their paths, and I heard they're looking for the Jewel shards. I came here to warn Miroku, but I couldn't find him!"
"He and Kaede are building spiritual sites all day," Sango said thoughtfully. "The spiritual power may have blocked his scent."
"Then tell him to keep it up!" Hachi said as Shippo bounded up to them. "They were looking for a monk with the shards. They'll be coming here next."
"We'd better warn him," Sango said to Kirara. "And find Inuyasha. Hachi, do you know why they've come?"
But Hachi wasn't looking at her. His eyes were fixed on the roof of one of the huts nearby, where a demon was crouching, watching them. She had the human-like form of more powerful youkai, with blood red hair spiked in all directions and red eyes with slitted pupils narrowed as she smiled. Her russet tail lashed back and forth, and her fingers flexed to dig her claws into the roof. She caught Sango's eye and stood, smirking as her lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth.
"I heard there's a human in this village with some Jewel shards for us," she drawled haughtily.
"You heard wrong," Sango said, lifting Hiraikotsu over her shoulder and nudging Shippo behind her. Kirara growled softly as more and more cat demons appeared on the roofs around them, none in human-like forms but still standing as tall as their leader. "What do cats want with Jewel shards, anyway?"
"Cats?" the leader scoffed indignantly. "Leopard cat demons, thank you very much. Don't lump us in with common cats like yours!"
Kirara yowled and transformed, looking as insulted as Sango had ever seen her. Hachi had hidden behind Sango as well. The demon lifted a hand and all the other cats immediately sprang into the air and gathered on the roof behind her.
"We have it on good authority that there are Jewel shards here," the demon said casually. "So hand them over now, or we'll tear this village apart, piece by piece."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," Sango said firmly, holding Kirara back with a hand resting on her neck.
The lead demon's tail flicked, and the cat demons attacked. Kirara leapt forward to meet them as Sango threw Hiraikotsu, but the cats easily evaded the weapon with startling speed. Hachi yelped and began to run away, while Shippo darted up the tree behind them. Sango caught Hiraikotsu as it returned and batted away the demons reaching for her. They were coordinated, forcing themselves between her and Kirara and piling on them. Sango reached into her robes, shouted a warning to Kirara, and threw the small bag of irritant into the mass of cats. They screeched and jumped back, enough for Kirara to shoot into the air and shake off the few which still clung to her.
Inuyasha froze as he caught the scent of demons in the air. He threw the log he was carrying onto the ground and shouted a warning at the villagers that they were under attack before he sped off towards the village. He saw Kirara first, bounding from roof to roof and driving off cat demons from the houses. He landed beside her, punching some of the demons away from her and then following her down to Sango's side. A wall of fire immediately flew towards them. Inuyasha swore and hurled himself in front of Sango, the flames dashing across his robes. But the heat told him that this was no regular fire, as if the smoke swirling from the raised hand of the lead cat demon wasn't enough to clue him in. She hissed at him, eyes narrowing and tail lashing back and forth. The cats hurled themselves at him, and he hurled them away before unsheathing Tessaiga. The lead demon snapped her fingers.
All the cats immediately leapt back to her side, and she scowled. "We'll be back."
A ball of fire swirled around her fist and she threw it down at them. Inuyasha swore and leapt back, blinking the smoke from his eyes. He wasn't surprised to find the cats gone once he did. He turned to Sango, sniffing over her and Kirara, catching Shippo and Hachi's scent as well. "What the hell was that about?"
"Leopard cat demons," Sango answered grimly. "They're after the Jewel shards."
Inuyasha blanched and took off without a word. Sango watched him go.
xXx
"That should do it," Miroku said, lowering his staff as the spiritual power settled around them. They had created a circle of sutras and other wards around the village, in a mixture of designs for paralysis, barriers, or incapacitation, any of which could be activated as needed. None of them would keep demons out on their own, but then again, there were a number of demons they wanted to keep around. They would need warning before an attack, enough time for Kaede to activate the sutras, but Miroku hoped that Shippo would be able to pick up on any approaching danger. Musou had shown them just how vulnerable the village was to attack, and it was only a matter of time before Naraku took interest. Miroku stepped back, letting the power from the sutras wash over him. Instead, he found something else weaving through his mind.
"Do you sense that?" he asked, frowning as he peered through the trees. "There are demons here."
"Strange," Kaede hummed, glancing up at the darkening sky. "There is an odd energy to the air."
"Something's coming," Miroku warned, raising his staff. But as the youki approached, he began to recognize the presence. He closed his eyes and let out a long breath before opening them to greet the wolf demon that had materialized before them. "Kouga."
"Miroku!" Kouga grinned. "It's good to see you again so soon. I've been looking for you." He looked around the forest. "Is that village your home? It's a nice place."
"What brings you here?" Miroku asked, trying not to give Kaede time to ask any questions. He wasn't so lucky.
"Who is this?" she asked, gaze narrowed in suspicion. "How do you know this demon?"
"I'm the leader of the Yorozoku," Kouga said, bowing deeply at Kaede with a smile. "And I'm here to check in on my Miroku."
"We fought together against a common enemy," Miroku said, brushing right past that last comment. "And Kouga is also seeking vengeance against Naraku."
"Indeed," Kaede said, not sounding convinced.
"I just wanted to make sure the cats weren't bothering you," Kouga said, his expression turning serious. "They've been roaming around for a few days now, and I heard they're after the Jewel shards."
"They must be the ones we have sensed," Kaede said urgently. "We must get back to the village."
Kouga cocked his head for a moment and shrugged. "Doesn't sound like much of a fight over there. I wouldn't worry about it. My pack's on their way, in any case. We'll keep you safe."
"You seem quite helpful," Kaede said, staring hard at Miroku.
"Kouga has been a strong ally," Miroku said as confidently as he could, desperately trying not to provoke Kouga into another declaration of love, or history of their interactions. He didn't especially want Kaede to discover exactly what they'd been up to on when she wasn't around. Kouga lifted his nose into the air, took a deep sniff, and smirked. Miroku sighed.
"Kouga!" Inuyasha shouted as he burst through the trees. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came here to make sure Miroku was safe," Kouga sneered. "Because I care about keeping him out of danger!"
"He wasn't in any danger, you unbelievable ass!" Inuyasha growled. "So you can fuck the furthest off."
"Inuyasha!" Kaede exclaimed, sounding shocked.
"Calm down, puppy," Kouga scoffed. "You don't need to worry about us. I hate cats just as much as dogs, and these ones might actually pose a threat."
Inuyasha growled, but Miroku cut him off before any more insults could go flying. "Did they attack the village?"
"I wouldn't really call that an attack," Inuyasha grumbled. "They ran away as soon as I got there. But Sango said they were looking for the Jewel shards, and they'd heard of you."
"Of me?" Miroku frowned. "That makes things complicated. We haven't exactly been flaunting that we have the shards."
"They've come a long way for them," Kouga shrugged. "My guess is, they can't find any on their own. I don't think there are too many more around."
"Have they come after you, in that case?" Miroku asked. "Surely word would have spread about yours."
"Not yet," Kouga said. "But I'm betting it won't be long."
He and Inuyasha both glanced into the forest, and a moment later, Kirara arrived with Sango, Hachi, and Shippo on her back.
"I'm glad you're safe," Sango said to Miroku. "There's no sign of the cats anywhere around. I don't know where they ran off to, but it couldn't have been too far away."
"Hachi?" Miroku asked. "What are you doing here?"
"You've got a tanuki?" Kouga smirked. "What for?"
"Are you also fighting the cat demons, Kouga?" Sango asked, trying to divert the conversation back to something more helpful.
"Only if they come after me or mine," the wolf huffed. "I don't tussle with cats if I can help it." He glanced significantly at Kirara, who curled her lip at him pointedly, exposing her fangs.
"Why don't we all sit down and talk things through," Kaede said, leading them towards a fallen log. The others trailed behind her, and Inuyasha placed himself decidedly between Kouga and Miroku.
"The cats haven't been around these parts for a while," Kouga said, leaning against a tree and crossing his arms. "I don't know what made them decide to show up now."
"I remember the last time they were here," Hachi said. "It was fifty years ago. The entire clan came from the west and tried to take over. They wanted to kill all other demons."
"You sure?" Inuyasha frowned. "I never heard anything about that."
"Fifty years ago," Miroku said thoughtfully. "Could that have been after you were sealed away?"
"Huh," Inuyasha scowled. "I guess. I wouldn't know either way."
"We made sure they never made it into wolf territory," Kouga said. "And they disappeared pretty quickly. I guess they didn't like the competition."
"It's strange that they would launch an attack only to give up so easily," Sango said. "Both then and now. It feels like there's more going on."
"Most likely," Kouga shrugged, pushing himself off the tree he was leaning on as a large grey wolf emerged through the trees. "Not that it matters, either way."
The wolf yipped at him softly, eyeing the others suspiciously, and Kouga nodded in response.
"As far as I'm concerned, you can go fight the cats somewhere else," Inuyasha growled.
Kouga sneered. "For once, I actually agree with you, mutt. My wolves have found the cats' trail. We're going to find their den, and we're going to keep Miroku safe."
"Why you-" Inuyasha started, but Miroku cut him off.
"Be careful, Kouga. They'll try to take your shards."
"I won't let 'em," Kouga grinned, following after his wolf. "See you around!"
They watched him disappear through the trees, and then turned somewhat reluctantly to meet Kaede's resounding glare.
xXx
The splashes and shrieks broke through the calm of the day, but Sesshomaru found that he didn't mind, terribly. Rin was instructing Jaken on how to catch fish, and the imp was making a fool of himself. Sesshomaru watched them from the shade of the bank, A-Un sleeping soundly beside him. The day was peaceful, despite everything. There was a distinct cry as Jaken finally managed to catch a fish, and Rin dutifully praised him.
A familiar scent pulled his focus upriver, too close for comfort. She must have been concealing her presence as she approached. But she had wanted him to sense her. She hadn't attacked. How interesting. He left without a word, following the chill in the air and the sharp, crisp smell. She was some distance away, far enough from the others that he would know she was not threatening the others. He didn't care for that at all. What could she possibly be after this time?
Frost littered the rocks, and eventually a thin sheet of ice covered the river as he approached. A light mist swirled around her, obscuring her from his view until she stepped into the light. She hadn't changed. Her long icy blue hair was unbound, though somewhat tamer than it had been before. She wore a long light blue kimono, the right sleeve removed to bear her arm and armour over her left shoulder. His eyes unwittingly darted to the white obi tied around her waist, though he doubted it would hold any trace of his scent after so long. The sword was new. The disdain in her eyes wasn't.
"Tōran," he greeted coolly.
"It's been a long time, Sesshomaru," she smiled, not moving. Not giving anything away.
"I thought you were dead."
She laughed, low and breathy. "What a way to greet someone. Were you always this charming?"
He refused to give any ground. "You're here alone?"
"The others are attending to more pressing matters," she said. "I told them I could handle you alone."
"How foolish of you."
"I don't think so."
He refused to let any emotion show on his face, though he hated how easily she could provoke a response from him. "What do you want?"
The humour dropped from her face, though she didn't deign to look serious, and continued in her low, careless drawl. "I'm here to settle things once and for all."
"We settled things a long time ago," Sesshomaru said flatly. "But if you insist, it won't be the same as it was last time."
"Still boorish as ever, I see," she smirked. "But you're right – it won't be the same. Our master is waiting for you."
Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes as his heartbeat rose – and he knew she heard it. It was impossible. That filthy cat was dead. "Master?" he echoed.
"Lord Oyakata will be resurrected. I realize that your father won't be up for the challenge, but you can come fight in his stead, if you want."
"Resurrected for what purpose?" he asked, brushing past the challenge.
Tōran smiled. "The usual. Now that these lands are open for the taking, we figured we'd expand our territory. And if we happen to kill a few puppies on the way, so much the better."
"You seek revenge," he clarified.
"If you want," she shrugged. "I prefer to think of it as claiming our due."
He bared his teeth. "I shall see to it personally that he will never breathe again."
She laughed again. "I'm glad to hear you've accepted my challenge."
His hand rested on Tokijin's hilt. She smiled.
"Come now," she said with faux sweetness. "Don't be so hasty. There's no need to battle it out here." She flicked her wrist, and the ice began to crack beneath her feet. He took a step back onto the bank, not having realized that he'd gotten so close to her. "Meet me at our castle. You can bring all the reinforcements that you require."
A thick fog swirled around her until she disappeared from view, her presence and scent fading far too quickly to be natural. He should have known better than to think that she would make it easy for him to find her again. He should have known from the moment that he saw the first cat that she would be coming for him. But had she truly found a way to revive Lord Oyakata, after so many years? The thought of facing that monster again, especially at such a disadvantage from the time before, was none too pleasing. And Tōran was turning herself into a faceless minion. He had no doubts that whatever her motives may be wouldn't matter at all to her erstwhile master. But if she thought that she could hold any way over him, she was sorely mistaken. He could kill her as easily now as the last time they'd fought – even more easily, in fact.
The sound of Rin calling out to him drew him back down the river. "Look how many we caught!" she was saying as she ran up to him, holding up a few small, scraggly fish.
"Rin, wait!" Jaken called after her. "You can't just run off like that!"
"Did you see, Lord Sesshomaru?" Rin asked.
"Jaken," he said, ignoring her. "The leopard clan has returned."
Jaken's heartbeat doubled and fear leeched into his scent. "What are they doing here again?"
"Rin," he said next. "You are to wait here with A-Un."
"Alright," she said immediately. "I won't move from here."
He set off, Jaken trailing behind him, yammering about something or other. Sesshomaru ignored him. Regardless of whether he actually rose to Tōran's taunt and attempted to find her castle, or whether Lord Oyakata would even revive, he wouldn't place Rin in harm's way by leading the cats to her. He would have to leave her be until things resolved, one way or another.
"Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken asked shrilly from behind him. "Do you intend to face the clan alone?"
He didn't deign to respond, but the imp was more persistent than usual.
"Last time you had an army!" he continued. "You must find someone to help! My lord, let me go to Inuyasha and-"
"Enough, Jaken," Sesshomaru growled. "I will not stoop to begging for aid from the dredges of demonkind. It is enough to have you with me."
However, his hand strayed to Tokijin's hilt once more. He was more powerful than he had been back then, certainly, but the sword had yet to fully accept him. It still blazed with its own red power, and when he wielded it, he had to fight to keep it under his control. He had no doubt that he would be able to subdue the sword once more, but it would cost him valuable time and energy, that which he may not be able to spare.
xXx
"So," Sango started as they reached the edge of the forest. "Do we go after the cats or not?"
"They're not our immediate concern," Miroku pointed out. "Though, if they're after the Jewel shards, I doubt they'll leave us alone for long."
"Better to take them on before they become a problem," Inuyasha muttered. "And I don't want them popping up when we're in the middle of something else, either."
"In that case, we should find Kouga," Miroku said, meeting Inuyasha's gaze steadily as he opened his mouth to disagree. "He knows more about the cats than we do, and they sound like a common enemy. If there's an entire clan of demons moving in, then we don't want to face them alone."
"There will be more than just the wolves going against the cats," Hachi said worriedly. "Everyone will remember the threat they posed in the past. They'll be attacked by anyone stupid enough to try and stand against them."
"True enough," a voice said from one of the trees behind them, and they whirled around. The leader of the cats was crouching on one of the branches, grinning. "But that won't be a problem for us. I can't think of anyone who would actually be able to challenge us, especially once we've got some Jewel shards."
Inuyasha stepped in front of Miroku and growled.
"I'm glad to hear the stories are true," the demon continued lazily. "I wouldn't want to submit my clan to the stink of dog without good reason."
"You're not getting anywhere near the shards," Inuyasha snarled. "And you know it, too! You wouldn't even fight me before!"
"What was the point?" the demon scoffed. "We don't need you! We're only after the monk."
Miroku frowned, glancing around for any other cat demons. "We?"
"I told you I didn't need to come," a deep, growling voice came from the forest as a large cat demon emerged from the trees. "It's just a bunch of weaklings. You could've taken them on your own if you weren't so lazy."
The first demon made an indignant noise and jumped down from the tree to swat the other one. He stood a good two heads taller than her, had similar human-like features, and his green robes opened to reveal bulging muscles. And his scent was hidden – both of theirs were. Inuyasha could feel the wall of power around them, keeping their presence contained. He knew that wouldn't last long, but it spoke of a level of control rare amongst demons. They were powerful.
"I told you he was hanyou, Shūran," the first demon rolled her eyes. "But you didn't listen to me! He's Lord Tōga's mongrel."
"Huh," Shūran hummed, eyeing them all. "I thought he was dead for sure. Why else wouldn't he have been in the fight? Or do you think Sesshomaru was hiding him?"
"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled, unsheathing Tessaiga. "I'm tired of all this yammering!"
The first demon sighed, glaring at him like he was bothering her. "Look, Inuyasha, isn't it? We don't need you. Run along home with your tail between your legs and we won't have to kill you."
"Karan," Shūran warned, nodding over to where Sango was lifting Hiraikotsu over her head.
Karan huffed. "Fine, we'll do this the hard way. I'll deal with Inuyasha. Shūran, you handle the humans."
Shūran grinned and charged, ploughing into Sango as she swung Hiraikotsu out in front of her. Miroku rushed to her side, driving the demon back with his staff. Inuyasha turned to face Karan with a snarl and lifted Tessaiga. She leapt into the air, bounding from tree to tree as she blasted him with a wall of fire. He leapt after her, youki flaring around him to combat the flames. But she was fast, more so than he was used to facing in an opponent. He cut down a tree she was perched in but then she materialized at his back and raked her claws down his side. He swung around with Tessaiga but she jumped nimbly out of the way.
Miroku jabbed at Shūran with his staff, giving Sango time to switch to her sword. But then Shūran lifted his hands in the air, and energy began to crackle around his fingers. He hurled a round of lightning at them and they barely had time to dart out of the way. Kirara, who stood protectively in front of Kaede, Hachi, and Shippo, growled in response. As Shūran raised his hands once more, she shot forward, tackling him to the ground. Sango darted towards them, but Shūran roared and shoved Kirara off him with a punch to the gut. He rolled away from Sango's sword, grabbed her by the arm and flung her away. Miroku caught him along the back with his staff, driving him to his knees with a wave of spiritual power. Shūran yelled in anger and lifted a hand, a ball of lightning in his palm. Kirara dove in front of Miroku and snagged his robes in her jaws before launching them both into the air and out of the way. Miroku swung himself onto her back as they circled around, and they watched one of Kaede's arrows strike Shūran in the arm. He cried out in pain and tore it from his flesh, but Karan spun around at the noise, momentarily stopping her attack on Inuyasha.
Seeing an opening, Kirara dove. And then she started falling. Miroku inhaled sharply at the sensation, and then he realized what was going on as his own vision immediately turned black. He clung to her fur as she crashed into the ground, and consciousness began to slip away from him, leaving the taste of flowers on his tongue.
Inuyasha spun around at the change in Miroku and Kirara's heartbeats, and his stomach dropped. A third demon stood behind them, petite and dressed in a short green and pink kimono, and flowers littered her long hair. Petals swirled around her, revealing her scent as she used her youki to cast a sleeping spell. Miroku and Kirara were at her feet. Inuyasha saw red and he leapt for her, but Shūran crashed into him in the air and they slammed into the ground. Shūran kicked Inuyasha away and smiled as lightning raced down his arms and crackled around him in a blinding glare. He glammed his fists into the ground, and the blast caught Inuyasha and flung him further away. When his vision returned, Shūran and the third demon stood beside Karan, Miroku clasped in Shūran's arms. Karan carelessly tugged open his robes and pulled out a small wooden box.
"Yup, he's got the shards," she reported breaking the box open.
"Miroku!" Inuyasha gasped, pushing to his feet and stumbling towards him.
"He seems to like this one," Shūran grinned, jostling Miroku slightly.
"He means a lot to you, doesn't he?" Karan asked thoughtfully, lifting Miroku's head with a finger so that her claw dug threateningly into his neck.
"Yeah, he does," Inuyasha breathed, not daring to move. "So let him go. I'll kill you to get him back. I swear I will."
Karan let out a startled laugh and dropped her hand. "So dramatic! I like it. Come find him at our castle, if you want him back so badly. We'll be waiting for you!"
Inuyasha threw himself at them, but Karan forced him back with a wall of smoke and fire. He growled and covered his nose with his sleeve before he threw himself through the flames, but they were gone. Their scents had faded unnaturally quickly, but it would take a lot more than that to keep him from Miroku. He took off after them, refusing to let the trail go cold.
Sango growled to herself as she shook Kirara, trying to get her to wake or at least transform down into a transportable size. She also snagged Hachi's arm as he tried to creep away into the forest.
"Shippo," she said absently. "Get Kaede back to the village. Keep her safe."
"No way!" Shippo shouted immediately, scrambling up Hachi's back. "I'm going with you!"
"You're not, and I'm not going to argue," Sango snapped, shoving at Hachi to get him to transform. She glanced after Inuyasha, hoping that he hadn't gotten too far ahead.
Inuyasha roared as dozens of cat demons barred his way. None of them were daiyoukai like the other three, just weak cats that he wouldn't give a damn about if they weren't currently throwing themselves between him and his partner. He swore and snarled as he ripped them away from himself, panic rising in his chest as Miroku's scent moved further and further away. His youki flared around him and the cats began to back off. He took off running once more, barely glancing up as Hachi flew overhead. He didn't stop, but instead pulled in deep breaths through his nose, letting the scent paint a blazing path through the forest and beyond.
They travelled through an open plain and into a ravine, the grass bleeding aware into bare rock on all sides. Miroku's scent was as faint as ever – how the hell were they moving so quickly? They couldn't have taken him so far away. He could barely follow the trail under the stink of cat, but even that was oddly faded. He pulled in another deep breath, and gagged. He skidded to a stop reluctantly, lips already pulled back into a snarl as a twister shot along the floor of the ravine towards them. Kouga's cocky grin slid off his face as he looked up at Hachi and sniffed the air before turning to Inuyasha.
"Mutt, what did you do with Miroku? You didn't leave him behind, did you?"
"None of your fucking business!" Inuyasha growled, shoving past him. He could feel Kouga's eyes on him, followed by a deep sniff and a gasp.
"Hey!" the wolf spluttered. "What the hell is Miroku's scent doing here if he's not with you? How did he get here?"
Inuyasha ignored him, but a deep grumble still pushed its way from his chest.
"You lost Miroku?" Kouga shouted. "What the hell?"
"Oh like you can talk!" Inuyasha snapped, whirling on him. "In fact, you are never allowed to say anything, ever, about Miroku being taken!"
"He was safe with me!" Kouga barked back. "And there's no way in hell I would ever let him be stolen by a bunch of cats!"
"Enough!" Sango shouted, jumping down from Hachi's back and landing between them. "Kouga, have you seen the cat demons around here?"
"Not recently," Kouga huffed, looking pissed. "They could've slipped past us, though. It took us a while to find this place when the whole area stinks like cats."
"I should've known you'd be useless!" Inuyasha sneered, pushing past Kouga once more and growling as he saw the rest of the wolf pack running towards him. "Take your mongrels and go. I'm going to deal with things here."
"Don't even think about it!" Kouga said, already breaking into a run and shouting ahead to his wolves. "You lot turn back! Miroku's been taken by the cats and we're gonna get him back!"
"What?" Hakkaku cried out.
"Go back home, puppy!" Kouga shouted over his shoulder at Inuyasha. "My pack knows how to handle the cats, and they're always ready for a fight!"
"Is that Inuyasha with you?" Ginta asked, waving at them briefly. "How did they lose Miroku?"
"Shut up!" Inuyasha roared, taking a threatening step after them only to be dragged to a stop by Sango's hand on his arm.
"Stop being such an arrogant ass for a moment and think this through!" she snapped. "We're all on the same side, here! Kouga will be able to help us fight the cats and get Miroku back. We need to do what's best for him! So you both need to stop being such monumental idiots and work together!"
Inuyasha opened and closed his mouth a few times before he turned away with a growl. "I don't trust him with this. Not with Miroku."
"Kouga would never hurt him," Sango said in a much gentler tone. "And Miroku won't let him get away with anything stupid. He's strong, Inuyasha, and he knows about the cats. We need to use him however we can."
Inuyasha huffed and took off after the pack. Damn that stupid Kouga – but of course Sango was right. He didn't give a damn who he had to work with or grovel to if it meant getting Miroku back safely.
xXx
They approached a tall cat demon, dressed in blue robes with wild light blue hair, who was waiting for them at the far end of the valley.
"We've got him, Tōran," Shūran said, lifting Miroku up demonstrably and giving him a shake.
"Ah, Tōran," Miroku smiled politely. "Perhaps you can tell your siblings to go jump off a cliff?"
"Ha!" Tōran said, walking up to meet them and grasping Miroku's chin, turning his head from side to side. "I like this one. Where did you find him?"
"With the half-breed," Karan said, handing over the five Jewel shards to Tōran. "You were right – he belongs to Inuyasha. I never expected to find him alive."
"Well done," Tōran smiled, looking over the shards. "I expect he'll be along shortly?"
"We slowed him down a bit," Karan shrugged. "Just enough to give us time."
"I hate to interrupt," Miroku said, bracing himself against Shūran's arms. "But Inuyasha has gotten rather tired of me being abducted, and I have to admit that I feel the same. So don't expect him to be lenient when he arrives. It would be much less painful for you if you let me go now."
"Sorry, monk," Tōran said silkily. "But that would be counterproductive. I'm expecting a number of dogs to barge their way in here."
Miroku frowned as he caught the implication. "You have some business with Sesshomaru, do you?"
"Oh, you know him?" Tōran said, impressed. "I'm surprised you're still alive, if that's the case."
"Despite his best efforts," Miroku said.
"What can you tell me about that sword of his?" she asked, leaning in closer to him.
Miroku kept his expression carefully blank. "He's able to wield it with one arm, if that's what you're asking."
"Ooh," Tōran grinned, low and eager. "Do tell what happened there. I'd love to shake the hand of the person who tore off that limb."
"Don't worry," Miroku replied. "You said yourself, you'll be seeing him soon."
"No way," Karan said, glancing between Tōran and Miroku. "Inuyasha did that?"
"Excellent," Tōran said. "This should prove entertaining."
Karan, however, didn't seem so sure. "What do we do if he gets here before we're ready?"
Tōran hummed and glanced back at the third sister, who had yet to speak. "Shunran, you can make sure they don't get too close. Karan and Shūran, you hang around here for a while. Keep an eye on things."
The other three nodded. Shūran dumped Miroku on the ground and Tōran picked him up by the back of his robes. She looked on him thoughtfully.
"I'll be good if you don't let your sister knock me out again," Miroku said pre-emptively.
"Fair enough," Tōran smirked. "But just so you're aware, I wouldn't let Shunran have you. I know you're a monk. If you even think about using any of that spiritual power on me, I'll rip your head off and be done with it."
Miroku grimaced. "Fair enough."
The other three had begun to move away, but they suddenly stopped and Tōran's head snapped up before she groaned.
"Miroku!" Kouga's voice echoed off the walls of the ravine once more. Miroku twisted in Tōran's grasp, staring back at the mouth of the ravine. At the barrier which stood firmly between him and Kouga. He watched the wolf skid to a stop and look around in confusion. Tōran nodded at Karan and Shūran before she motioned at Shunran. Miroku didn't have time to protest before a wall of petals slammed into him, and everything went dark.
Kouga growled. Miroku had been here – he knew he'd been here, he could smell him! – but the trail just ended unnaturally. He took a few steps back, glaring up at the wall of boulders and sheer rock which blocked this end of the ravine. He'd scale the whole thing in a heartbeat if he had to, but there was no trace of Miroku beyond it, either! He took a step towards it, and his instincts screamed at him to move. He leapt back just as a fireball crashed to the ground in front of him. He looked up just in time to see one of the cat demons flying at him, a fist raised and crackling with lightning. Kouga leapt back, grim pleasure flashing through him as the cat demon stopped in surprised, no doubt not expecting his speed.
He dodged the next blow and kicked the demon in the head, sending him flying. Then the other one dropped onto his back and threw them both to the side. She struck twice with fire dancing around her hands until he scrambled back. There was shifting on the cliffs above him, and then dozens of weaker cat demons poured into the ravine. Kouga was forced to meet them head-on as he saw the two leaders take a step back, watching him with interest and maybe a bit of amusement. Well, they weren't the only one with backup. He saw the moment the cats heard his pack arriving. Haiiro led the charge, crashing into the first cat demon she could see and bowling them both over. The wolves began to scatter the cats while the wolf demons formed a protective circle around Kouga. He grinned and attacked.
The sounds of fighting drew Inuyasha down the ravine. He skidded to a stop, watching the cats and wolves fighting, neither landing more than glancing blows on the other. They were both too fast, too well organized, neither fighting with any kind of urgency. He picked up the nearest cat and flung him at Kouga. The wolf swore and dodged before he whirled on Inuyasha with a snarl.
"The hell?"
"Where's Miroku?" Inuyasha called to him, not in the mood for games.
"They took him through here," Kouga spat. "Until they vanished into thin air! Even those two-" He cut himself off and swore viciously. "They're gone, too. They just disappeared! Their scent just drops off, just like with Naraku's barrier."
Inuyasha's eyes snapped to the seeming dead-end of the ravine. Barrier, huh? He could smell it, too – a strange absence of anything past the wall. That had to be it. Even if they could block their own scent, they wouldn't be able to hide Miroku like that. And there was no way these minions would be strong enough to conceal their presence on their own. It had to be some kind of barrier. It was the only way that they could hide like that.
As Hachi touched down beside him, Inuyasha lifted Tessaiga. "Kouga, get your pack out of there!"
Kouga glanced between him and his sword and frowned. "Everyone, fall back!"
The wolves immediately turned tail and ran, collecting obediently behind Kouga as they looked expectantly at Inuyasha. He closed his eyes, connecting his youki with Tessaiga. He could feel the Wind Scar dance across his mind, could feel it at the tips of his fingers, but there was something new there as well. Something past it, a different sensation than he'd felt once before. He took hold of it and pressed on it, and when he opened his eyes, Tessaiga's blade was glowing red, amber light blazing around the outside. He grinned with no humour and lifted the sword above his head. And then he charged.
My apologies for missing last week. Health stuff hasn't been the best, and school has been super busy.
A clarification about Lord Oyakata, or the Panther King as he's called as well. In the manga, Lord O-Yakata is a human lord associated with the Band of Seven. However, in the anime, they assigned that name to the master, who's an anime original. I've chosen to use the name for the Panther King because the human lord won't play any significant role in this series. I apologize if this causes any confusion!
I also want to thank everyone who comments on this fic. I don't respond to all of them, because I feel like "omg thank you so much" would get a bit repetitive, but I read and appreciate each and every one!