Author's Note: Early update! Yay! Not because of the amount of reviews I got (which were enough, but I would have liked to see more) but because this is a BIG turning point in the story, and I wanted it to be up soon, so that I could leave it up for an extra few days. Sound good? Sure it does. By the way, visit my website! I can't write the address, cause then the page'll go all weird, but you can go to my bio page and click on the link there. It's an InuYasha shrine, and I hope that you like it. Lot's of up to date info on there and such. Thanks!

 I plan to make this story at least 10 chapters long, so we have a little bit to go before we reach that point. For now, keep reviewing, and maybe we'll make it there, eh? Remember, you stop reviewing; I stop writing. Enjoy the story!

Disclaimer: Um… I think that I ran out of mildly interesting disclaimers. (See other pages for disclaimers if you really want one) Also… **Some Adult content in this story! PG-13 material!** No, no rated R stuff or anything, I just finally wrote something that really uses the PG-13 rating of this story. You have been warned… Not that there really is anything to be warned about shrug

Way Worn

Chapter 7: Under the Blue Sky

"No! How could you?!" Nikomi pounded on the youkai, Juro's chest and screamed. Tears ran down her cheeks as she fought the grasp of the powerful demon. They were flying, high above the forest now, so that all of the trees meshed together to form a blanket of soft green below them. Although, how soft a land it would actually be, the female hanyou had no intention of finding out.

            After a quick glance downward, Nikomi quickly changed her mind about struggling. She contented herself with weeping, allowing the tears to stain her face and kimono.

"Dayu…"

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            Crouched over the spot where the demon had taken Nikomi, Dayu inhaled the scent of the dirt deeply. He didn't notice the few drops of blood that trickled from the corner of his mouth; his mind was far too gone for even pain.

             The male hanyou's blood red eyes turned towards the azure horizon as he sniffed the air. That creature was up there with her somewhere. That demon…

            Dayu clenched his fists, his claws drawing blood in his own palm. With a deep-throated growl, he dashed off into the forest in the direction of the demon and his female.

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            "You'll die now!" Nikomi yelled as she dashed at Juro with her claws up. All the good it did her, though, for he was there and gone in a flash. She tried this move numerous times, and each time he moved effortlessly out of the way. As she bent over, panting, the female hanyou dimly began to wonder why this demon hadn't struck her. He simply moved, but never laid a claw on her.

            Looking up, her amber eyes sparkling with rage and slight fatigue, she saw him smiling, looking up at the blue sky. His claws were neatly tucked into the sleeves of his dark green kimono, and his crimson hair danced lightly with the wind.

            Nikomi sighed, realizing that her efforts where useless. She sat down on the ground, and buried her face in her hands with her ears pressed back against her hair. There were no tears, just thoughts floating about in her mind.

            "Done, then?" Juro turned to face the distraught female, one eyebrow arched up in question.

            "Why? Why did you take me? Why did you hurt him?" She asked, her voice muffled slightly by her hands still covering her face. "Why?"

            He smiled again, she saw his eyes flash gray for a moment. "Because, love, I can." He walked over to her, taking her chin in his claws. Nikomi tried to pull away, but he would not allow her to. He forced her to look into his eyes. They were that strange gray again, and Nikomi could not tear her gaze away. She was frozen. "And because you're mine now. Or will be once I take you."

            He stood, still holding her in place with his eyes. "You see, you're scent…" He paused for a moment, closing his eyes dreamily, "Is absolutely intoxicating… When you're in heat."

            Nikomi felt her face heat up with blush. Not only from embarrassment, but from rage. How dare he!

            "And now," Juro continued, walking in a circle around the sitting female hanyou, "I will take you as mine, and mine alone."

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            Dayu was running as fast as his legs would carry him. He could hear screaming in the distance, and it was Nikomi. He knew his female's voice anywhere. Not to mention that her scent was unusually strong, and had a slight sweet smell to it that was strangely arousing.

            "I'll kill you!" He snarled loudly, trying to get the attention of the demon as he finally crashed into the opening. The scene before him was appalling.

            The demon had Nikomi pushed up against a tree, his strong grip holding her arms down, and one leg bent up between hers to keep them from moving. Her kimono was ripped, exposing a fair amount of the top of her chest.

            "Dayu!" She screamed. Her face was red and blotchy as the tears ran down, "Please, please help—" She was cut off as the demon slapped her across the face, leaving long scratches along her cheek that bled.

            Dayu could not take that. The human side of him had always disapproved of striking females. He had stopped many men in the village from hitting their wives. Humans were strange like that. The only creatures that will hit their females… Although now it seemed that humans and demons weren't so different after all.

            With a snarl unheard of by any other before, Dayu leapt at the demon, aiming for the throat.

            Juro easily jumped out of the way, leaving the male hanyou to scrape air. Nikomi fainted, but with a quick re-direction, Dayu caught her as she fell. That scent… What was it? It was so strange and new to him.

            "Young one. You smell it also, and I pity you for being so naïve." The demon smiled at the two, "If you were a normal creature, I would also pity you for interrupting me. But I know all too well that you are not."

            "What do you mean by that?" Dayu spat out, holding the still unconscious Nikomi in the protective circle of his arms. His body shook with the drive to kill. If it wasn't for that demon's damned gray eyes, the male hanyou would have already ripped his throat out.

            Juro's eyes went back to purple, allowing the weight to lift from Dayu's body. "Honestly, you sorry creature. You did not notice the amazing power you have to transform into a full demon just like that?" The demon raised an eyebrow. When he received no answer, he sighed and continued, "You're mother was the protector of the Shikon No Tama, was she not?" Dayu nodded. He was silently planning a course of action to get Nikomi out of this place and away from this demon.

            "Stupid humans…" Juro muttered under his breath, "No one can destroy the Shikon Jewel by simply burning it! You're dim witted mother attempted that, and failed. Of course, she has no idea, which surprises me. Apparently she does not have as much power as the original jewel protector, but I stray from the point." The demon sighed again, looking up towards the cobalt blue of the sky, "The jewel reappeared not long after, intent on finding its protector again," Juro turned back to look Dayu in the eyes, his own, purple eyes, turning gray once more, "And it's host… was a young hanyou. I dare say that it found its protector again, did it not?"

            Dayu looked up, barely able to comprehend what he was hearing. Realization came in a flood of memories. There had been a reason for everything that had happened in his life. His parents leaving him to those people… Winding up with the village miko and a half dog demon as his new parents: Kagome and InuYasha, the protectors, the gatherers… of the sacred jewel. Fate was at hand again.

Juro smiled wickedly, his point finally realized, "And now that everyone knows… You have not long to live, my young, naïve friend. I would kill you myself for the jewel, but it would be much more satisfying to watch as both of you are ripped to pieces."

            Dayu could smell the scents of hundreds of demons lurking about the area, most on their way towards the clearing.

The Shikon Jewel had returned.

Extra Author's Note: Like I said, major turning point. I know this chapter went a little fast. If you have any questions that I can answer, feel free to ask them in your reviews. If your email address is available, I'll send you a reply via email. If your address isn't, because you think that I'm some kind of phyco stalker (wouldn't be the first time ^_^) Then I'll understand, and simply reply to your question in the next chapter's author's note. Till Then!