Chapter Ten: Destinations and Under Attack

As they were sitting there curled about each other, and Miroku sitting below a window about a five feet away, Keade decided to go see a friend of hers after she returned to the front room. She saw Kagome settle into a cocoon of warmth after they pair had lapsed into silence. And she walked to the door. "Keep a good watch Inuyasha and Miroku," she told each looking at them. "I think I know of a daughter who came from that village whom the dead miko was from. She might know how far it is to the river and place where she drown." Inuyasha nodded. Duncan walked into the room just in time to hear her.

"That would help greatly," Duncan told her. "We do sincerely appreciate all you help." Everyone nodded like it was just another day's work. "There is something out there Keade and you have been in here with my wife. Would you have me go with you to your friends? I feel safe leaving Julianna in Inuyasha and crew's capable hands while we go." Keade looked to Inuyasha the unofficial leader of the group. He nodded.

"The kuma is right baba, her scent is all over you," he stated quietly. Kagome had fallen asleep against him. He stood up taking Kagome with him. She shifted slightly but stayed asleep. "I am going to put Kagome in the back room. Stay till I come back," he practically commanded as he left the room. Kita was quickly awake and hot on his heals. Duncan stayed there by the door and looked over at Miroku.

"Miroku, I am glad to see that curse on your arm was lifted," he said trying to make conversation. The houshi was surprised for moment then remembered Inuyasha telling them the miko had known about them and assumed whatever knowledge she had she must have shared with her mate.

"Thank you, friend it was good to finally be cured."

"And the youkai hunter is yours?" he said putting it in the simplest terms he could. He was sure they had no concept of boyfriend and girlfriend in feudal Japan. Miroku laughed.

"To a point yes, we are as yet unmarried but are becoming closer. I do have an informal claim on her as Inuyasha informed me of a few months ago." Duncan nodded.

"It is good all the women then have a man to protect them here. In my time there are many who do for themselves. Not that Sango probably couldn't either. I have a feeling though most of the women in this century do feel better being paired off." Miroku looked at him.

"I do my best," he laughed again. "However she is quite good at taking care of herself especially with her fire youkai protector. I do a better job at watching her back."

"I do wish Juli-chan was brought up in such and environment as Sango. She is quite clueless to everything that goes on. She can be a handful I have to keep both eyes on her constantly." Duncan chuckled.

"A bit like Kagome is she?" the monk asked.

"That she is probably as bad as she was 2 years back when she first slipped thru the well if not worse." They all laughed including the old miko listening to the conversation. Inuyasha appeared in the door way of the front room.

"Kagome and your woman are sleep. Sango, Shippo, the two kuma youkai and Kirara are going to stay with them." Duncan grunted his approval. "Go quickly and return so that I don't have to play babysitter all night," came the next statement as the hanyou made his way to the door. Miroku and Duncan just shook their heads. The declaration would had some bite to it if he hadn't said it so calmly. Duncan took it as a 'be careful' and followed the older miko out the door. Inuyasha took his place back in the door watching the night.

On the way to Keade's friends house there was no incidents of attack much to Duncan's relief. They entered the house welcomed as if they had been family even the odd looking stranger she had with her was welcomed. Keade related Julianna's story to her old friend, the woman the other village, her name was Ise. They talked for a few moments trying to remember details from long ago. Ise finally remembered a stretch of river in her old village a day and a half's walk from where they were where it was believed the miko had met her death. Duncan took in all this information hoping his mate would have a good idea of where to go from their. He had a feeling that the powers awakening inside her would be pointing her in the right direction. He could tell she was calm and dreaming at the moment which he hoped she would stay that way till morning when the had to leave. They left the house and the moment they stepped out Duncan could smell the nearing youkai. He quickly put his arm in front of Keade. "I smell demon, and its not Inuyasha. It's another one, like the one we killed yesterday that attacked Julianna." He wrapped an arm around the old miko and began walking back on the edge of the village back to her hut. "If I say run do so quickly, and keep your head down. There is only one I just wish I had kept that damn sword. I am sure Inuyasha can smell it also. When he sees you coming send him my way if I have to send you off alone." He felt her nod her understanding. They walked on until he felt the demon to near. "RUN!" he yelled and the old woman took off toward her home. Duncan turned and snarled. The cat youkai jump from a tree branch 10 feet away started to run toward him.

"I smell the power of the miko on you and the old hag! Once we remove you and the hanyou we will devour her and absorb her powers, my pride and I!" it called to him tauntingly. Duncan growled low and menacingly. He heard then Keade cry out to Inuyasha yards away and knew the half demon would be there in moments. The demon chose that moment to try and strike. Duncan raised his hand and his claws seemed to get longer and sharper as he prepared his own attack.

"RAZOR FANG!" he yelled as the part kuma youkai flung his claws forward ducking the jumping cat and running his claws along its underbelly. The cat hit the ground and as it did its insides landed beneath him a second before his body. The youkai was dead. But there was another quickly approaching just as Inuyasha came to join the battle. The other cat jumped from a tree to their left. It walked toward them cautiously.

"Ah the half breed with the other miko! You hanyou stink of both priestesses. We will have them both to fill our bellies with and we will then have their power!" Inuyasha growled his sword already drawn and transformed. Its comrade already laid dead but it attacked any how meeting an equally grizzly demise at the end of the tetsiga. Before it died it told them, "There are many of our pride and they will come to eat of both of your mate's flesh. Our leader had been told by a great youkai that if we ate and drank of the miko our family would gain their power. The new miko's power just drew us faster! We would have come for yours either way hanyou. Now we only have more power to...gain..." The monster cat's eyes rolled into the back of its head and its head fell into the dirt. The men exchanged a look.

"That is what the first fucking cat meant by 'miko's.' They must have felt your mate come and their plans just shifted to get her first then mine." He said with a murderous look in his eye. Duncan's face was just as deadly serious.

"They will not get our mates! But you know as well as I do they will attack on our journey tomorrow." Inuyasha was growling still as was Duncan. The part kuma demon had fleeting though about how odd this all was talking about his wife as a mate and using his long unused attack. But it was quickly shoved aside by a hand that came to rest on his shoulder. Inuyasha apparently was warming up to the kuma youkai very quickly.

"Come," he told him. "I worry for my mate now as you do to. We have planning to do. There is no way in 7 shades of holy hell that those bastards are going to get my mate, or yours for that matter." He said this and then turned and walked back to the old miko's hut with Duncan in tow.

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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