Chapter Twelve: Fighting and The Power Within

They road and jogged in the planed formation protecting the miko's on all sides. It was a fairly smooth ride to lunch time when they stopped for a quick meal letting everyone stretch their legs who had been riding and let both the hanyou rest. All of the youkai smells had been stale and old thus far. It made for a safe trip. While the girl in the group were packing up all the left over trail rations, Inuyasha and Duncan began to become tense, both their women could feel it too. The small kuma youkai began to burr their unease also even Kirara paced the clearing where they had stopped for lunch.

"They are following us now," Inuyasha said looking about.

"Yes their smell is strong and coming closer. There are a lot of them," Duncan supplied. Sango looked at Kirara.

"Kirara, agrees from now on in I have a feeling they are going to be looking for the best place to attack us," she said knowledgably.

"They'll wait for night," came Miroku's voice from behind Sango. He had been sitting next to her during lunch.

"The buzzo is right," Inuyasha said. "Come night we will have to be even more on guard. They think they can defeat us by their large numbers. Those bastards haven't got a clue."

"Let's go come on!!!," Shippo interrupted from Kita's back. Inuyasha was about to make a smart ass remark back but the touch of his mate's hand on his arm drew his focus to her. He wrapped his arms around her, as he could feel her fear thru their bond.

"We will protect you kobito," he whispered in her ear tenderly as Kita came over to where they were. He kissed her deeply feeling her relax against him. He loosened his embrace and put her up on the retainer.

Julianna was feeling a similar fear when Duncan felt her and wrapped his arms around her mid section pulling her close. She turned in his arms and also received a kiss that turned from sweet to passionate in a flash. But Duncan did retain his faculties enough to pull back after a minute to find her smiling and flushed. Her eyes deepened from gray to azure blue from the heat of the moment. He smiled at her and walked her over to the now transformed Kita. Right before he put her on he told her in a low tone, "Koi, you know I will protect you."

Now that all the youkai were transformed Miroku went to Sango who was about to mount Kirara. "Be careful ok?" he said tentatively. She looked back at him and smile.

"You too Miroku, wouldn't want anything to," she said and turned and got up on Kirara. Just as she was about to swing her foot over she felt something on her rear end. She settled herself on the youkai and turned to see Miroku standing there. The demon hunter swung her hand as hard as she could and nailed the priest on the cheek.

"YOU JUST HAD TO RUIN IT DIDN'T YOU!!!" The other four turned and saw the retreating form of the houshi with a large red mark on his face. They all groaned and focused on leaving. Shippo decided to ride with Kagome and Julianna again since he felt safest with those two anyhow plus he did want to try and protect them if anything did happen. Finally back on the road they picked up the pace hoping to reach the spot by night fall.

They had made good time but not good enough. From Inuyasha's estimates they were only about an hour away but the sun was setting and the neko youkai were getting closer. They were all becoming agitated waiting for the attack that they knew was coming. They were an all sides but in front of them now and they slowed to a walk now that the sun had slid beneath the earth. All of the group was watching the trees and brush for movement. Twilight began to descend on them and that was when Inuyasha heard a cry from the back of them and yelled at everyone to stop and assume positions around the miko's.

The neko youkai attacked them from all sides, as everyone drew their weapons to defend themselves. Kirara and Minami began picking off close cat demons as a multitude descended on the small band. As Inuyasha's attacks with the tetsiga took down 5 at a time as they jumped at him, Duncan's sword skills were displayed as the master he was bring down two at a time on his own. Kirara was holding several at bay as Sango picked them off one by one with her chosen weapon. Minami was helping Miroku guard his position in the rear behind Inuyasha, by luring them close enough for him to expertly crack on the head with his staff. The miko's at the center of the melee standing on the ground now encircled by Kita. Kagome took out her bow incase any jumped in from the top of the trees which one did all the sudden and was sent backwards by an arrow thru its chest streaming with pink light. Shippo stayed on the back of Kita not being able to help. Julianna realized that she was using her miko powers to help in the battle. She wished she had a better grasp on what she could do with the power she possessed. After 10 minutes of the battle and the never ending wave of neko youkai Inuyasha and Duncan were still going strong but beginning to take hits from the tidal waves of demons. Miroku had taken a bad slash to his left leg that he had not been in time to block. Sango too was weakening not fairing as well as the two hanyou. She had taken several hard slashes and one near miss with a bite that had skimmed the skin on her arm but had torn the flesh also. Minami and Kirara were having trouble also being just over the strength of the attacking horde, but with their counter parts weakening the rhythm of the fight was lost. Kagome had picked off two more that had infiltrated their defenses.

The noise and the roar was deafening. The smell of dead and dying was enough to make the two priestesses and the center of the battle sick. Shippo had found climbed on to Kagome's back hoping to jump at any loose youkai that jump thru the fray. It seemed he even had a purpose. Julianna was feeling the power rising with in her. Her worry and fear were fueling the flames that were consuming her inside. Kagome felt the sudden jump in her power level and so did their mates but they did not dare take their eyes from the battle. Even Miroku and Sango could feel the aura of the magic. Kagome looked to Julianna whose eyes were now shut and her concentration had turned in word.

It was not there time to die and she knew that. The Shukuun no Gyokuei's power guiding her. She knew it was inside her soul she felt the power of destiny's fate that they were not meant to die here and now. The miko was surrounded now by a white light that completely engulfed her whole inner being. She had the power to stop this. And she suddenly knew it was possible but she didn't know if she had the control to pull it off. Suddenly she saw a pink light next to her and felt Kagome reach out to her and hold her hand. They could read each others thoughts.

'I will give you the control you need,' she answered her question. 'I will help you channel you power thru mine and we can wipe out the pride and save our friends all at once.' Julianna nodded to her. Out side their minds the two mikos were consumed in a bright white light that shown from the center of the defending circle. They tide was beginning to turn in the battle as the focus of the strong hanyou was divided between the onslaught and their mates. Sango had fallen under the powerful swipe to the head of one of the demons and Miroku was about to follow when there was an explosion of white fire in the middle of the battle knocking everyone to the ground except for the two .

With in the white light the two women focused on decimating the numbers of the neko youkai pride and healing their friends. The white flame spread outward like forest fire only burning the cat demons to ashes in its wake. Its spread out for miles eliminated the very last of all the neko and wiping out the pride. The same destructive wave also healed the wounds of their friends who had defended them so bravely.

After the seven defenders pulled themselves to their feet completely healed and the area completely devoid of any scent of demons. The two miko's who had emitted the power were now laying slumped over Kita who had captured both on her back as they fell. Inuyasha and Duncan ran to the kuma youkai to collect their now stirring mates. Inuyasha pulled Kagome tenderly into his arms and looked her over once to make sure she was unharmed. She groaned slightly an then opened her eyes and looked up at her love. "Koi, are you alright what happened. What did you do??" He asked her holding her tightly to him.

"I am fine Inu-chan. I promise. It wasn't me really I just helped Juli-chan to focus her power thru mine. It was the power of the Shukuun no Gyokuei she tapped in to. She had the power and I had the focus. Working together we concentrated on healing everyone and destroying the neko demons," she explained to Inuyasha but everyone hearing. Inuyasha nuzzled her cheek lightly and hugged her. "Don't scare me like that Koi, I love you to much."

"I'm ok Inu-chan. I love you too."

Just as Inuyasha had picked up Kagome, Duncan had pulled his wife into a gentle embrace as he sat on the ground. He pulled her into his lap. He had an idea of what happened and he knew she would be drained. He stroked her face softly as she moaned softly and tried to wake. He heard Kagome's explanations of what happened as she was still trying to come around. It took her another minute to gain her bearings and finally open her eyes. Her body was completely limp in his arms as he had her cradled against his larger frame. It was then Shippo found his way out from under Kita looking a bit miffed but excited.

"Oh man!! that was so cool, of course except for being squashed!" he said breathing hard. Inuyasha put Kagome on her feet at her request helping her find her balance and making sure she could hold her own. Kagome did not seem any worse for wear once she had a moment to rest. Julianna seemed to have taken the brunt of it. "Damn, I feel so drained can hardly keep my eyes open." Duncan tried to put her on her feet after she asked and she nearly fell back to the ground. He simply pulled her into his arms again.

"I can carry you Juli-chan." He used the foreign term of endearment with ease. He sighed, "You damn near gave me a heart attack, koi. I do love you."

Julianna smiled, "I love you too. Lets get camp soon." Inuyasha came up next to them with his mate, letting Kagome lean some of her weight into him.

"Lets just get the hell away from here! Sango can you find us a decent place to camp?" While the two couples had been reuniting Sango was being helped up by Miroku surprised that she was not bloody and unconscious or even hurting. She had only been semi conscious when the white fire had consumed all the attacking youkai and healed them simultaneously. She let the monk lift her to her feet and called Kirara to her as well as Minami. She walked toward Kita and the four who were with her. Miroku held on to her hand to make sure she was alright and she decided not to pull her hand away just yet. She had heard the Kagome's recount of what happened and was amazed. Suddenly Inuyasha was asking her to find a camp site.

"Yeah sure lets go," she answer him as she turned around still hanging on to Miroku's hand. She waited for him to come to rest by her side and started forward still hand in hand Kirara trailing behind her. Both Inuyasha and Duncan picked up their mates and started off after Sango with Shippo and the kuma twins bring up the rear.

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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