Technically, three reviews does not warrant an update, but I'm bored and putting off the time when I shall have to go outside and maim myself on the blackberry bushes in my never-ending search for sweet dessert food...mmm...blackberries...okay, so anyway, I also think I should just update because man, that last chapter was traumatizing, and we all need to move on, right? Okay, let's get this show on the road.

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Fate's Reversal

Part 15

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Nigai dropped the remnants of his bedding, his nearly constant tirade on his hate for Naraku coming to an abrupt stop. He flew to the bars of his cell as he watched the two strange youkai enter the dungeons. "Who are you?" he echoed Haruka's inquiry. The male turned to him and snorted disdainfully before returning his attention to Yuki.

"You, you're their leader?" he asked the boy who was still clutching to Haruka as though these new youkai would try to steal her from him. "Your woman...she looks...very familiar." He cast a glance at his female companion who looked like a black haired version of the young woman in the cell.

"Your hair...it's like mine..." Haruka reached forward to grab a lock of the boy's silver hair. "My brother and I are the only people I've ever known with hair this color."

"Fuyu...she looks a lot like daddy, don't you think?" the girl asked after a few silent moments. The boy rolled his blue eyes, turning to his companion.

"Natsu, I told you not to say anything unless we were sure that they were friends." Fuyu scolded her.

"But they're Naraku's prisoners, right?" she argued. "They probably like him even less than daddy does."

"I don't think anyone likes him less than us." Nigai supplied helpfully, happy to see that these two youkai were enemies of Naraku.

"See? Let's let them out." Natsu suggested. "They can help us find him."

"Excuse me? I'm Yuki, first son of Kouga, leader of the wolf youkai of the Western Mountains. You can help us find him." Yuki stuck out his chest, his voice thick with pride and authority. "Now, let us out and you shall be properly rewarded later."

"A wolf prince?" Fuyu sneered. "Just what I need."

"Who are you to challenge me?" Yuki asked, his tone authoritative and full of practiced calm.

"I am Fuyu, first son of Sesshoumaru, Lord of all the Western Lands." Fuyu told him, a smug smirk on his lips.

"You're his only son anyway, Fuyu." Natsu rolled her golden eyes as she worked at Nigai's door. Finally, she tricked the lock and it fell open, the ethereal barrier spell dissolving in a crackle of magical energy. "That's a pretty stupid spell. Dissolves as soon as I let you out. This Naraku guy can't be much, can he?"

"Natsu...what are you doing?" Fuyu didn't sound nearly as sure of himself now.

"There you are, now go help those two." Natsu pushed Nigai toward Amai and Sekatsu's cell. "There's a good boy, now."

"Boy? I'm twelve years old." He informed her. "Almost thirteen."

"Well, I am thirteen, so I'm still older." she smiled to take the sting out of her words.

"Natsu! You can't let them out yet!" Fuyu stomped angrily. "I'm in charge here."

"Whatever, Fuyu. I'm sure it'll be fiine." Natsu worked at Tsuyo's lock calmly. "Plus, you may rank higher than Yuki, but he is older than you. And daddy'd get upset if you made all the wolf youkai mad at us. Dog youkai and wolf youkai don't get along well as it is. So stop being such a baby and let them out."

"Me? You're always the one who...oh fine then." Fuyu grumbled, working at Yuki and Haruka's lock.

"Dog youkai? You guys are dog youkai?" Haruka asked them, remembering something of the stories her parents had told her when she was young. "My dad was a dog youkai."

"Was? What are you talking about?" Fuyu asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, he was a hanyou, but then he got the Shikon no Tama and turned himself into a human so he could live with my mom." Haruka explained. "It's kind of a long story, but it's true."

"Sounds...hey wait a second...Fuyu, do you remember that story? I swear, I've heard it before somewhere...one of our relatives...what was his name?" Natsu paused before returning her attention to Tsuyo's lock, finally opening it as well.

"Now that you mention it, yeah, I do remember that story. Wasn't that...um...wasn't that Inuyasha?" Fuyu asked her, his tongue obviously not used to the name.

"Inuyasha! That's my dad alright!" Haruka confirmed, excited that these strange youkai knew of him.

"Yeah, he was daddy's little brother." Natsu clapped her hands together, pleased at her recollection. "You're his daughter?"

"Yeah I am." Haruka admitted. "But I don't remember...wait, I guess he did once say something about his brother Sesshoumaru."

"Well, I guess that makes us cousins." Fuyu shook his head as he finally got the cell open. "I didn't even know I had any cousins."

"Wow! I have a cousin!" Natsu hopped over to Haruka, stealing her attention from Yuki as she leapt into an embrace of her new found relation. "Haruka, you don't know how bad it is only having a brother. He's no fun, always all serious like daddy. Thank the gods that you're my cousin!"

"Wow...nice to meet you then." Haruka looked a bit confused, but she didn't push the girl away.

"Um...does anyone else think this is kind of strange?" Tsuyo asked. "I mean, two strange youkai come and rescue us, and they turn out to be Haruka's cousins? What the hell..."

"Watch your mouth." Haruka glared at the boy.

"Lord Sesshoumaru is your uncle? Are you sure?" Yuki looked a bit pale.

"So what?" Haruka asked, shrugging as she released Natsu.

"It means that you're more powerful than him." Nigai told her. "Technically, your dad can kill him since he never asked permission to mate you."

"That's silly, though! My dad wouldn't kill you over some youkai law!" Haruka exclaimed.

"Huh, yeah right." Tsuyo chuckled.

"I don't think he'll need the law." Sekatsu spoke up as Nigai freed Amai and himself. "He's...a little overprotective."

"Really?" Yuki moved a bit away from his mate.

"That's nice, but we need to hurry up and get out of here." Fuyu stepped into the conversation. "We're here by order of our father to discover the whereabouts of Naraku."

"We'll need your help." Natsu added. "But it's pretty dangerous, so you don't have to come with us if you don't want to."

"We're coming." Nigai stepped forward, his hand holding onto his sister's as though he thought they might be separated again. "At least, I am. I can't speak for the rest." He patted his sister's head and she lunged into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder. Sekatsu looked on, biting back his jealousy at how suddenly he was pushed aside. She must have missed her brother, they're twins after all.

"I'll go too." he spoke up, careful not to glare at Nigai.

"And me." Tsuyo nodded. "I may not be much help, but someone has to watch out for Sekatsu." he ruffled his brother's hair, inciting a short wrestling match between the reunited twins.

"If Haruka wants to..." Yuki left off, looking down at her.

"No way I'm letting that bastard off so easy." She nodded her agreement, dropping a kiss on Yuki's chin.

"We're in." Yuki nodded firmly.

"Amai?" Nigai looked at his silent sister. Blue eyes met blue, and she nodded sharply before burying herself back in his arms.

"All of us, then." Fuyu nodded.

"You know, with this many of us, that guy's gonna be running scared!" Natsu exclaimed, gesticulating wildly. "We'll kick his ass!"

"We'll rip out his throat!" Nigai added. The two young youkai began to make up more elaborate plans of what they would do once they found Naraku. It was enough to relax the atmosphere and let the companions enjoy each other's company while they still could.

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The End (Of Part 15, That Is)

Will the dungeon gang ever leave the dungeon or will they have to wait into eternity for Nigai and Natsu to stop describing Naraku's impending doom? Will they be able to find Naraku? Where did he go? Is he off doing something evil and nasty? Is he ever not doing something evil and nasty? Will Sekatsu be able to compete with Nigai? Or will Amai not need his hugs now that she has her nice twin brother? Will I finish this story before Christmas? Will it ever end????

Until next time, remember that Yusho is mine, and those that attempt to steal him don't get away without injuries.