Chapter 2: In His Father's Stead

Inuyasha walked with his hands tucked in the sleeves and silently followed the Lady to wherever she was taking him but his eyes occasionally fell on certain scenes. Some were of nobles and the denizens of this castle atop the mount observing him, rumors having already spread of the General's philandering even before the human woman but none made any attempt to challenge him; whether it was due to the Lady in front of him or his own instant reputation of slaying one of their top warriors, he didn't know. But he did find one thing, everyone in here feared the Demon leading him.

The conclusion wasn't only the bows and whines that came from even the toughest looking of them when she passed by, but of the numerous bodies that were being dragged by the servants. The entire length of his journey to this unknown destination she was taking him smelled of the rancid combination of blood, loose bowel and poison; there were multiple poisons, but one stood out the most. It was on every corpse. He didn't know how, but there was not a single trace of any scent on her person; which was surprising because some of the corpse were mangled beyond recognition.

His nose desperately wanted to scrunch but he resisted, he could not show he was affected by all this in front of these demons. "So you have turned out to be a noble hero." The Lady's voice came, interrupting his thoughts. It wasn't really the type of conversation starter a noble like her would use and once again he found himself begrudgingly thanking her for distracting his attention.

"Pfft." Inuyasha snorted.

"Oh, you are not?" Sesshomaru's mother raised an elegant brow. "Then why do this at all?" She asked with curiosity.

"For myself." He grunted as she slowed in front of a door with two Great Dogs carved on to it.

She looked at him strangely for a moment before nodding and opening the door. "Fair enough." Inuyasha looked around the room he was led into. There were maps and scrolls all around the place and strategies marked on handing wall maps. It was a war room. The Lady pulled out a large rolled up map and spread it on the desk. "This here is the Dog Demon forts. They have stood for thousands of years and were a sign of our territorial dominance."

"So what's the problem now?" Inuyasha asked as he looked at the map shown to him. Although he wasn't proficient in cartography, he did know what the lines and drawings meant.

"Dagu, a Phoenix Daiyokai." She pulled up a few miniscule bird statues and placed them at several places around the image of a fort. "He isn't strong enough to take out your father, but does possess a vast army that could out flank us from all direction."

Inuyasha felt like rubbing his forehead at the Kings and Glory game the woman was telling him. "Why's he attacking? Did'ya piss him off with bullying too?" He gave a slight snort.

There was a pause and for a moment he thought she would use to speak about the Dog demon superiority and what not but what she spoke was of another. "Your father prohibited the killing of humans and half-demons by Daiyōkais unless they are attacked first." Inuyasha's eyes widened at the reveal. The Lady kept her face cool and continued. "Kingdoms fell for resisting this. Shishinki, Kirinmaru, Ryūkotsusei and many others; some were allies and some rivals…but this decision of his made everyone his enemy." Her icy tone made the half-demon flinch with guilt.

Inuyasha nodded before realization struck him. "So the dragon attacking him was…"

"Yes," Keomi nodded. "Everything your father ever did in the past one hundred years was to dilute the segregation and unite the land as a single entity." She paused to give a smile. "Quite pathetic of course." Her words made the half-demon think of the possibility of his father being alive in his time. Would he have been hated? Would there be acceptance? He didn't know any of that but he did know one fact. His father needed to regain his strength and continue on his path and who knows, if this Inuyasha doesn't turn into a brat he might help his old man.

With no more incentive needed, he placed his palm on the desk and leaned to take in as much as he could about the map. "What is the plan?"

"As someone who I assume," She smiled at his growl. "Has some control over the Meido, you shall flank the enemies' army from their side;" She paused, her eyes narrowing for the briefest. "Of course you must not get any of your kin trapped in that." The Lady spoke.

Inuyasha scoffed. "I suppose this has nothing to do with the fact that your sister is in there?"

"No." The coldness in her voice made it hard for him to not avert his gaze and submit. "You shall be mindful in this battle if you want your father and mother to live without the fear of death."

"Are you threatening me?!" Inuyasha snarled; the earlier caution about the woman thrown into the wind.

"No," She looked at him flatly. "Just stating what might have gone over your head, pup." She got a smirk when he growled at her addressing him. "You see, killing Kyokomaru already has put you on the red list, and then my slaughter of many of my own people in order to prevent any attempt on your father's or mother's life-"

Inuyasha growled in annoyance. "I get it you did a lot-"

"Silence." She commanded, her massive demonic energy spewing a little and he found himself obeying this time. "All this has consequences. For now your father's position is based on his past accomplishments alone. And that too will run out soon if more of our kin are slaughtered by you, him or me." Realization dawned on him. "The last straw might be the death of loyal soldiers and a General in the battlefield by the hands of his stray seed." She stepped forward, now standing at the same height as he was. "And believe me, the moment the clan thinks your father has begun favoritism not even you, me or him couldn't stop the rebellion that will come."

"Yes." Inuyasha sighed and nodded. "I…" He began and looked away on seeing the woman stare at him. "I am sorry for the way I acted. You did us me a solid…even though you didn't have to and has stayed loyal to my father's cause."

Keomi looked at the flushed man who pushed his pride away to admit his wrong. She smiled and nodded in approval. "Apology accepted, maybe there is a young decent individual inside that brash and inelegant exterior like my Sessho-"

"Don't." Inuyasha snarled while the woman simply giggled and turned back on to the map. Inuyasha huffed and looked into it, but something in the air caught his attention. It was the poison which he scented outside on those mangled corpses. And his eyes quickly found the source, right on her index finger, a small miniscule green stain but he found himself getting a little airy even from that amount. At that moment he truly realized how much important it was for him to keep her as his father's ally after all not even Sesshomaru could execute someone and walk away without the stain of their scents.

He watched as she pricked her thumb and allowed a drop of blood to flow out after which she took a parchment and pressed her thumb on it, imprinting on it. Folding it and wax sealing it, she pressed a small insignia on it. "You shall leave tonight; a creature will be waiting for you at the entrance." She handed him the parchment that now smelled of her. "Give this to my sister were you to find yourself about to lock swords with her and I warn you Inuyasha, you must not kill any of your kin." His name from her lips sent shivers down his spine but he nodded and tucked the note inside.

He didn't say any more and simply left the room, making a beeline to the exit. Fresh air was like a beacon to him through all this carnage and it attracted him like a fly to the lamp. On reaching the entrance, the two guards stood in attention even without turning to look at him. Inuyasha gave a brief glance at the two and found that these were no longer the ones who were at the beginning of this mess. He did not bother thinking about their fate; he had to fill in his father's role for the time being.

Inuyasha paused to take in the large platform in front to find the creature that was meant to carry him to the battlefield. "Now where the hell is that-" His voice caught in his throat at the sight of the tiny white fluffy wolf pup sitting in his hind legs obediently with his tongue lolled out. The half-demon walked to the pup and looked at the excited creature. "So…you gonna transform?" The pup yipped and spun around like he was about to chase his tail only to glow and grow in size. Inuyasha stood with mild interest in his eyes as the small wolf cub turned into a Kirara sized giant great-wolf. "Nice!" He smirked and jumped on to the furry back of the demon.

The Wolf shot into the sky with a roar and flew towards the battle. The half-demon held on to the beast's mane with a grin at the pace the creature was moving. It was clearly much faster than his feline friend and was most probably a notch down than what he was at. Of course he would have to test that theory after peace has been brought to the lands after all the whole purpose of riding the wolf there was to conserve energy and also to get the right directions. "You are fast boy!" Inuyasha laughed, earning a yip from the wolf in approval.

As the night cumulus clouds began to vanish from underneath them, the half-demon was able to get a clear view of his father's lands. The one meant to bring equality among all races and unite the island. Thinking to his own timeline, Inuyasha grimaced at the thought of a racist like Sesshomaru ruling the land for centuries. Of course he has changed with that human girl's arrival but that still doesn't mean he was one hundred percent on board with his father's ambition. It also shed some light about the Shikon jewel. What role will it have here? After all it was somewhere here too, protected by Sango's clan. His mind couldn't linger any longer on the future of this reality as the sound of battle began to faintly ring in his powerful ears. "Alright boy…" He rubbed the wolf's side comfortingly. "It's show time. You stay out of trouble." He heard an approving grunt as they approached the center of the battle. There were swarms of bird demons flying above the ground and fighting on it with giant Dogs. From his view it looked more like flies around a spoiled fruit but the thick scent of demon blood was enough to let him know that this was about to get worse unless he manages to send the massive wave of soldiers to hell but for now he had to get his hands dirty.

First he had to find the leader. "Damnit!" Inuyasha cursed. "What was her name…or did Sesshomaru's mom tell me her name?" Inuyasha shrugged as he thought out loud. "How hard would it be to find a Sesshomaru styled person." But as he jumped of his carrier and ran into the fray, it was made abundantly clear that there were many allied commanders who were in similar clothing like his brother and father.

"Move off half-breed!" A large Inu-soldier rushed towards him to engage the equally large bird demon behind him that intended to chop both him and the soldier together with its wing like weapon that almost made him think of Sango's weapon.

Inuyasha clenched his right hand, drawing a few drops of blood and spun around to face the Bird demon. "Blades of Blood!" He roared and unleashed a barrage of demonic red blades that slaughtered the bird demon before he could even raise his weapon to defend himself. The giant Inu-soldier stopped next to him with an astonished look.

"Well I'll be damned." The demon let out an impressed whistle. "Welcome abroad son. Kill them birds however you like." The massive demon spoke. His scarred face pulling a friendly grin. "But stay out of my way will ya? Tell your wolf to do the same."

Inuyasha briefly looked at his ride that has decided to ignore his warning and join the chaos. He looked back and nodded, accepting the quasi truce and opened his mouth. "Ok, but can you tell me-" But the demon was already gone, now engaged to another bunch of enemy soldiers. "Darn…" Inuyasha growled and looked around to find a group of young Inu-soldiers being surrounded by the enemy. Without wasting a moment, the half-demon jumped in, his claws once again drawn back. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

"Thank you half-demon!" The boys shouted before running off to assist another demon.

"Wait! I need to know-" His shouting was stopped when he was dragged up into the sky by the talons of a phoenix. "Oh fuck no!" Inuyasha wiggled a bit before digging his claw in to the side of the demon's belly and in a quick motion dragging it through its flesh, letting all the guts fall below to those who were unlucky enough to fight at the exact spot. With the bird losing its life, so did its grip on the half-demon. Using his demonic energy he descended slowly into the ground and began to cut down more and more of the enemy. A part of him rejoiced at finally being able to go all out against an enemy with his own strength.

Throughout the battle, the half-demon didn't go unnoticed as more and more Inu soldiers found their fighting spirit again and rushed in right behind him. Of course Inuyasha didn't notice this sudden morale boost much less care about his battle field fame. Another thing he noticed was that these were mostly demons that were around Koga's strength and it gave him a twisted bit of joy in knowing he has another thing to be used in this battle. He grabbed the bird demon that was in its humanoid form with a wing like blade that was about to decapitate an Inu-soldier. "Hey fleabag! You think you can talk trash about me while I am down?!" He shouted, confusing the soldier before punching his fist right into the blue eyed demon's face. He then proceeded to throw him to another group of fifteen soldiers and unleashed his signature attack once again. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

It suddenly felt like he was being guided by some force as something ancient and primordial awoke in his blood. Thousands of Demons began to fall by his claws while more were saved by his timely action. This however didn't go unnoticed by the person he came looking for. Curious golden eyes observed the stranger in between her own battles as he passed by her several times, taking out demons while protecting her own men. The dance the half-demon did had so much beauty in it in her eyes that she missed a spear that broke through her defenses and nearly stabbed her. But luckily her armor was enough to defeat the blow. The Demoness crossed her twin swords and cleaved the enemy in half, before she rushed towards the thick of the battle where she knew the half-demon was.

Fair enough she found him there slaughtering the enemy and landed behind him with her back against his as they fended off the soldiers. "I see you have made quite the impression on my troops." She said, finally being the one who did not thank him and ran away.

Inuyasha blinked. "Huh?" Standing in front of him was perhaps one of the most beautiful women he has seen. She was his height, maybe an inch taller and had silver hair that was held in a high pony tail with a golden cylindrical clip. She was wearing a similar wardrobe that Sesshomaru wore except with a bit more armor and blue trimmings instead of the red floral pattern his brother wore. Her golden eyes however were nothing similar to the ones Sesshomaru had and he could see the thrill passing through them.

A pair of sharp purple marks like his brother extended from the side of her beautiful face. Rosy full lips and gorgeous eyelashes with a sharp chin and feminine cheek bones and he was sure underneath that clothes her figure was on par with what she revealed. Her voice however snapped him out of his random sinful thoughts. "So what is your deal? Absorb the residual demonic essence? Forge alliances? Mercenary?" She asked bluntly as to why he was here.

"What…?" Inuyasha blinked as he dodged a spear that the new Demoness caught effortlessly and threw back, killing the assailant instantly. "No! I didn't come for any of that!"

"Perhaps a meal, a few coins and a warm bed?" She gave a coy smirk at the end that didn't register in the half-demon's mind as he pulled her by the arm and caught the sword aimed for her back with his bare hand while she dug into the exposed side of the enemy with her deadly claws.

He threw the sword aside and asked her. "Isn't that same as the mercenary thing?"

Neither of them bothered with the injury on his palm. "Then why are you helping my soldiers?" She asked with a raised brow.

"I was sent here by Keom-" He paused at the narrowed eyes of the demoness. "Lady Keomi in place of the Inu no Taisho." He quickly corrected. "She said I needed to help her sister and it seems you are her." He pulled out the parchment from his sleeve and extended to the woman.

The Lady Demon looked at it for a moment before snatching it away and looked at it for a brief moment before throwing it away. "Fine! You take as much of these fuckers you can. Just know this, one soldier-"

"Yea yea." Inuyasha waved her off. "Your sister told me the deal." He turned around and rushed into the thickest part of the battle and finally pulled out his father's fang and for a moment, the entire battle field stopped as the ancient blade came to life, unleashing the mixed aura of the half-demon and his father. "Adamant Barrage!" He roared as the blue green diamonds ripped through the enemy ranks like they were pies being cut through. The sudden emptying of the enemy gave a moment of respite for the allied soldiers who managed to catch their breath and gain a more clear view of their ally as they regrouped. "You pups ok?" The half-demon asked with a fang tipped smirk and his sword on his shoulder.

"Look out!" One of the soldiers quickly yelled out and saw hundreds of enemy soldiers coming to reinforce the flank from above. But before they could act, they felt a strange yet familiar demonic presence building up in front of them. Upon looking, they found Inuyasha with his back towards him and his sword held out in front. There was a red aura pulsing around him followed by wind circling his body, covering it in swirling demonic energy.

Suddenly the wind cut through with a roar from the half-demon aimed at the incoming attackers who had no clue as to who they were facing. "Wind Scar!" Five golden lines ripped open the heavens and met the enemy half way. It decimated the entire charge leaving nothing but burned and chopped off body parts that fell from the sky.

"T-there's no doubt about it…." One Inu-soldier said. "That's the Tessaiga, Lord Inu No Taisho's sword!" He yelled and suddenly the battle shifted.

The demon's announcement about his father's blade and the overwhelming amount of demonic essence of his fang's merged with the Tessaiga let the Inu tribes believe their leader was here. More over the mere name of the Sword of Earth was enough to shatter the enemy's morale. After all who would want to fight against an opponent who was capable of unleashing hell on Earth and send them to hell by the hundreds.

"I thought Ryūkotsusei finished him off!" A Bird demon spoke in panic.

Another quickly backed up near him. "Are you kidding me? Then who's doing all hat?!" He pointed at the Wind Scar being unleashed on their comrades. "We have to get out of here-gahhh!" The soldier did not get time to complete his sentence as a clawed hand shot through his back.

The other demon looked at the attacker and shivered. "L-Lord Dagu!"

"Anymore of you worthless birds interested in desertion?" The huge demon saw his soldiers rush back into battle. "Good. And leave Toga to me. I'll put that human loving mutt into the ground myself." The large demon glided through the battlefield ease, evading or beheading all that came in his way. His face morphed into a feral grin as he honed in on the red beacon that was decimating his forces.

BOOM!

For Inuyasha it felt like a missile struck his face as he flew through the fighting demons and dug into the ground before coming to a stop in a slump "Fuck!" He groaned as the hit on his head still made the world spin around him.

"I was wondering when Toga would show up. After all the Dragon was a bit too over the top to deal with a formidable fighter as Toga." The new demon spoke. "But I guess the Dragon was good for his word having finished off the Dog and let some grave robber play hero." He chuckled darkly at the fallen half-demon.

Inuyasha looked at the leader of the enemy. So this was Dagu… He thought with a growl. The phoenix demon was clearly over six feet with elaborate flame robes covering him. There was a thin crown above his head and a long staff with a curved blade at one end. The half-demon looked around and cursed. There were too many of his allies fighting near and around him. Can't use the Meido… He stabbed the sword on the ground and got up.

"Finally you got off your lazy butt. Wouldn't have blamed you either as you are closely related to chickens…" Inuyasha smirked at the sudden anger in the Daiyōkai's eyes as he once again rushed at him with his immense speed. Inuyasha spun around and slashed at the demon's back but the phoenix saw the attack and blocked it. Once again their weapons clashed, creating shock wave after shock wave each time they did with neither one managing to land a hit. He slowly led the enemy to the side where he felt the enemy's bulk force approach and knew why the Lady has sent him here, there were simply too many to be handled on the field with a proportionately large own causality. But the Daiyōkai was oblivious to the fact and rejoiced that he was moving them to the side where his main force will slam into the mutts. Of course the wind scar was a challenge, but if can block him from using the technique or at least stop the frequency of the attack, enough soldiers could get close and finish the job on the half-breed.

"If your only plan on using the Wind Scar half-breed, I kid you not; you won't be seeing life at the end of the tunnel." The phoenix demon mocked and slammed his blade against the Tessaiga only for the said half-demon to smirk and run towards the incoming soldiers who were clearly somewhere near the ten thousands and can shift the tide with ease. Dagu tried to give chase but was knocked to the side by the Lady General.

"How are you doing you brainless cunt?" She smirked as she spun her swords in her hands.

Dagu gritted his teeth and got up before rushing at the woman who met him half way and locked weapons. "I don't know what you and that half-breed are planning, but with my army here, I don't think you stand a chance anyway."

The General felt her own muscles screaming having fought a week without sleep or food but she showed one of it out. "Yea, but he was sent by my sister." There was a momentary look of worry from the Daiyōkai at that piece of information which was all it took for the demoness to knock the weapon off his hands. Having been the Inu no Taisho's Strategist, the Lady of the West was known to be a fearsome opponent and she never sent mistakes to the field.

The answer came soon enough as the battle stopped for a moment as the pathway to hell opened where the reinforcements were supposed to come and instead all that came from them were screams of horror before the portal shut. "Any last words Dagu?" The General taunted as she held her blades to his neck. So caught up was she I her triumphant moment, she failed to counter the body that slammed into her from the side.

The enemy leader jumped off from his execution spot and rushed after the General. "Yes Kasumi." He sneered at him. "Meet my own General, Yua." The woman was leaner and more petite but the cold murderous look on her red orbs were enough to let her know she meant business.

Dagu got into the fight between the two ladies and soon began to gain advantage on the Inu General; the two bird Daiyōkai's attacked her with synchronized movements and placed her on the defensive. Her blades creaked and groaned when the two randomly struck their weapons on them. She panted, she was more at this war and now double teamed, but her pride wouldn't let her kneel. She fought back although each time she took a step forward; she was pushed several feet back. She needed to break their unison and pick them apart individually; easier said than done as her soldiers' couldn't reach the intense fight between the three great demons. The main problem was the random power shots they struck on her that left her shoulders numb and she knew she couldn't block anymore.

This momentary lapse was taken by the birds as they swung their weapon on her once again and as she raised her own blades to block the two incoming ones without any hope of the defense being sufficient. But it never came as the two strange bird blades were locked by the giant fang in a wide swing that came from between them and Kasumi took their shock and kicked the General and engaged Dagu.

"Filthy half-breed!" Yua screeched; the calmness expected of her nowhere in sight as she savagely struck the half-demon.

Inuyasha grunted as he danced through her slashes avoiding being shredded. "Fucking hell!" He spun around striking her bade with his own, creating a wind blast that knocked a few of the soldiers. Another thing that he noticed was she did not care about her fellow birds and did not even attempt to stop the attacks that missed him and went to her comrades. That's when one particular slash aimed to chop of his head let out a blast of black energy that went straight to a battalion of young bird demons. Cursing his own honor, Inuyasha turned on his feet and sent a miniature wind scar that was enough to dispel the woman's rampageous attack on her own soldiers before sending a more powerful and precise one on the madly charging daiyokai general who was forced to take on the full blast head on.

Using the momentary gap, he turned to the stunned Bird demons and snapped. "Your leaders have gone mad; don't let the ego of someone else decide your fate."

"B-but we can't…" A soldier stammered with his weapon on his shivering hand.

"Yes!" Another one agreed, this time a woman. "They will kill us if we disobey! You can't even stop-" She froze in horror as the said General was a few feet above the half-demon with her blade held high above her head to cleanly slice him bilaterally along with those who stood in front of him but a body slammed against her, taking her down to the side, leaving Inuyasha unscathed. It was the giant Inu soldier he assisted at the beginning of the fight.

"We are even boy!" He yelled as he blocked the bird Daiyōkai's retaliatory blows but the half-demon knew he won't last much with that kind of power and jumped towards them, leaving the birds. "I can handle her!" The soldier roared as he desperately tried to land a hit.

"Sure you can old man, now go save your men who are about to get flogged over there!" Inuyasha blocked the blade that was meant to cleave of the older demon's head giving the latter time to see his men being overpowered by the enemy's soldiers. With a scowl the Inu soldier left the fight and went to his men men's rescue. "Now where were we?" Inuyasha smirked at the woman who grew more furious. First a half-demon and now a third class soldier; who else was going to insult her by challenging her? And how long was she going to correct the insult?

"Me ripping of your head from that filthy half-breed body!" She snarled and slashed him from beneath that he blocked with Tessaiga. As their battle progressed, he realized one thing, she was far superior in technique and the only ground he had was his instinct and massive physical power and her wounded pride. Which translated to one good blow from her that penetrated his defense, he would crumble like a house of cards.

"Yua! I need the half-breed!" He heard a shout from his back and blindly spun around to block the incoming attack, leaving his back open to the woman only for the General to swat away the stab meant for his back. He stared at the grinning Daiyōkai ruler who pushed his weight against the half-demon's sword. "If I can't kill the Inu no Taisho, I'll damn be sure to take his bastard!" He spun his blade and brought it down on his head that the half-demon dodged. "No more tricks boy! I am unleashing my true strength!"

"Oh yea? Maybe then you'll give me a challenge!" Inuyasha snarled as he fought Dagu, but he realized that the latter was not bluffing about his true strength as he began to struggle to keep up with the Daiyōkai. The vibration from the blows that he blocked with the flat side of the Tessaiga was made known to his bones. His wrist, fore arms and shoulder were going numb from the onslaught and one overhead cleave which he used his blade to block made his knees buckle but didn't fall.

The glowing red eyes that belonged to his powered up enemy made him know he was losing control fast. With a burst of speed that was too much for him in his current condition, the Daiyōkai slammed his foot on his sword hand, sending the blade tumbling into the battle, transforming into its sheathed form and be trampled on.

"Fuck-" Inuyasha tried to jump out of the way, but Dagu struck him mid-dodge, his pointed palm going straight through his abdomen. The sudden feeling of the half-demon's limbs going slack gave the Daiyōkai time to compose himself and give his enemy a final taunt before ending his pathetic existence.

He jerked his palm to the side, throwing the blood and flesh that clung to his skin. "Now what will you do Half-breed?" Dagu sneered as he watched the hunched over half-breed who was on his knees, his bangs covering his eyes as he looked into the ground.

"Grr…" The half-demon only let out a primeval rumble that made all demons pause for a moment. An aura so intense it arose the instinct of all in the battlefield and the kneeling half-demon was in the middle of it.

The Daiyōkai looked at the scene with interest as a foreign aura began to originate from the half-demon. "Hm?" He raised an eyebrow to look at him.

"Kill…" The half-demon's voice rumbled.

Dagu looked at him in interest. "Pardon?"

Inuyasha suddenly rose as if he was not bothered by the injuries which themselves were disappearing fast. He stood tall, his height reaching the bigger demon as he looked into his eyes with blue ones covered in red. Suddenly, it was not a half-demon standing against him, but the splitting image of the Lord of the West in all his vengeful glory, ready to strike down his enemy. "Kill you."

But the Daiyōkai kept his calm. "Oh what is this?" The Phoenix mocked at the changed appearance of the half-demon. "Another one of your-gah!" His eyes bulged as Inuyasha, who was several meters away was suddenly in front of him and had his clawed palm inside his chest. "How…" The Daiyōkai ruler gasped as his feet left the ground as the half-demon who for some reason smelled like a full, let out a mad cackle. The sound froze the battle and made Yua to look in horror as her master was reaching his end.

"Pathetic…" The voice was dark and terrifying as rage filled blue pupils covered in crimson stared into his soul. "Is this the strength of a Daiyōkai?" The half-demon laughed with cruel mirth. "A chicken is what you are."

"Dagu!" Yua roared as she shot towards her master at the cost of getting a diagonal slash from the Inu-General. Inuyasha's eyes shifted to the form of the incoming enemy General and tossed the Bird Daiyōkai to the side and swiftly caught her by the throat in one swift motion. The general could feel the scent of her master's blood wafting from the hand that was squeezing her throat.

"Bitch…" The half-demon turned full chuckled darkly as he raised his other palm to her chest level and aimed to thrust through her but was promptly kicked out of the way by a panting Dagu. Getting up, the half-demon only smiled; there was nothing but burning anger in his red eyes. "That's the spirit."

Kasumi realized there was something off about the half-demon. His scent, aura and brutality all indicated that she was no longer witnessing the aid sent by her sister. It was truly a strange sight to witness a creature deemed to be far inferior to a full blooded demon take on not only two but Daiyōkais at that.

The Inu soldiers could only occasionally see what was happening between their own fights but they knew one thing, the half-demon who rushed into battle to help them was now fighting both the Daiyōkai's with his bare claws, over that he smelled like a full demon and was ripping through their defenses. Only the Inu General knew what has happened and remained vigilant with their ally's new found strength and she slowly pushed the battle away from the part where the three demons were brawling. She needed put a stop to Inuyasha before he turns on her soldiers. But how?

Kasumi's mind clicked. The parchment! The message her sister gave. With a single wave of her hand she unleashed five cataclysmic rays of demonic energy and cleared the demons fighting in front of her with her soldiers being quick to get out of the way. In one fluidic motion she crossed the field and located the scent of the half-demon that was concentrated the most which also had a mighty portion of the Inu no Taisho's. She saw the fallen blade and reached to grab it but was zapped by the barrier protecting it.

"Damnit!" Her hand let out the scent of burnt flesh and turned to see the half-demon who has started to play with the enemy leader with Yua already torn in half at the hip and her body flew in two directions. The fight was about to end and Dagu or what was left of him stood without his arms and a good portion of his chest and ribs, revealing his torn lungs. A blow has taken his lower jaw to be completely ripped from the head and only from his eyes could she see the blatant horror the once great and powerful demon had.

"Weak." The demon Inuyasha snarled and swung his claws from below his hip in an ark which sent out a cataclysmic energy wave that ripped the remains of the Daiyōkai into shreds. Kasumi knew after seeing the madness in Inuyasha's eyes that with the Daiyōkai's gone, he would be searching for more challenges and those would include her and the Inu-soldiers.

A spark struck the Lady General and she grimaced when she felt her hand sting from the mere memory. But she steeled herself. She saw him look over his shoulders to the stunned soldiers nearby, his bare foot on the crushed head of the Phoenix Daiyōkai. She wasted no more time. Stepping over the sealed fang so that it was between her and the half-demon, she bellowed in her strongest roar. "Hey you half-demon filth!" Twin triangles tweaked and soon red eyes that could have destroyed a lesser demon with a mere glare were upon her but she remained calm. "Why don't you face a real Inu-Yōkai?!" She taunted and saw him let out a snarl and vanish in a burst of speed, appearing a few feet from her with his claws poised to strike her down. There was a moment of uncertainty in her eyes as he looked at his claws. Would it matter even if she turned him back? Won't the energy still shred her? Pushing all those thoughts away she let out a roar and kicked the Tessaiga from the ground and into her hands. As soon as she touched it the barrier began its work, dissolving her flesh and reaching her bones but with another roar, she blocked the half-demon's claw with the sealed fang and within the next second she felt the force of the half-demon dispel and her own demonic strength overpower him to the ground.

But in that brief moment of struggle she was able to see the dangerous demonic energy the half-demon had on his claw that was meant to destroy her get sucked into the ancient fang. She sighed even as the barrier continued to burn her flesh. At least something went according to plan. Drained the Daiyōkai collapsed on Inuyasha's chest.

After a moment she released the sword and rolled off the half-demon's body. "W-what? What happened?" She heard him slowly sit up; his injuries gone after his demon blood surged through his body. He looked at her as she gracefully stood even with her burnt off arms.

"You are a piece of work half-breed." She chuckled as she extended an arm out for him to take which he looked at in caution. He could see the white of her finger bone and although it was mending fast, he was a bit concerned of grabbing that. "It's alright; I have reattached an arm before." She chuckled.

Just for the sake of a respectful gesture, he grabbed the bruised arm and got up without placing any weight on it. "So it's over?" He asked as the battlefield lost all the major noises it had.

Kasumi nodded. "Seem so." She saw a white wolf approach them, its shiny white fur stained with blood and gore of the enemy soldiers and with a chip on its ear and other small wounds to signify its role in the battle. "Your friend I assume?" She motioned with her eyes at the wolf.

Inuyasha chuckled. "Yea. Your sister gave him." He patted the great wolf on the head as it wagged his tail.

"Lady Kasumi!" Her Lieutenant fell to his knees as he addressed her. "The remaining enemy soldiers are surrendering."

"Kill them off." The General casually instructed.

"Wait what?!" Inuyasha choked.

"Kill them off?" Kasumi repeated in a bored tone. "After all we don't want to deal with drama of revenge."

"No." He may have crossed some lines but killing men and women who were used as fodder when they have finally received their freedom wasn't one he had done yet. He stared into her eyes defiantly.

The Lady Daiyōkai took a step closer, their faces now on each other's and neither refusing to stand down. "This is my legion and no matter the help you have contributed, my word is the final-" Before she could complete her sentence, the half-demon grabbed her shoulders and pushed her to the side. "Why you!" She snarled as she fell on the ground and rolled back to jump on the insubordinate half-breed, but all her anger was gone at the sight that greeted her.

"Fuck…" Was all he could say as he blocked the dagger thrown by the dying General at Sesshomaru's aunt. It went straight through his chest, the fire-rat having provided little to no resistance from the demonic weapon. His sternum was clearly destroyed and a cool feeling was felt inside him which he could only assume was the blade grazing his heart. The world slowed around him and he soon found himself in the middle of the spiral.

XxxX

I wanted to give Inuyasha some due respect because every time he fights someone important it always will be with the help of a friend or his sword. He was a half-demon for two hundred years! A brawler! All that hand to hand will disappear when he gets a new sword? Pfft yea right.