Warnings for this chapter: misogyny, discussions of and attempted sexual assault, creepiness, mentions of animal death

"Who gave you that Jewel shard?" Inuyasha asked fiercely, holding Tessaiga level at Jakotsu's chest. "Was it Naraku?"

"Naraku?" Jakotsu hummed. "No idea. I never met the guy."

Inuyasha growled. "Just answer the question!"

There was a light shuffling sound from behind him, and then Miroku said quietly behind him "Inuyasha."

Inuyasha followed the monk's gaze to the cliff to their right, where a thick green-grey smoke was flowing down the rocks. He didn't need to smell it to know that it was some kind of poison.

"Aw, just when it was getting fun! Damn that Mukotsu," Jakotsu grimaced, sheathing his sword. "Inuyasha, you'd better leave while you still can!" He turned and started walking away before he glanced back at Miroku. "You too, monk. This thing will kill even demons, let alone a human like you." Then he grinned. "You would look really good in makeup, you know that?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Inuyasha shouted, taking a step towards the guy, before his youki started swirling around him. His instincts were screaming at him to get his pack away from the poison, even before he heard the clatter of mala beads rubbing against each other. But Miroku was only lowering his hand, scowling and looking up at the cliff.

"There's someone else up there," Miroku reported as Inuyasha landed by his side.

Inuyasha sniffed, but any scent was disguised by the poison. Instead, he coughed and winced in pain. The small amount that had reached them settled on their skin and began to sting. He didn't want to think about what the main cloud would do.

"Come on," he urged the others. "Let's get out of here."

Inuyasha swung Miroku onto his back and grabbed Shippo before leaping away from the cliff. Kirara flew up above the cliff with Sango on her back, but there was no sign of whatever creature had set the poisonous smoke. Kirara veered away and followed after Inuyasha, where they made their way to a small river. Inuyasha immediately splashed the water over his face and arms, while Miroku pulled out a roll of bandages and turned to Sango.

"Let me see your arm," he said, guiding her to sit down. He then glanced over his shoulder at Inuyasha. "You're showing me your wounds as well, when we're done!"

"I'm fine!" Inuyasha snapped half-heartedly.

"This isn't too deep," Miroku said, looking over the long gash on Sango's forearm. "I won't have to stitch it."

"It won't stop me from fighting," Sango ground out in a tone that suggested that she would very much like to keep fighting.

"I can't believe that bastard Jakotsu got away," Inuyasha growled, walking over to pace around the others. "And what, another member of the Shichinitai decided to poison us?"

"It appears so," Miroku hummed. "It's possible that it was someone else with a Jewel shard, possibly Kohaku, but then why would he have stopped Jakotsu from fighting us? It seems more likely to be another member of the band that Jakotsu recognized. We'll have to go after both of them. Hopefully they'll reconvene – though it didn't seem like Jakotsu was aware of the plan."

"If the spectre that Kouga killed really was a Shichinitai as well," Sango said slowly. "And both Jakotsu and this Mukotsu are here, does that mean that all seven have been revived?"

Miroku sighed. "I don't see why not. We'll have to be on the lookout for them."

"Well I'm not waiting around!" Inuyasha said, taking off. "You guys look for the poison guy, I'm going after Jakotsu."

xXx

He opened his senses to the breaking point, his youki swirling around him, searching for any hint of Naraku. But there was none. Jaken was yammering behind him, spouting his own plans for destroying that vile creature.

But this scent… It was not of Naraku's flesh, but it was one of his nonetheless. The boy. He could remember his claws biting into the human's neck, the utter lack of fear in his eyes. It was that which had made him pause. Now, the boy might well lead him back to Naraku.

"Lord Sesshomaru?" a curious voice asked from behind him. "Why are you after this Naraku?"

"Silly girl!" Jaken immediately snapped. "He's angry because you were abducted by Naraku!"

"So it's because of me?" Rin sounded confused, but strangely happy.

"Don't be so conceited," Jaken huffed. "My Lord Sesshomaru has to defend his honour, which Naraku insulted by taking you!"

And it would do all well to remember it. He lifted into the air, leaving his charges to squabble amongst themselves on the ground below.

xXx

He stalked through the forest, following the vague scent of poison. That damn Mukotsu, ruining his chances with Inuyasha! As soon as he saw the squat figure dressed in white cotton robes, just as he'd been back when they were alive, he knew that his suspicions had been correct.

"Why, hello there Jakotsu," Mukotsu said, turning around to face him with a leering smile. "It's been awhile."

"Fifteen years, or so I'm told," Jakotsu scowled, kicking him in the head before crouching down next to him. "And you tried to melt me into goo, you bastard."

"Don't be angry," Mukotsu said soothingly as he patted Jakotsu's hand. "I knew that you could handle yourself. I just wanted to say hi!"

Yeah, sure. He wished he could believe it. They always treated him like he was stupid, but Mukotsu had never cared whether he got any of their brothers caught up in his poisons. There was no reason for that to have changed now.

"So, what happened to the others?" Mukotsu asked, returning to the herbs he was grinding on a stone.

"I heard that Kyokotsu died," he shrugged. "I've only seen Renkotsu and Ginkotsu. Renkotsu's patching him up."

"What's wrong with Ginkotsu?"

"Well, you know how he is," Jakotsu stretched, cracking his shoulders and neck as he did so. "He needs new gunpowder and whatnot. He's excited about all the new toys he can play with."

"Yes, well, I hear that you got a new toy as well," Mukotsu said pointedly.

"It's not new, just better," Jakotsu grinned. "I can finally have Jakotsutō as long as I've always wanted it. These shard things sure come in handy."

"You run along and play, then," Mukotsu said absently. "I'll find the rest of you later."

Jakotsu frowned. "You're planning on going after Inuyasha's gang?"

One of those giant wasp things flew down from a tree and hovered in front of them.

"What?" Jakotsu asked. "Is someone coming?" Wait- "Is it Inuyasha?"

"Excellent," Mukotsu grinned.

"Which ones are you after?" Jakotsu asked suspiciously.

"The fine slayer, of course."

"Good. I'll leave her and the demons to you. Inuyasha's mine – and don't touch the monk, either! I have plans for him, too."

"That's fine by me," Mukostu said, topping off one of his canteens of poison. "I have no interest in either of them. I'll be taking the Jewel shards, though."

Jakotsu shrugged. "Have fun. Just don't maim him."

xXx

"It looks like a village up ahead," Sango said, peering over Kirara's neck. "We can ask them if they've seen anything."

"Are you sure the poison trail went this way, Kirara?" Miroku asked, and the twin-tail nodded in response. "Alright, let's land outside. We don't know what surprises might be in store for us."

"And have your masks at the ready," Sango added. "If this stuff can burn Inuyasha's skin that easily, I don't want to know what it can do to our lungs. Kirara, you and Shippo wait outside until we call you."

Together they walked towards the village, hoping to find someone working in the fields that they could speak to, but it was suspiciously quiet. As they approached the first of the houses, Miroku and Sango exchanged a wary look, and he passed her a handful of sutras to place on Hiraikotsu.

They had barely passed through the first row of houses when they saw a body lying prone on the ground. They both ran for her, but it was clear that the young woman was already dead. An acrid scent lingered in the air around her, and they were already donning their masks by the time they saw the other bodies.

"They're all dead," Sango whispered in horror.

"Not just the humans," Miroku added, looking at the corpses of a dog, two horses, and a flock of birds that were still dropping one-by-one. "It's a trap."

"Can you sense a Jewel shard?" Sango asked, lifting Hiraikotsu above her head.

Miroku concentrated, ignoring the burning in his eyes and prickling along his skin. Just as he located the familiar pull of power, a tight, gurgling laugh came from that direction, followed by a plume of black smoke shooting towards them. Miroku and Sango jumped back in tandem.

"You can't outrun my poison," a drawling voice informed them as a squat man with bulging eyes stepped into view. His mouth was obscured by a swath of white cloth covering the lower half of his face. "And you won't be leaving with my Jewel shards."

"You underestimate us," Miroku said, his staff glowing with spiritual power, but this was no demonic miasma, and it made no difference.

"I'll admit that I'm impressed with your masks, there," the man said. "But they won't do you any good. My poisons attack through the eyes and skin."

Sango and Miroku took another step back.

"What do you want with us?" Miroku asked.

"With you? Nothing," the man said flatly. "I only want your shards." He turned his watery gaze onto Sango. "For you however, my lady, I have many plans."

Sango made a soft sound of disgust and tossed Hiraikotsu at the man. It shattered the bamboo canteen in his hands, sending a pale yellow-white poison dripping to the ground. The man's eyes flashed with anger and he grabbed another canteen and opened it. Black smoke billowed towards them, and both Sango and Miroku dropped to their knees as their bodies stopped responding to their movements.

"Pity," the man sighed. "I was hoping to keep you alive. Jakotsu asked me to, for you at least, monk. I'll have to get you home soon, my lady."

He started towards them, and Sango attempted to use Hiraikotsu to push him away, but her arms refused to lift up the weapon. Her heart began pounding as she glanced over at Miroku, and saw a bead of sweat slide down his brow as he struggled to move. Just as the man – Mukotsu? – reached her, a roar came from behind her and Kirara bounded over her head as she transformed. Her teeth closed around Mukotsu's arm and dragged him away, but suddenly he slammed another canteen in her face, and a sickly green-grey substance coated her fur. She gasped and mewled in pain, transforming down and writhing on the ground. Mukotsu kicked her away.

Sango lurched forward in an attempt to get to her, while Miroku tried to shove Mukotsu away from her with his staff, but both of them ended up collapsed fully on the ground. Mukotsu took a fan from his pocket and began fanning more of the black smoke towards them. Sango bit the inside of her cheek hard enough to draw blood as she tried to stay awake, but it was useless.

Miroku swore internally as he saw Sango's eyes slip shut. His training gave him a little more time, but not much. He couldn't draw Mukotsu into the wind tunnel for a number of reasons, and as he reached out with his mind, he found that he couldn't grasp the power of the nenju beads. His options were growing dangerously slim. He watched Mukotsu walking towards him until the man was towering above him.

"Where are the Jewel shards?" Mukotsu asked, bending over him.

Miroku mustered all his strength to spit in the man's face.

Mukotsu staggered back with an angry shout. He grabbed Miroku's robes and dragged them open, rummaging around and casting aside his coins, sutras, and other personal effects until he found the collection of boxes. He opened each of them in turn, admiring the poisons contained within them, until he found the small container sealed with a sutra. He ripped it open and sure enough, the Jewel shards fell into his waiting hand.

"Finaly!" Mukotsu crowed. "I'll be off, then." He eyed Miroku as he considered. "I told Jakotsu that I wouldn't kill you, but it's not my fault if you die on your own."

And with that he began walking away, dragging Sango behind him as he fanned another wave of poison towards Miroku. The black spots dancing in Miroku's vision grew larger and larger until he was floating in nothingness.

He was only roused for a moment as he felt something tugging at his arm. He pried his eyes open to see Shippo dragging at the sleeve of his robes, trying desperately and unsuccessfully to move him away from the remaining fumes. Kirara was lying beside him, still unconscious.

"Shippo," Miroku rasped with the last of his strength. "Get Inuyasha."

"But what about you?" the kit asked, his voice strangely distorted. "Miroku?"

He tried to respond, he really did, but the world slowly slipped away.

xXx

The scent was getting stronger. He must be getting close! Inuyasha ground his teeth and ran faster, the trees rushing past in a blur. He could just make out a clearing up ahead, at the top of a low, rolling hill. He slowed to a stop as he broke through the trees, utterly baffled at the sight before him. Jakotsu stood on the trunk of a fallen tree, his robes spread wide open and fanning himself with the fabric.

"Hey, Inuaysha!" he greeted exuberantly.

"What the hell are you doing?" Inuyasha asked despite himself.

"You came after my smell, right?" Jakotsu asked. "Kohaku said you were half-dog. I just wanted to make sure you could smell me easy enough!"

Inuyasha growled and pulled out Tessaiga. "Go to hell, you asshole!"

Jakotsu's lower lip stuck out as he pouted. "Now, that wasn't very nice." He hopped down from the log and walked towards Inuyasha, hands on hips. "I'm just trying to be friendly. I think we could have a good time together, you and I. With our swords or," he pulled out his long multi-blade. "With our swords. Up to you."

Inuyasha was trying to wrap his mind around that particular statement when Jakotsu attacked. The power with which he struck his sword against Tessaiga was more than a human should have, even one whose strength was heightened by a Jewel shard. He pushed Inuyasha back a step, shoving at Tessaiga just enough to be able to yank his own sword back and strike at him with the extended blade. Inuyasha barely had time to leap out of the way, the blade biting into the ground at his feet.

"That's it," Jakotsu breathed, and Inuyasha could smell the reek of arousal rolling off him. "Keep running."

"Quit it!" Inuyasha snapped, trying to form a Wind Scar in his mind – but with no youki around to connect to, he couldn't. He settled for flinging himself at Jakotsu again, holding Tessaiga out in front of him to block the incoming attack, and aim for Jakotsu's head. But as he swung, Jakotsu simply dropped limply to the ground. Inuyasha pulled back, startled, but still overshot and landed hard on his knees. As he clambered to his feet, he spun around to see Jakotsu lying on his side, propping up his head with one hand, his robes still gaping open to reveal his bare skin and armour.

"I like your angry face, too," Jakotsu grinned, and licked his lips. "This is going to be fun."

He threw his blade at Inuyasha again, who threw himself out of the way. As the blade stretched out, Jakotsu trying to twist it after him, Inuyasha pulled on his youki and hurled into the air, over Jakotsu's head. He threw a punch at the spectre, but Jakotsu laughed gleefully as he danced out of the way, and spun to throw his blade after Inuyasha once more.

"This'll be all over once I break that stupid sword of yours!" Inuyasha hissed.

"Oh, you think you can stop a snake's bite?" Jakostu asked mockingly. "Please, be my guest."

Inuyasha snarled and slashed with Tessaiga, trying again and again to stop the sword. But Jakotsu was too fast. The blade struck deep into his shoulder, his side, and his back as he tried to cut through it with Tessaiga. His youki was swirling around him in an increasingly frantic light, and even though he was keeping himself under control, he could feel it shifting under his skin. He was able to grasp it and focus it into Tessaiga, and the sword began to hum with power. He would just have to be a little faster, figure out a way to trick Jakotsu, and then-

"Inuyasha!"

He whipped around in the direction of Shippo's scream. He barely even noticed the sword which slashed across his upper arm.

"Inuyasha, where are you?" Shippo called again, and his voice was a sob.

"Shippo!" Inuyasha shouted, leaping away from Jakotsu. "I'm here! Shippo!"

It didn't take long for a pink orb to appear through the trees. Shippo transformed down and raced towards him, tears in his eyes. Inuyasha ran to meet him.

"Inuyasha, that poison guy attacked the others and he captured Sango and Miroku and Kirara aren't waking up and Miroku told me to find you but I didn't want to leave him but he told me and-"

"Woah, slow down," Inuyasha said, swallowing his panic. "The others are alive?"

"They're all hurt, and Mukotsu has Sango!"

There was a growl behind them, and Jakotsu's sword bit deep into his thigh. "Your opponent is me!"

"Shut up!" Inuyasha snapped at him, and swung Shippo onto his shoulder. "Let's go!"

"I won't let you escape," Jakotsu hissed, low and dangerous.

Inuyasha glanced back just in time to see the sword flying at them. Shippo spun around and threw something from inside his robes, and suddenly a giant wooden toy snake had tangled itself into the blade, stopping it dead. The long string of blades clattered to the ground. It would have been the perfect moment for Inuyasha to snap the sword in pieces, if he'd given another thought to Jakotsu in that moment. Instead he ran, and could vaguely hear the spectre shouting after him.

xXx

Sango was absolutely fuming. Abduct her, why not? Oh, sure! She wasn't pissed at all. Mukotsu had seen fit to tie her hands behind her back, even though she still couldn't move from the effects of the poison. Mukotsu was kneeling a little ways away, scurrying around the hut as he gathered together flowers and swaths of cloth, and stirred a pot over the irori. Sango glared at his back as she tried to work the poison packet out of her sleeve.

But then Mukotsu turned around, holding a long piece of white cloth. He squatted down next to her and began wiping the grime from her face with perverse tenderness.

"There," he whispered. "That's better, isn't it? My, you're a pretty one."

"Guh," Sango barely managed. "Go fuck yourself."

Mukotsu looked taken aback, and something dangerous flashed in his eyes before he laughed. "Fighting words from a slayer, so I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. Still, you'll want to calm yourself sooner rather than later. There's a poisonous barrier around this house. No one is coming to save you, and you won't be able to move for a long while yet."

He lifted her chin with his fingers and turned her head from side to side.

"Yes," he purred. "You'll make a lovely bride."

What?

"I'm sorry that I don't have all the necessary items," Mukotsu continued as he maneuvered her into a kneeling position. "But I've been kept somewhat busy of late, you must understand."

"And how's that?" Sango gasped. "Following Naraku's orders?"

"Couldn't tell you," Mukotsu grinned. "You'll have to ask the boss. I'm sure he'll be terribly forthcoming, now that you're becoming part of the family."

Sango gagged a little. One of his hands braced against her back while the other was clenched around her chin. He then leaned in, so the scruff on his chin brushed her cheek.

"You see, I've been searching so long for a woman to be mine," he whispered into her ear. "With a face such as this, I'm not too popular with the ladies. But you're used to demons, so I can't be too much worse, eh? I swear, I'll treat you like a real lady. Then, you'll see."

He grabbed a white jug from where it rested near the fire and poured the clear liquid inside into a small cup.

"A drink, my dear?" he offered, and lifted the cup to her lips.

She sucked the sake into her mouth and as soon as he bent down in front of her, she spat it into his face. He cried out and stumbled back, rubbing the stinging alcohol from his eyes.

"What is it with you lot and spitting?" he scowled angrily.

Sango smirked.

"Come now, my wife," he spat the word. "Let us dance."

He lifted her to her feet, and supported her weight, though she was a good two heads taller than him. He pressed his face into her abdomen and held her as they began swaying. He began singing a little nonsense song, occasionally stopping to giggle as he did so. Sango kept leaning on him as she did so, trying to get as close to his face as possible in hopes of seeing where the Jewel shard was hidden. But she could barely sense its presence, and she didn't have Miroku's powers. She'd have to settle for stabbing Mukotsu all over – which, honestly, was no hardship at all.

"A bride to be, a bride for me," he was singing to himself, and laughed once more. "Come now, my dear. We must see to our vows."

He maneuvered her down to kneel in front of the fire. He settled down beside her and opened his mouth to say something more when suddenly his head whipped around, and he stared at the door. It was what Sango had been waiting for.

She sprung the hidden blade against her forearm which cut through her bonds, and then she kicked Mukotsu into the fire just as Miroku kicked down the door. His staff was blazing with spiritual light, forming a protective shield around him against the poison. He met her eyes as he staggered inside, both of them still shaky on their feet, and threw Hiraikotsu to her. She didn't so much catch the weapon as steer it towards Mukotsu, knocking him down once more.

But the spectre wasn't nearly as injured by the flames as he should have been, and he angrily pushed the weapon off himself.

"How dare you?" he hissed, already reaching for one of the many canteens which lay scattered around the hut.

Miroku saw what he was doing and rushed to stop him, and was hit with a face full of poison as a result. He gasped and staggered back, the new rush of fumes compounding with the older dose and instantly sending him to his knees. Sango hurried to his side and dragged one of the monk's arms over her shoulders.

"Kirara?" she called out, figuring that Miroku couldn't have found her on his own.

Kirara burst through the ceiling and landed between her and Mukotsu. She growled fiercely at the spectre before nudging Sango towards her back.

"Oh no you don't!" Mukotsu snapped, and threw a vial of poison at her.

It connected with Kirara's side and she yowled in agony as it began burning at her skin. Miroku dragged himself across her back to begin purifying the poison while Sango drew her sword and faced down Mukotsu. But the poison was swirling in the air and she couldn't see straight. Mukotsu grabbed another canteen and sucked the poison into his mouth before spewing it forward. The world spun, and the next thing Sango knew, her cheek was pressed to the floor, and Kirara was an unmoving weight across her legs.

Mukotsu cackled with a sinister edge to his voice as he looked down on them.

"What a pity," he said to Sango. "You would have made me such a fine bride."

Miroku made a short, choked noise, and Mukotsu's face twisted in rage. He picked up yet another canteen and held it for a moment, as though deciding. But then something shifted behind her, and the dome of a barrier sprung up around them. She looked over her shoulder to see Miroku's pale face, and she could tell by the grim expression he wore that he wouldn't be able to hold up the barrier for long. Mukotsu seemed to know it, too.

"Very clever, monk," he grinned. "But I have all the time in the world. Do you?"

"Miroku," Sango breathed. "Where?"

"I…" he said raggedly. "I can't…"

His barrier pulsed as he groaned in quiet pain. Sango gripped her sword tighter. As soon as the barrier disappeared she lunged forward, and stabbed the tip of her sword into Mukotsu's brow. Right where Kouga said he'd found the shard in the giant spectre. But Mukotsu only laughed.

"Now there," he said, almost consolingly. "What were you trying to do?"

Sango growled as she sank to the ground, the poison overwhelming her.

"I should have known," Mukotsu sighed, and he looked genuinely upset. "You could never love me. It's because of my face, isn't it?"

"What-" Sango gasped. "The hell are you going on about?"

"I won't forgive you for this, you know," Mukotsu informed her calmly, kneeling down beside her. "You hurt my feelings. I won't allow you to repent."

His fingers closed around her throat, and gradually increased the pressure.

Miroku watched helplessly as Sango gasped for air, but there was nothing he could do. His body refused to move, and it was all he could do to keep his eyes open. There was nothing he could do! Kirara was still unconscious, Sango couldn't lift a finger to fight off Mukotsu, and any moment now, he would-

A bright green light burst behind Mukotsu, and he dropped Sango as though she'd burned him. He whimpered and whipped around to stare at the figure who'd appeared in the middle of the room. Miroku hadn't seen Sesshomaru come in, but the inu-youkai looked pissed. He raised his claws once more, the green poison still dripping from them, and slashes Mukotsu across the chest.

"What's this?" Mukotsu wheezed, clutching his chest. "Who are you, barging in here?"

One slightly raised brow was the only indication Miroku could see that Sesshomaru was surprised at the response. He shifted his gaze beyond Mukotsu to meet Miroku's eyes.

"Inuyasha isn't here?" he asked coolly.

Miroku shook his head vaguely, but Mukotsu scowled.

"Who are you?" he demanded Sesshomaru in what could be considered a very poor decision.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I should be the one asking you."

"You attacked me and you don't even know who I am?" Mukotsu scoffed. "Why, the insolence-"

He opened the canister to his left and shot a stream of thick greenish-yellow smoke towards Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru didn't move a muscle, but his aura flashed blue around him, and the poison was burned away.

"Pathetic," he intoned.

Mukotsu turned and ran, leaping over Kirara and Miroku to race out the door. Sesshomaru didn't spare the others a glance as he followed after him.

This creature was the lowest of the low. It had deigned to insult him, and he could not allow that to pass. The little man ran towards the cover of the trees before he swung around, a thick bamboo container in his hands.

"You can still move after meeting my claws?" Sesshomaru asked, out of the mildest curiosity.

"You may have poison, but I am the poison master!" the disgusting creature exclaimed, and then threw the container at Sesshomaru.

He batted it away but it burst apart upon impact. A noxious grey cloud filled the air around him. Sesshomaru fixed his glare upon his trembling prey.

"I- I don't understand!" the creature was yammering. "How did- Wait! Wait, please! I was wrong- Forgive me- Just don't take my life!" He held his hands in front of his face as though to shield himself. As though it would have make the slightest bit of difference.

Sesshomaru stopped in front of him. He reached for Tokijin, and in a flash, he had cleaved the creature in two from his skull through his ribcage. Instantly his flesh crumbled and began to rot away, confirming his suspicions that this had been nothing more than a shadow filled with a hollow half-life. Pathetic.

"You!" an angry shout came from further in the forest. He turned to see Inuyasha racing towards him, lips pulled back in a snarl, a fox on his shoulder. His brother skidded to a stop, looking around wildly before his eyes lightened on where his pack lay inside.

Panic ripped white and hot through him as he threw himself into the hut. His hands were frantic on Miroku's face, grabbing Kirara's fur and reaching for Sango as he honed all his senses on their languid heartbeats. Stress lay thick in their scents, and poison lingered in the air. He felt eyes on him and he whipped around.

"Bastard!" he snarled, his vision flashing red. "What did you do to them?"

Sesshomaru sneered. "Are you accusing me of something?"

Inuyasha growled and climbed to his feet, already reaching for Tessaiga.

"No," Sango's voice rasped out weakly. "Don't." Inuyasha tore his eyes from Sesshomaru to race to her side. "He saved us," she said, grasping onto his sleeve. "He killed Mukotsu."

Inuyasha stared at his brother incredulously. But then Sango's hand fell limply to the floor, and he shook her with a startled cry.

"I did not save them," Sesshomaru snapped, though Inuyasha barely heard him. "He was a nuisance. I merely came to seek you out."

"Me?" Inuyasha asked absently as he checked his pack's breathing. "Why?"

"I found the scent of the boy, Kohaku, nearby," Sesshomaru said stiffly. "Is Naraku here?"

"I don't know," Inuyasha said shortly. "We think so, but other than Kohaku, there's been no sign of him, and these guys don't want to talk."

"There are more of them?"

"Seven, we think. Two are dead already. They all have a Jewel shard."

"I care little for the politics of the Jewel," Sesshomaru sniffed. "But if there are others who may lead me to Naraku, then I shall pursue them."

"Yeah, sure, go ahead," Inuyasha muttered. He gripped Miroku's shoulder tightly as the monk's expression twisted in pain. "Hey, love? You awake?"

"I will take my leave," Sesshomaru said, and Inuyasha spared a moment to think on how unusual it was for the snippy asshole to announce his departure instead of just taking off. Then he realized that Sesshomaru might be pissy because he was being ignored. That, at least, was one good thing to come out of this whole mess.

Jakotsu watched the other demon take a few steps away then lift into the air and vanish. He swallowed hard. Spooky guy, scary guy, and very much the sexiest thing he'd ever seen. Not to mention that he had no idea who this guy was! They hadn't been told anything about him, and that made him all the more intriguing. Jakotsu wanted to learn more, even if he had killed Mukotsu. Luckily, from the sounds of it, this white-haired beauty would be coming to him shortly.

As it was, Inuyasha seemed to be in a bad mood, and for once, there was something more important than poking him. He watched one of those giant wasps settle onto the pile of Mukotsu's bones and pull out a pink shard which pulsed with power. The wasp began carrying it away, and Jakotsu watched it go. Naraku, huh? Everyone seemed to be after him, and yet he hadn't been told anything about this person. Kohaku had refused to say anything about his master. It didn't sit right with him. Back before they died, they'd always spoken to the lords they worked for directly. And the one time they were hired by generals, it had ended with their heads being chopped off. He didn't much care for that experience to repeat itself. So he blew Inuyasha a kiss goodbye and followed after the insect, keen to learn more.

"Miroku," Inuyasha whispered, brushing the sweat-soaked hair from his partner's brow. "Come on, love. You have to wake up."

"I can't recognize the scent of this poison," Shippo's shrill voice was saying worriedly. "I don't know what herbs to give them!"

"We'll try everything," Inuyasha said gruffly. "It has to work."

Miroku made a soft noise and he cracked his eyes open. He briefly met Inuyasha's gaze before grimacing in pain. Inuyasha cradled him to his chest.

"It's okay," he whispered into his hair. "You're gonna be okay. The worst is over, and I'm here, now. You just gotta hang in there, you hear? I'll take care of everything else."

"I'm alright," Miroku murmured into his robes. "Just tired. Kirara had…different poison. Make sure…"

He squeezed his eyes shut in pain and his fingers clutched at Inuyasha's robes. Inuyasha tasted blood as he bit his lip.

"Don't worry, love," he promised solemnly. "I'll take care of everyone. You just focus on yourself, okay? Just stay with me, beloved."

He stared into the dying fire of the hut, knowing that they had to get somewhere safe, but momentarily consumed by the crushing guilt. It was his fault. He should never have left. He should have stayed by their side, where he belonged.

xXx

Voices drifted through the forest, vaguely and painfully familiar. He ignored them as best he could, waiting at his post until instructed to move. He didn't have to wait much longer. A Saimyosho broke through the canopy and hovered in front of him, something clutched in its jaws. He held out a hand, and it dropped the Jewel shard into his palm. Another dead, then. He wondered which one. Jakotsu had disobeyed once more, as had Mukotsu, and Renkotsu had informed him more than asked to take over the nearby temple. He was losing control over his charges, and that didn't bode well for anyone. His only hope was that they would be killed off quickly, before they could do even more damage.

As the Saimyosho flew away, he knew that she had seen him. He carefully didn't look at her and instead stood still, trying to catch a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye. A young girl, less than ten years old, staring at him with large eyes. She had stopped talking to the little imp next to her, yet she wasn't calling out to him. She looked as though she knew him. Why didn't she try to catch his attention? Was she frightened of him? The thought sent an unpleasant wave of cold dread washing through him. Had he hurt her, in some way? He had a feeling that he did. He knew that he'd hurt a lot of people.

But as the imp asked what the little girl was looking at, she answered dismissively, and turned away. Kohaku walked in the opposite direction, hoping to keep any of the Saimyosho from spotting the pair.

xXx

Bodies were strewn across the temple's courtyard, some already dragged to the pyre to be burnt, others just lying there. Jakotsu scowled at them as he followed his insect guide up the unnecessarily long flight of steps. Damn, Renkotsu – why here, of all places? Then again, he was always scheming. He probably had a good reason.

He poked his head through the rooms of the temple until he found Renkotsu. He'd swapped his previous blue clothes for the heavy yellow and purple robes of a monk. They would look ridiculous on most people, but Renkotsu tended to be able to pull off that kind of thing.

"Yo," Jakotsu called out to him. "You moved in here?"

"I thought that it would do nicely for our purposes," Renkotsu said calmly, gesturing for him to sit by the tray of tea he'd prepared. "The former occupants were quite accommodating."

Jakotsu snorted. "Sure. How many'd you kill?"

"Only the brothers and a few occupants," Renkotsu smiled lightly. "No one of note."

"But you decided to wear their clothes," Jakotsu pointed out. "Why bother?"

"I have some plans."

"Figures." He rolled his eyes. "I came to tell you that Mukotsu's dead."

Renkotsu sighed. "Already?"

"Yeah. He went after Inuyasha's woman and then this other demon killed him."

"Oh?" Renkotsu said, pausing as he lifted his cup of tea. "Not Inuyasha?"

"Right? I thought he would, but this other guy got there first."

"Describe him."

"Cold eyes," Jakotsu said thoughtfully. "Stiff posture. A bit snooty, you know? Handsome, you could say, but a bit stuck up. I guess he's okay. I like the cuter ones, though, like Inuyasha."

Renkotsu cleared his throat, his usual hint for Jakotsu to shut the fuck up. "I believe we're losing focus."

"I'm worried," Jakotsu blurted out, and silently cursed himself – he was trying to keep some things inside. "There's a lot of things we don't know about, isn't there? Why are there so many demons after us? They've never bothered us before. And who's this Naraku guy who resurrected us? What is he, and where is he, and what does he want?"

"About that," Renkotsu said slowly, and Jakotsu stared at him.

"You've met him?" he asked curiously.

"According to that young boy, only Bankotsu has met Naraku, when he agreed to the terms of our employment. That is why we are now allowed to keep the Shikon Jewel fragments even after our contract has terminated."

"Yeah, well, I don't like it," Jakotsu shrugged. "I get that this is a good job, but two of our brothers are dead again. Now there's only four of us left."

Renkotsu's eyes flashed in a way that told him he'd just said something stupid. "Seven minus two is five."

"Huh?" Jakotsu looked at his fingers, counting off each of them and then taking two away, but somehow he still-

"Regardless," Renkotsu said smoothly. "Jakotsu, what became of the woman that Mukotsu claimed?"

"Oh, she and the monk were poisoned," Jakotsu said absently. "Mukotsu's finest, from what I saw. Why, you want her?"

"No," Renkotsu mused. "If Mukotsu has poisoned them, then they won't survive for long."

"I'll say," Jakotsu snorted. "I'd be impressed if they lived past sunset. Damn. I told Mukotsu to leave the monk to me!"

"Don't trouble yourself," Renkotsu assured him. "Ginkotsu is heading towards Inuyasha right now. He ought to give them all a good fight, and then you can pick up the pieces."

xXx

Inuyasha draped his suikan over Miroku and then shirked off his hadagi to place over Sango. He listened intently to their breathing and tried to slow the beating of his heart. There was no wheeze in their chest, only a little pain in their sweat, but they refused to wake up again. Mukotsu's poison seemed to have dug in its fangs and it wasn't letting them go, even after he and Shippo had force-fed them Jinenji's herbs.

"Maybe it's a different kind of poison from the miasma," Shippo whispered as he crouched beside them. "Maybe the herbs won't work."

"Sure they will," Inuyasha said, because he had to. "It'll just take a while to fight off the poison. We need to keep them safe and warm until then."

Shippo nodded firmly, but Kirara was staring at him with fear in her eyes. She could still barely stand, but from what she'd communicated and what he could tell from her scent, she wasn't in any danger. Not like his humans.

He looked around at the river, where he'd washed the poison from their skin and gotten them both to drink. It would do for now, but they needed somewhere to lay low until they had recovered. If Naraku was watching them, he wanted them out of sight. Kirara was still too weak to fly them anywhere for a while. He would have to find someplace for them for the night, at least. As he knelt down and ran his fingers through Miroku's hair, his eyes landed on a temple barely peeking out over the trees to the west of them. Maybe, he hoped, they would be able to find help there.

Jakotsu is, very unfortunately, my chaotic gay disaster son

I'm pleased to announce that I have finally plotted out the final season of this monster, which means I have no excuse but to keep going until I finish it! The last season is going to be by far the most different from the source material, but I keep a lot of the same aspects, just in a wildly different order. It also means that I'm gonna be hella foreshadowing stuff, even more so than I already have been