{Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, so don't sue me. College has a strict hold on my wallet anyway.}

Vengeance

By Striking Falcon

Chapter Eight: Orders, Orders

"Kagome, please, let him have some air!" Sango said as she desperately tried to help the creature in Kagome's hands. Jakken twisted in her grip, finding it a little more than ironic to find himself in the same position he had acquired with Inuyasha only days ago. Kagome shook him for good measure before letting him go. Jakken shuddered at her feet.

"What?" Kagome yelled at him, causing him to cringe a little. This was worse than Sesshoumaru. Jakken gathered his frayed nerves and spoke, "My lord wishes you to return the way you came."

Kagome huffed and crossed her arms across her chest in annoyance, giving him a flash of the scratch. 'So that's why she's behaving so strangely,' he thought to himself. He would have to remember to tell Sesshoumaru later.

"Forget your lord," Kagome replied, returning his thoughts to the matter ahead. Jakken stiffened.

"Lord Inuyasha will not be pleased."

Kagome stopped, her foot inches from punting the little demon in mid air. "Inuyasha doesn't want me there?"

Jakken decided to run with this. "No he doesn't. The tournament is too dangerous for such a weak human."

The fire that lit in her eyes told him in no uncertain words that he goofed.

"'Weak human' huh? Forget him too, then. We're going."

She walked past a shocked Sango. Miroku reached out to grab her butt as she walked past. A static charge leaped from her to his hand. He jerked away in haste. Kagome looked back at Jakken, a scowl across her face.

"Tell Lord Inuyasha" she said, sarcasm dripping off her words like venom, "That we are coming, whether he likes it or not." Her legs straddled the bike seat. "Weak human," she muttered. "Hm!"

Jakken stood in front of the bike, hands outstretched. "Don't you understand? The other demon's can sense the power of the Jewel inside you! Lord Sesshoumaru is just trying to keep you from getting eaten."

Jakken covered his mouth. He goofed again.

"Sesshoumaru, huh?" Kagome said, her head tilted to the side slightly. "I bet Inuyasha has no idea I'm even here, does he? You didn't tell him, did you?"

Jakken stuttered under her gaze, then seemed to remember that he was a demon and she a human. "So what, girl? My master said stay put, and that's what you'll do!"

The tire of her bicycle over his head told him otherwise. Jakken groaned as she and the others continued on. Jakken considered making her stop, but thought better of it. He decided to return to the Tournament and inform Sesshoumaru on what happened.

*********

"She's more violent, you say?" Sesshoumaru said. Jakken returned three days later from his task as he and Inuyasha were watching one of the battles in the Tournament. Some poor blue spider monster challenged the Great Demon of the Northern Lands, a powerful dragon named Hitnoinsi. It seemed to be having fun batting the poor spider around. The fight had left the creature long ago.

Jakken nodded. "There seems to be a cut around her throat."

Sesshoumaru glanced at Inuyasha, who seemed too enthralled in the fight below to notice them. Sesshoumaru nodded. 'So you've marked her already, Inuyasha? Very good indeed.' Sesshoumaru returned his gaze to Jakken.

"Make sure she gets no further than our camp. No further or you'll suffer." Jakken grimaced and scampered away.

Sesshoumaru turned to Inuyasha. "Enjoying the fight, half breed."

Inuyasha frowned. "Its not even a fight. The spider has long given up. They should stop it. Its too boring anyway."

Sesshoumaru chuckled softly. "Of course its boring. Its not us. Tomorrow we will fight."

Inuyasha grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I can't wait."

"Don't do that!" Sesshoumaru said, holding the ear closest to Inuyasha. "That is so disgusting!"

Inuyasha smirked. He found out two days ago that Sesshoumaru hated it when he cracked his knuckles, so now he did it every chance he got. It was his little way of reminding Sesshoumaru that he was still Inuyasha, despite all of Sesshoumaru's careful training.

"So sorry Sesshoumaru. I forgot how much you hate that."

"I'm sure," Sesshoumaru growled, then returned back to the fight.

"This isn't interesting at all. I'm going back to camp."

"I think I'll join you," Inuyasha said, wincing at a particularly good hit from Hitnoinsi. They turned and walked away from the arena. A figure stepped out of the trees, blocking their path. Both stopped in their tracks, poised and ready to fight. Ryuukossei sighed.

"Don't worry. I don't plan to fight you here. I would rather embarrass you in the ring first." He looked them over thoughtfully. Both wore the same, emotionless expression on their faces. Inuyasha stared at him, silently thanking Sesshoumaru for having enough common sense to teach him this valuable trait in advance.

"Oh. Don't look so down." Ryuukossei said. He placed a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.

"You must be the half breed."

Inuyasha couldn't help himself. "No shit, Sherlock. What was your first clue?"

"'Sherlock?'"

He groaned mentally at Ryuukossei's confused expression, but he never let it reach his face. 'I did it AGAIN. Damn!' Ryuukossei shook off his confusion and turned to Sesshoumaru.

"You must be the first born. Poor pup, scared to fight me alone?"

Sesshoumaru glared at him, then did the last thing Ryuukossei and Inuyasha thought he would do. He grabbed Inuyasha's arm and continued to walk down the path to camp. Ryuukossei sighed.

"Afraid to talk, young one? Afraid to fight?"

Sesshoumaru turned to look at him, his expression never changing as he dragged Inuyasha down the road.

"We will fight when the time comes. Then we will see who is afraid."

Ryuukossei laughed as they walked off. Sesshoumaru hoped Jakken could keep Inuyasha's human at bay long enough for him to come up with a plan.

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Sango: SF is at work at the moment. She should be back by the time you get to the author's notes. They're after you push the purple button.

Reviews:

Dark Millenia: By the time this fic is over, Sesshou will have a lot more than his little brother to handle.

Jessica: I just knew someone was going to ask that question. Let me see if I can explain it to you: I work swing shifts, which means that some days I work in the morning, others I work at night. Then I go to school between that. On TOP of that, I babysit a three year old ball of energy nearly EVERY day. When I finally get to bed, I dream strange things. These fics are my dreams.

Eartha: I do too! I hate that those two jackasses fight! It's so pointless! Whatever happened to brotherly love?

Shandrial: Then you will really love chapter nine. Aw, hell, you're gonna love the whole series!

Amigurl: Woah. Chill. Here's your dose. {::pops chapter into ff.net::} There, all better now? ;)

Sorrow: I'm so glad you like it! Thanks so much!

Glory230: Thank you! I'm so glad you like it. This fic gets so much love!

Emme: I love the siblings relationship. It only gets better in the other parts of the series. Love is a wonderful thing.