Chapter Seven: Reunited

He found himself at the bottom of a well he was sure it wasn't the one he just left but had no time to care. He jumped with inhuman strength up thru the wells mouth and found himself in a grassy clearing watching a cat youkai closing in on the flying form of his love. He smelled the blood in the air that was hers and saw another form fast approaching with an unsheathed sword aiming for the demon. He pushed power from his body into the katana's blade and ran toward the melee just as his wife hit a tree in her flight path and lost consciousness. The power bust two the sword made his disguising spell shatter but he gave it no head. Both part demon's came down on the cat demon at the same time and cut the creature in three sections. They then both pulled away and waited to see if the cat youkai would resurrect. The three parts laid still for several seconds and both eased their positions. Duncan took one look at Inuyasha recognizing him from the show then looked around to find his mate. She was laying at the bottom of a tree on its large tangle of roots flat on her stomach, bleeding from what seemed like every where. He ran to her letting the sword fall to the earth with out another thought. Inuyasha kicked the nearest third of the now dead demon with string of curses just to make a point. He followed the other hanyou to the fallen form of what he was now realizing was another miko.

The kuma hanyou gathered the battered body of his mate in his arms tenderly. He turned her over to get a good look at the damage which seemed to be predominantly on her back and shoulder. She must not have been flying to quickly because she had hit her head hard enough to be knocked out but as he felt down her body nothing was broken. He was slightly relieved but was concerned about the deep wounds that covered her back. She was loosing a lot of blood and it wouldn't be long before that became a big problem. The air was sickeningly saturated with the smell of her blood and it made him sick to see her so. Inuyasha approached the couple with caution not wanting to upset the other demon more. He sat at the new miko's feet.

"She's your mate?" he asked making sure that the woman was in the right hands. Being Kagome's mate had reluctantly brought out a soft spot for endangered females. Inuyasha sniffed once and new it was the smell of him he had smelt earlier on her. He nodded at him not needing an answer. Being part demon and having heard Julianna so many times reading her manga books out loud to him he had caught enough Japanese to get by when he had to. He was a quick study and did the best he could answering him.

"You are Inuyasha?" the miko's mate asked gruffly. Inuyasha nodded.

"Then you can take me to the old woman's hut? She needs tending now."

"Yes it is not far. Kagome went to get help before you arrived. But we must get out of this forest before another youkai comes looking for your miko." Duncan looked puzzled. "She has power's you can smell them! Don't tell me you did not know because then I'd know you were lying." He told the kuma hanyou as he got to his feet with his precious burden tucked to his chest trying to prevent her further pain. Even being moved she did not stir. Duncan snapped at Inuyasha.

"OF course, I have you, Idiot! But I had no idea she could be priestess! She was so clueless I just let it lie where it was buried deep insider her." Inuyasha waved the insult aside and nodded. "How far??" he asked pointedly. He pointed to a hut on the edge of the up coming town and then two 4 fast approaching humans. Inuyasha sighed seeing Kagome at the head of the pack running. He swore under his breath and pointed a finger at her that made her slow to a fast walk. The others passed her and kept running to meet up with their friend and the new arrivals. "Friends of yours?" he asked not wanting any more surprises.

"Yes from left to right : Sango, Miroku, and Keade." he said pointing them out. As the became clearer he could make out Shippo's form on Sango's shoulder. "And the brat on Sango's shoulder is Shippo."

"And the young thing has you scent all over her I can smell it from here. She is you mate, Kagome?" Inuyasha looked at him.

"She is mine," he said simply with a possessive connotation to it. Duncan nodded conceding to his claim as was customary.

"And the small youkai is a kitsune I assume?" Inuyasha just nodded. They walked another ten steps and were joined by the faster trio, and were met by four different questions all directed at Inuyasha.

"Who are they?" "What happened?" "Is the girl alright?" "What kinda demon was it?"

Inuyasha put his hands up to stop the barrage of questions. "SHUT UP!!!" he yelled. " We need to take care of the damn girl! And who the hell let Kagome run most the way here?!?!?" Duncan snorted at his antics he was an alright demon under all the swearing and yelling he figured. He had come to protect his wife after all. That made him ok in Duncan's book which is why he let the 'damn girl' comment slide.

"Inuyasha! quit yelling and be nice!" a voice said in front of them. Kagome had caught up and was now in step with her mate. The two small ice kuma demons trailing her did not escape his notice. One growled slightly and Kagome told it to be nice that they were friends and he did not hear another sound from the silently trailing youkai. Duncan just snorted again. Of course after meeting Inuyasha face to face it would only be a spirited girl who would do to be his mate any how. He was sure that the small youkai were attached to Kagome as protectors and was pleased by this. Inuyasha huffed at her comment as he put an arm gently around her.

"Stupid woman have you no sense!! I don't care if the god's be damned sky is falling on our heads out there! You need to walk! What would happen if you tripped and fell, eh?" Throughout his tirade his voice got softer till it was just a low growl. Kagome shook her head.

"Don't push me today Inu-chan you know I have no patience!" Kagome began yelling. She was just about to start in on him when, Inuyasha sighed.

"Alright kobito calm down, Its alright. I just don't you to get hurt! You were a klutz to begin with and now everything is being throw off even worse, hell you fell out of bed this morning!" His arm around her pulled her closer as her face went red and her eyes filled with tears suddenly and Inuyasha groaned. "Koi please don't cry," he gentled his voice greatly to say this. She seemed to calm instantly and perked up a bit as she leaned her head on his shoulder as they walked.

"So are you gonna tell us what happened or not?" Inuyasha threw a dejected look at Duncan. Everyone had been silent as the two had their spat. Finally Keade walking on the other side of Duncan spoke up.

"Now that those two have calmed what be your name? I see you are demon also," she said observantly.

"Yes, I am a 1/4 kuma demon," he said loud enough for all of them to hear.
"My mate is Julianna, and I am Duncan."

"Can you patch her up Baba?" He asked saucily yet slightly concerned.

"Aye, I think it can be done there is me hut now," she said pointing to the home in front of them now. It had taken only a few minutes to walk to the hut.

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My never ending thanks to Purple rose for letting me use her Fading scars as a starting point for my story. She is a talented writer and my story takes place between chapter's 19 after they defeated Naraku and chapter's 20 when the baby is born. My suggestion is read her wonderful works to mine might make more sense.

A few Japanese words I used:
Miko- Priestess
Shukuun no Gyokuei- crystal of destiny
Shukuun no miko- Priestess of destiny (don't know if they are right so bear with me)
neko- cat
Kuma- bear
youkai- demon
hanyou- half demon, or in this fanfic's case part demon. I couldn't find a word that meant part demon so i used it to mean a 1/4th too.
Koi- love
Kobito- lover
And I think that covers it. For give my spelling its not the best ^_^
I enjoyed writing it hope like reading it please Read and Review!
Thanks, LJ