Chapter XIX

Arashi returned to his study with a plate full of food. He sat down and munched on some dried meat. As he was reading one of his scrolls, when he began to notice something was off. He began searching for a particular documentation that would help him with his scheme to kill Sesshomaru and that inu-brat of the Dog General.

"What the hell! Where is it?!" He scented the air. "Hn... strange that I don't smell any scents. Someone must have been hiding their scents. Now a question or two came to mind... who and how." He sat down and thought about what had just happened.

Meanwhile, Inuhime and Zokushi made their way towards her brothers and the General. Once they arrived to where they were, the female miko-youkai decided to surprise them by hiding their scents and auras. When Inuhime and Zokushi walked inside the camp behind Sesshomaru, the facial expressions of Hikaru and Inuyasha were priceless, especially Hikaru because he hadn't seen or heard from Zokushi in such a long time. He was about to say something but Inuhime gestured a figure to her ruby-red lips to keep both him and Inuyasha from saying anything. Sesshomaru was gazing into the fire. He was so much in deep thought that he barely noticed a tap to his shoulder.

Inuhime thought, "He must be so worried." Then she quietly said, "Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru heard his twin's voice and looked over his shoulder. His facial expression was priceless. If it was under different circumstances, the females would have laugh until tears came to their eyes, however, this wasn't time for fun and games. This was war.
After the shock wore off, Sesshomaru looked at her and at her childhood friend with a raised eyebrow questioningly. He noticed that Kagome wasn't among them. He was about to ask where she was, but...

"Oi, where's Kagome?! Who's this bitch," Inuyasha shouted rudely.

Inuhime sighed. "First of all, Kagome is fine. She's with an ally. Secondly, this is an old friend of mine, Zokushi. Zokushi, this is my little brother, Inuyasha. I am certain that you remember my twin and Hikaru, don't you?"

Zokushi remembered them alright. "Nice to meet you, Inuyasha. It's good to see you, two, again."

"Hn... Inuki, you said that Kagome's with an ally. Who?"

"She's with Ryu," she said like it was no big deal.

The half brothers growled, "What?!"

Inuhime rolled her eyes, "Look, Ryu's an ally. A good one."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at his twin. "How can you be so certain, sister? He's a dragon!"

Zokushi answered his question before her friend did. She couldn't stand Sesshomaru sometimes. "Because he wants to be lord." Hikaru's eyes widened because he thought about the worst case scenario. Inuhime sighed and knew what Hikaru was thinking. "Don't worry, Hikaru. Him and I are just friends. Allies. Besides, I love you, Hikaru. I will mate you after all this is over."

Hikaru's facial expression was one of relief. He leaned down to kiss her, passionately.

Sesshomaru coughed to get their and everyone's attention. He asked Inuhime once she looked at him, "Does Arashi and his heir know that you escaped?"

"No. Not yet, anyway. As far as they know everything is going accordingly." He smirked at his sister and her cunning thinking. "The only one who knows other than us is Ryu."

"I see."

"Zokushi and I will stay put and keep an aura and scent barrier up; so that Ryutaro couldn't sense us. However, you, Hikaru, and Inuyasha must meet them, so that he wouldn't be suspicious of either of your absences."

Sesshomaru nodded in understanding and commanded his General and Inuyasha to follow him. Of course, Inuyasha said, "Oi, don't go ordering me around!"

If Sesshomaru was anyone else, he would have rolled his eyes, which he wasn't. He kept his face expressionless and turned his heel and walked away, followed by Hikaru and then Inuyasha, after he grumbled underneath his breath about his brother being an ice prick and so forth. Inuhime and Zokushi giggled.

"That's Inuyasha? He's a wild one, huh?"

Inuhime sighed. "Yeah. He wasn't raise like we were."

"I see."

Meanwhile, Sesshomaru, Hikaru, and Inuyasha were about to make their appearance to their enemies, but just before they enter their camp, Sesshomaru stopped and faced his half-brother and the General. "Before we make an appearance, we must think of a way to get Kagome out of there before the fighting starts."

"Keh! I already know that, ice-prick."

Hikaru hit Inuyasha on the head with his fist. "Respect our lord or suffer the consequences," he growled.

"Feh, when I respect that ice bastard is the day I die."

"Why..."

Sesshomaru interrupted their bickering. Not at all affected by Inuyasha's disrespect. "That's enough. We are wasting time as it is. Inuyasha, you will get Kagome and returned to camp and await us there. Hikaru, you are to fight along side me. Is that understood?"

Hikaru bowed and said respectfully, "Yes, milord." Inuyasha being his brash self said, "Keh, whatever."

Both Sesshomaru and Hikaru were surprised that Inuyasha didn't protest about not getting into the fighting. Sesshomaru surmised that he wanted Kagome somewhere safe first and then join in the fighting. He, honestly, doesn't care if he fights or not; just so that Kagome is safe and sound first. He would have done it himself, but he or Hikaru would have to fight Ryutaro and mock fight with Ryu.

At the enemy camp...

Ryu sensed that the brothers and the General are near. If he were being honest with himself, he was nervous. He knew that Inuhime warning about being maimed by Sesshomaru and/or Hikaru wasn't exaggerated. He knew he would have to make it look believable. He would no doubt think that Sesshomaru, Hikaru, or even the half-breed. He had heard of Inuyasha's strength. It was surprising to say the least, but he would respect that strength; half-breed or not. It was still formidable.

Ryutaro also sensed them coming. He smirked. "So it begins."

Ryu looked at his brother and at the treeline. His heart was racing. Kagome also sensed them coming, hence the reason why she opened her blue eyes. She could feel Ryu's tension. She looked at him in sympathy. He noticed and nodded in reassurance that he would be fine. All of this went unnoticed by Ryutaro.

When the ryu brothers and the inu brothers and the inu general, Ryutaro smirked arrogantly. "Well, you finally decide to show yourselves while we await for your arrival."

"Cut the chit-chat and tell me where Kagome is," Inuyasha growled impatiently.

Ryu remarked, "My, my, you are an impatient one, aren't you?"

"Keh. Just tell me where Kagome is, you scaly bastard!"

Sesshomaru immediately noticed Kagome once they walked into the camp. "Let her go. It's this Sesshomaru that you want."

"That's true, but I think I will hold on to her. After I am finish with you, I will be making her my mate and take over your lands like we were meant to."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at Ryutaro. He said as he unsheathed his sword, "This one thinks not. You will die along with your brother and your father."

"We'll see about that, dog!" After that he charged at Sesshomaru with his own sword. Hikaru and Ryu also began their mock battle, Inuyasha sneaked across the camp. He tapped on Kagome's shoulder, then gestured for her to remain quiet as he got down on his knees. Kagome quickly and quietly got on Inuyasha's back and they took off without looking back. Kagome really wanted to stay behind, but she knew she would be in the way, if she had stayed. She silently prayed for Sesshomaru to have a quick victory. She wasn't really worried about Hikaru and Ryu. That was because Inuhime told her before they left that she would explain everything to her brothers and her intended. Inuyasha looked over his shoulder at the half-brother and then Kagome.

He said inwardly, "Sesshomaru, you better beat the fuck out of that dragon and then kill him!" Then he faced forward and moved toward the campsite.

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari