The ride itself to Seth's property in El Ray was uneventful, but that didn't mean there wasn't turmoil in the Mercedes which followed the Porsche.

'Life sure got a lot more complicated in a week, didn't it?' The youkai really only aimed the comment at his own mind despite knowing his love would hear it as well.

'Hai.' Ruri followed the Porsche through a corner she would have preferred to take slower but managed without sliding any tires. 'Akito, Kagura, Naraku, my ship, all at once. If this were anime I'd say they're all related.'

'I can't help but say the same. Too much in one time to be truly independent of each other, but it wouldn't make any sense for them to be related. At least, not at this point in time. Either way, I think we have a more pressing issue.'

'I worry about that too. Yurika-san still hurts, and his being with Kagura, even with memory loss, is going to hurt her even more.' They rounded the final corner and came face to face with the palatial home of the current head of El Ray. Their line of conversation suspended itself while they pulled into the driveway. The trucks with Omoikane on board didn't follow them to the front door, instead veering off on a side road once inside the gates. A moment of panic flashed through Ruri's mind.

'Don't worry, hime-chan. They're just going to offload the arrays and then pack them for transfer back to Nippon.' They parked and stepped from the vehicle to see Sesshoumaru on the steps of the house. Son and fiancee bowed before their father, who returned the greeting then tossed Tenseiga to his son.

"Arigato, Sesshoumaru-sama. How is El Ray?"

"It has been a pleasant enough stay. I have new respect for you, my soon-daughter. In the past few days I have learned much of the nature of your adoptive mother, and she is a... unique individual."

Ruri looked up at the lord, "Yurika-san came with you?"

"I was not given a choice. Where are Kagura and Akito-san?"

As if on cue, the pair walked up from the truck they had been riding on, a bit dusty but none worse for the wear. The two youkai from Sengoku Jidai regarded each other coldly, causing Akito to slink towards the chairman and captain. The engaged couple, however, ignored Akito's advance, both wanting to go see Yurika before she stumbled into Akito first.

Ruri stepped forward, cutting the tension between youkai, who were starting to growl slightly at teach other. "Otou-san, where is Yurika-san now?"

"In the gardens, I believe. That was where I took my leave of her when I heard the trucks returning. I will show these two each to their rooms."

'Let the tension begin, Ruri.'

'Hai. Despite how your father sounded, I think Yurika-san's growing on him.'

'I agree,' Inuyasha replied, leading the way into the gardens he had spent much time meditating in during his stay here. They found Yurika easy enough, as there was one point in particular which offered a view of the surrounding wilderness and ocean beyond second only to the hacienda's tower.

"Ruri-Ruri!" The major had obviously been crying but her face brightened immediately upon seeing Ruri. The two embraced warmly, after which Ruri re-introduced Yurika to the chairman. Inuyasha extended his hand towards Misumaru-Tenkawa, who deftly dodged the formal greeting and hugged him around the neck. The youkai blushed and awkwardly returned the embrace.

"Ruri-chan's a daughter to me, so therefore you're going to have to think of me as 'okaa-san' as well," she said with a smile.

Inu smiled weakly, "Very well, I'll try."

"Speaking of which, I've never met your mother, will I get the chance?"

Yurika missed the wince in her future son's face, but Ruri didn't. She leaned against him and spoke for him. "She died long ago."

"I'm... I'm sorry."

"Worry not, mama," the chairman said, his smile genuine. He wrapped an arm around his love's waist and the other around Yurika's shoulders. "It was long ago, before your mother was a zygote in her mother's womb, and is a story for another time. Come, let us sit on the bench for a while. There's something we need to discuss."

"We should go see Akito before we discuss anything."

Ruri looked down at the ground. "Yurika-san, it's Akito we need to discuss."

The couple sat on each side of Yurika on the bench and explained the situation as best they could.

"I am glad that we have our old Akito back, not the pilot of the Black Serena, and that his body is returning to normal," Ruri said in summary, "but it still hurts that he can barely remember us."

"His memories are certainly there. He knows he should know both of you, so in time the they're sure to return."

"But what about Kagura?" Yurika interjected. "She loves Akito, and he her, even if it isn't as strong as I love him. I'm not going to lose, but I don't want to hurt her, either"

"May Buddha forgive me for my thoughts," Inuyasha said quietly.

"Nani?" Yurika asked. The two women stared at the male before them. Ruri gathered a picture of what her love had thought and shuddered. Yurika turned to stare at Ruri, feeling the slight woman's reaction.

"He is afraid the situation my resolve itself."

"What do you mean?" Yurika looked back to the youkai, who had rested his head in his hands, his elbows against his knees.

"You remember the story of our family's involvement in the history of the Shikon no Tama?"

"Hai."

"And otou-san told you about the archaeological discovery in Tokyo and how it pertains our family?"

"Hai."

The youkai ran his hands through his mane and raised his head to stare at the land before him, striking a very thoughtful pose. "I fear that Naraku will try to reclaim her. She is an individual created from him; several of his lesser youkai forged together to create one single, independent youkai. However, to control her he still has her heart. He can remove it from her and crush her. If he gives her an order, she must follow it, even if she does not want to. She is a slave. If he does reclaim her, she will be our... my enemy. As such, Naraku may force me to kill her."

"That's cruel!"

"That's Naraku," Ruri said flatly. "Yurika... mama, Inu-kun wishes for your happiness with Akito as much as I do, but he will not kill Kagura just to get her out of the way. He does, in a sense, love her. They were involved together some two hundred years ago, and he still has respect for her. Kagura is to our relationship what Megumi is to yours. Killing her is in no way what Inu-kun wants to do, but he will do whatever it takes to protect me, and to protect everyone I consider family."

Yurika looked at Ruri, who was blushing slightly, and smiled. "Ruri-Ruri, ever the wise one. Well, you two go. Seto-san has a massive feast planned for this evening. You two go change; Sesshoumaru said to simply tell you the two of you were both in the tower while you're here, that you," she looked at the youkai, "would know what that meant. I made sure they had clothes to fit you Ruri-chan, and I think there're things up there for you, too, Inuyasha-kun. I'll go see Kagura-san and Akito. I'll be okay, I promise." She kissed her daughter's and son's cheeks and sent them on their way.

'She took that better than I expected,' Inuyasha commented as he led her up the myriad staircases into the tower.

'Did she? I'm not sure we saw all of her feelings, nor am I sure it was wise for us to let her go find them on her own.'

'Otou-san will be there, however, so at least a cat fight wouldn't get out of hand. "Oro!"' The youkai rubbed his arm where the hanyou hit it.

"'Baka.'"

"'Hai. We're here.'" The youkai stepped onto the small landing at the top of the stairs and opened the door into guest quarters which took up the entirety of the top floor of the tower. The rest of the house was ornamented in traditional Spanish styles, with religious imagery and knick-knacks abounding. This room was a stark contrast, almost Japanese in its simplicty. Closets built against the walls covered the south wall, with the only other article of furniture in the room being the immense bed flanked with nightstands on the North wall. Beside each nightstand were double doors which would lead to the guest bath. The only adornment on the north wall was a sword twice the length of Tetsusaiga or Tenseiga, and looked to be a mixture of Japanese and Western sword-making.

'You would be correct, Ruri. It's something of a cross between a Claymore and katana. The man who gave it to me was the only person I've ever known who could wield it well.' The youkai, obviously familiar with the room, flipped a switch by the door. Ruri saw that the eastern and western "walls" were actually sliding glass doors, which were opening to provide unrestricted views to the east and west.

'Was he youkai or human?' Ruri wondered, looking up at the weapon.

'Hanyou, actually.'

'Hanyou?' Ruri echoed. 'But hanyou are only part demon. I could never wield a sword better than you could.'

The youkai blinked. 'But you have. Tetsusaiga. Besides, blood doesn't determine ability. You're the reincarnation of a hanyou who was the only person, man or beast, who could challenge Sesshoumaru-sama. This hanyou was as powerful as my uncle, perhaps even more so.

'This place is a magnet for hanyou, I guess.'

'Not really. He never visited here. I met him in Eastern Europe, where they don't really have a concept of hanyou.'

'But you said he is one. How could they not have a concept of it?'

'They call it by a different name, that's all. Bat youkai in Europe are called vampires. In Nippon we would call him hanyou, but there he is called dhampire.

'Dahm-pir, eh? It somehow sounds more romantic than 'hanyou.''

'I wouldn't say that. In many regards the demons of the west are more vile than the demons of the east. Vampires especially.' He took her hand and led her to the open eastern windows and out onto the balcony. 'Let's shelve that discussion for a while, hime-chan. Sunsets here are more beautiful here than at home.'

Ruri couldn't argue. In Tokyo every sunset had something in the way. Powerlines, other buildings, something. Here, the view was unobstructed, with an even better view of the ocean beyond the edge of the desert in sight. Inuyasha leaned against the masonry and pulled Ruri against him as the watched the sun sink lower.

'Shouldn't we be heading downstairs soon?'

'It will be a while before the fun begins. They won't light the bonfires until dusk is well underway, and the food won't be ready until a while after that. We can watch some more of the sunset then shower and change for the evening.'

'So we have to go down in formal attire?' The distaste in her voice was obvious.

'Quite the opposite. We're both way overdressed for it. Even so, your USEF uniform won't be especially welcome. Seth's men won't care, they know you're with me, but any time there's an event like this half the town turns out, and I don't want anyone to give you trouble.'

'Baka. My prince, ever my protector.'

// \\

A half hour later both youkai and hanyou had removed the stiffness of shuttle travel from their veins and re-convened in the bedroom area of the suite. Ruri had been slightly disappointed when she found that the separate doors on each side of the bed actually led to separate bathing and dressing areas. Her fiance had initially teased her about being hentai, but relented a little and broke his years-old tradition by keeping his mind fully open to her while they both changed. He couldn't blame her, really. All that had transpired in the past few weeks left him needing to cling closer to her as well. The fact that each felt that way mildly surprised the other until each saw it in himself. For most of their lives both had been considered to be independent both by themselves and those around them.

Almost as physical proof, the pair chose to descend the staircase with arms entwined about each other's waists instead of simply holding hands. Height differences of course made this difficult, and halfway down the youkai opted to carry the hanyou down. This caused much glee in the eyes of the other youkai who happened to be standing at the foot of the staircase into the tower.

"I see that you have already wrapped him around your young fingers, child." Kagura's red eyes smiled evilly.

"Perhaps you're just bitter because I never carried you anywhere in our time together. But I never heard you complain during the fact," The chairman chided. "Have you met Yurika-san yet?"

"'You're not very good at subtly changing subjects, are you?'" Ruri teased.

"'Baka.' Anyways. Have you?"

Kagura stopped for a moment to compose her thoughts. "Indeed. What a remarkable woman. Her husband's been having an affair for six months now after she's been separated from him for about four years with no explanation, and she has the strength to not even slap him."

Ruri indicated she would like to be placed on the ground and her betrothed granted her request. She walked up and looked up at the taller woman. "I think you do not know Akito-san as well as you think you do. I also think you do not know what they have been through. Yurika-san has far more strength in her than you ever will, and has been through more than you ever will, even though you're a thousand years older than she."

Kagura's eyes narrowed. "She has never been a slave."

Ruri's eyes grew several degrees closer to Absolute Zero than Kagura's. "She has indeed. She bears the weight of her actions while she was enslaved much more acutely than you ever will."

Kagura retreated towards the veranda behind her and the courtyard beyond. "I was sent to tell you that Seto-san has your table waiting."

The two followed the elder youkai outside to see a massive throng gathered in the encroaching darkness. Upon their entrance, several bonfires coincidentally lit up, as well as many torches around the periphery of the area, bathing the yard in a yellow glow.

A band on a makeshift stage started playing miscellaneous covers from various decades and even centuries as the trio made their way to the head table, where they were greeted by the rest of their group. Seating arrangements were fairly straightforward. Sesshoumaru and Akito on the ends of the table, with Kagura on Akito's left and Yurika on his right. Ruri was set by Yurika and Inuyasha by Ruri and his father. Across from the chairman was Greg, who separated Kagura from Seth (whom Greg would later relate had already made several passes at Kagura). The organization maximized the distance between combatants, unless Yurika and Kagura decided to King Solomon poor Akito as the prospector had done with Minato, Yurika and Ruri all those years ago.

Parties in El Ray are not of the quiet variety. Most of the tables on the grounds had nothing but alcohol on them to drink. The head table was one of the few which had non-alcoholic drinks available, and that was mostly in deference to the engaged couple, and more specifically, the youkai, who was well aware of his drinking limits. Said youkai's father, on the other hand, was a different story. It is common for youkai to inherit traits common to that which they are a youkai of. Neko youkai were known for serving their revenge on ice as well as for their cunning. Ookami youkai, for their viciousness in combat and their speed. Inu youkai, for their loyalty and strength. Less often realized is the fact that youkai also inherit some of the lesser properties of their originators. Dogs like beer. Dogs are tone deaf. Dogs like to sing. So it was with Sesshoumaru, Lord of the Western Lands. His son, and therefore also his future daughter-in-law, was all too aware of this fact, as was Seth. It was during his original tenure in El Ray that the youngest of the house of Inutaishou learned his limits for alcohol, in a feast such as this one. However, the mizu no youkai of his mother gave him a higher tolerance for alocohol than his father as well as more grace of voice and instrument. Not that he could compare with his fiancee, but it could be considered respectable. Sesshoumaru, however, was none of these things.

All of this ran through Inuyasha's mind as he watched Seth pour drink after drink into Sesshoumaru's glass as the food was brought around. He knew also that the band wasn't helping matters, as they were occasionally venturing into the playlists stored in the elder youkai's Ferrari. The young youkai saw the final blow coming, but was powerless to stop it. Seth had tossed shot glasses to every member of the table. Yurika, Akito, and Ruri didn't capture the purpose of the glass immediately, as the closest thing they were familiar with was sake.

tossed a bottle at the younger youkai, who inwardly sighed. He'd had no alcohol, so he would be fine and could help Ruri shake off any ill effects, but the rest of the members of the table he wasn't sure of. Except his father. He was sure of that effect.

Ruri took the bottle from his hands and filled his glass. 'You're being rather amusing,' she thought to him, smiling slightly.

'Do you think it would be considered a mercy killing to off the band so Sesshoumaru-sama won't have anything to sing to?'

'Baka.'

'It was just a thought.'

"A toast!" Seth roared at his table. "To the engaged couple, and to the return of lost family!"

The table raised their glasses in response and then took their drinks. Greg, Sesshoumaru, Seth, and Inuyasha took their drinks properly while Kagura, the Tenkawas and Ruri sipped at the whiskey as if it were sake. Thus, half the table was surprised when the other half slammed their glasses back against the table. Seth and Greg stared at the still mostly full glasses to his right.

"Is there a problem?" Seth asked, an edge of anger in his voice.

The inu youkai at the head of the table laughed aloud. "I believe that we have a bit of a cultural clash here. You see, Seth-san, in Japan people don't take shots as they do here in Mexico."

"Well, it's time they learned how to fucking drink," Seth snorted, reaching across the table to fill the younger Inutaishou's glass again. "Show 'em amigo."

Ruri had winced when she'd first tasted the beverage, and she winced again when he downed the second glass now that she was paying attention to her love's mind. The glasses on Sesshoumaru's end were filled again and Akito's end all attempted to follow local custom, some with more success than others. Kagura choked slightly on hers and Yurika didn't quite get the concept of shot versus drinking, but for the most part they survived.

With the almost ritual shots out of the way, the table dove into the food before them, the former shuttle occupants for the most part starving after surviving on rations for several days. Inuyasha noted Ruri's apparent lack of appetite.

'What's wrong, Ruri? Troubled by thought, drink, or food?' the youkai no inu asked, scarfing down a tamale.

'It's just much spicier than what your father and Akito-san made that time.'

'I see. Do the best you can for now, love, we'll get something more appetizing later. Go for the sopapillas'

'Hai. Where is Sesshoumaru-sama?'

'Huh?' The son looked at his father's vacant chair. "Seth, how much liquor have you given Sesshoumaru-sama?"

"Beats the hell out of me. I'm not his mother."

"In other words, you were too young to remember the last time he got drunk at one of these things."

"And why would that matter?"

"Because if you did remember the last time he got drunk at one of your family's feasts you would recall his behavior while drunk."

"And just what the hell would that be?" Seth's question was punctuated by a microphone squeal.

Inuyasha moved his plate and dropped his head to the table. "That would apparently be that."

Ruri stroked the white mane beside her and twisted around, looking for the source of the squeal. It was evident soon enough. Sesshoumaru's voice was now booming above the party's din and sounding rather inebriated. He began caterwauling about something regarding a fever triggered by being scratched by a Neko which Ruri wasn't quite grasping the meaning of. She knew her English was quite good, but she was still missing what in the world the youkai no inu was "singing" about.

'It, um, has nothing to do with an actual neko,' her beloved thought, and Ruri didn't even need to turn back to face him to know his face was nearing incandescence between embarrassment of his own and on her behalf. 'This is also most likely just the start of his, er, performance. Let's see how gracefully we can get out of here.'

The pair stood, Greg and Seth both staring at them bewildered. "Yo, dog-boy, they can bring you more food, you don't have to go get it," Seth stated flatly.

"Actually, I believe we're retiring for the evening. I've got to get up early and get some work done, and besides, if I leave now, somebody else has to clean up Sesshoumaru-sama's mess," the youkai finished with a smile.

The two wandered around the grounds for a while, eventually ending up in the kitchens. Ruri commandeered a stool at the counter overlooking the stove while the youkai rummaged through the kitchen.

'You can cook?'

"'Not very well, but I can make chicken fried rice, at least.'" He retrieved a wok from the hanging rack in the center of the kitchen and set it on a burner. "'Do you want a lot of vegetables in it?'" He asked, lighting the burner.

"'Just chicken and rice is fine.'" She watched as he prepared the meal for her quickly and simply, pouring half into a bowl he set before her and the other half into a bowl for himself. Shutting off the burner, he crossed around to sit beside her, fishing chopsticks out of a drawer en route.

Ruri accepted the chopsticks from him, but stared at her bowl for a moment before starting.

'What is it, hime-chan?'

'It's just... people seem to expect the wife to cook for her husband, but you've just cooked the first meal, for me.'

'Frankly, I think a lot of those traditions are stupid. I don't agree with them. Please don't worry about it, okay?'

'If you say so. It's just that Yurika--'

The youkai raised his hand to halt her. "We've had this discussion before. You're Hoshino Ruri, not Misumaru Yurika. What was right for her and her relationship with Akito may be neither what's right for your nor what's right for your relationship with me."

"Is there someone there? I've already sent all the cooks home so whatever food's outside is all that's left, I'm afraid."

"Oi, Gigi, I know my way around a kitchen, and I know my way around this kitchen in particular."

''Gigi?' That's rude.'

'Not when it's what you've gone by for years, hime-chan.'

"Well, well, well, I knew your father was here, but I didn't know both Inutaishou had arrived in El Ray." Ruri watched as an elderly man hobbled into the room. They appraised each other slightly warily before the old man continued. "I suppose this is that Electronic Fairy everyone keeps talking about that you're engaged to. Allow me an introduction, miss. I'm Makoto 'Gigi' Vasquez, been caretaker of this shack for fifty some-odd years, and half of the reason we still keep woks and chopsticks in this place. Your beau would happen to be the other half of that reason. If there's anything you need, come see me. But, better see me in the morning. You two had better rest yourselves as well, with that whole Naraku thing a brewin'."

The youkai raised his eyebrows in mild surprise. "Sesshoumaru-sama discussed that with you? I didn't realize he'd brought it up with anyone outside of the family unless necessary."

"It troubles him greatly, I suppose, and old codgers like me are ad-hoc counselors, you know."

"Point taken, Gigi-san. Until the morning then."

"Until the morrow. Turn off the lights when you kids leave the kitchen."

The two quietly finished their rice, relishing the lack of noise in their vicinity, even if the walls did not completely block the sounds from outside.

'Inu...' The youkai stared down at his rice and was completely oblivious to the one beside him. Ruri turned on the stool to face him and leaned towards his face. 'Baka.' Still no response. She poked him in the shoulder. 'Baka. Baka baka baka baka baka BAKA!' On the final word she hauled off and punched his shoulder, which finally shook him from his reverie. 'What is it, Inuyasha?' She thought as softly as she could.

'It's nothing, I hope. It's just that as much as Gigi is trusted in this household, I did not expect my father to trust him with information about Naraku. But, I have no reason to doubt him.' He glanced over at her empty bowl. 'More or sleep?'

'Sleep.'

'Agreed.' They stood and placed their dishes in the sink. They headed for the tower, remembering to turn off the last lights in the kitchen.

// \\

The betrothed couple flopped onto the bed from opposite sides at almost the same instant and stared up at the ceiling. Ruri moved to rest her head on his shoulder, and the youkai welcomed the contact. While Inuyasha had planned on changing back into his fire rat hakama and his kimono, Ruri had beaten him to the pile he had left and taken the shirt before he could don it, forcing him to wear only the hakamas, much to Ruri's delight. He couldn't complain too much, however, as Mexico's heat even at night was more than he was used to in Japan. Youkai blood didn't have a problem with it, it just wasn't what he had grown accustomed to in recent years. And despite earlier protestations of modesty, he was forced at admit that his fiancee was highly attractive when using his shirt as a gown. Ruri laughed slightly at his thoughts and rolled over, raising herself onto her hands and knees. She crawled across the bed, placing herself directly above him.

'You're cute when you go all ecchi on me,' she laughed.

'Baka, you started it.'

"'Did not,'" she retorted, bending her head down slowly to kiss him. He noticed the kimono slide itself open but forced himself to focus his attentions upon her mouth instead. They came within a hair's breadth of contacting each other when both suddenly stopped. She knew what he sensed, she had seen this reaction just before Kagura walked back into his, their life. It was an unknown demon, one which she suddenly realized even her watery hanyou blood could sense. "A great malevolence" was the only way she could phrase it. She felt his mind race and saw that this demon was equal or greater than the grandmother he had been forced to kill all those years ago, that which had also brought them so close together.

She let her love roll her towards the headboard and watched as he leaped to grab the closest sword he could get to, which was the sword of the dhampir. She was forced to admit fear when she realized that he himself was afraid that he would require steel to defend her, not just the bokken or Tenseiga.

The youkai leaped back over Ruri to stand at the foot of the bed and felt every muscle in his body forcefully loosen for battle. The jaki approaching was not immense, but dangerous. It reeked of death, and reminded him of how his uncle had described Naraku's scent in the form the hanyou held before being cut down by Kagome. He unsheathed the sword and coiled his arms near his head in an assassin's stance, letting the scabbard clatter to the floor. If Naraku was here then the task of hunting him would be easier - but it left Ruri in harm's way, which he wished above all else to avoid. He realized in the tension-filled waiting that he held one advantage that his uncle had never held. Kagome's presence had always brought out the best fighter that the hanyou no inu could be yet placed her at great personal risk. He, however, could gain all of the strength of Ruri's presence without placing her in needless danger. She certainly could defend herself, but that was not the problem. He wished that she did not have to defend herself.

Despite the encroaching danger, Hoshino smiled at her future mate's protectiveness. Greg had apparently had someone bring her blades to the room, as she realized the Tetsusaiga and Hanyou's protector were leaning against one of the nightstands by the bed. She picked up the seemingly delicate wakizashi and returned to the center of the bed, placing Inuyasha directly between herself and the door. She searched out his mind and found it completely open to her, unlike events on the Nadesico.

She did not need her youkai's sensitive hearing nor his keen sense of smell to know that it was upon them, as whatever they were about to face was creating a thunderous tumult of footsteps as it raced up the tower stairs. Both heard them stop and whatever it was began pounding on the door into the chambers.

Ruri's eyes widened in realization. 'It's not trying to break in, it's trying to be let in.'

Her love apparently agreed and pulled his offhand from his sword, using a practiced flick of the golden whip to open the door from where he stood. Had she not been inside his head, she might have missed the motion as he used speed only a youkai could exhibit. His left hand was again on the sword's hilt before the door had a chance to swing even half-open. He found himself staring into the panicked eyes of his former lover, her kimono hastily wrapped around herself.

"The scar..." she started, then trailed off.

"I don't think there's a need for you to tell me that it has returned. It's quite evident your youki has significantly changed. If I'm not mistaken in my history, you smell like Naraku now." Ruri could feel the debate in Inuyasha's mind to the point where it was almost a tangible presence in the room. "You have three choices, Kagura. If you believe you can withstand Naraku's influence, you may stay by Akito's side. However, if you fail in withstanding Naraku, I will kill you. Two. I kill you now. I would recommend against this course of action. I don't want to kill you, nor do Akito-san, Ruri, or Yurika-san want me to kill you. Three. Leave. I suggest you do this. I do not ask you to leave Akito-san's side forever; only until Naraku is either destroyed or sealed again. Until that time you endanger Akito-san, because I am certain that Naraku will ask you to kill him."

Kagura stared at the man she once trusted and had only recently begun to trust again, feeling as betrayed by him now as she did then. Her red eyes flashed brighter than they ever had since the younger youkai had known her. Slowly, she straightened her kimono around her. More footsteps sounded in the stairwell, and all in the room assumed correctly that it was Yurika and Akito. She turned her back to Inutaishou just as both reached the top of the stairs and, without saying a word to her lover, slowly walked down the stairs.

Akito watched Kagura descend the first few steps, and turned to face Inuyasha, his own eyes gleaming with hellfire once he saw the still raised sword in the youkai's hands. "What did you say to her?"

"Nothing she did not already know, Tenkawa-san. It was probably best you were not here to attempt to dissuade her," the youkai replied, lowering the weapon.

"How do you know what's best for me?" Akito roared, his fists clenched at his sides.

The youkai stooped and retrieved the weapon's scabbard from the floor. "How can you know what's best for yourself when you don't even remember who you are?" Inuyasha stood and sheathed the blade, his calm demeanor matching the tone of his words. Ruri knew his mind was in turmoil with the passions of his uncle burning inside, but his face betrayed none of this and his coolness matched that of his father.

Akito leaped forward, indignant at being talked to as such by one he considered younger than himself. The roar from his throat would have scared a lesser youkai, and did frighten both Ruri and Yurika, but Inuyasha merely dodged his punch and the several that followed. Finally, Akito had spent the limit of his strength and nearly collapsed on the floor, only to be caught by the youkai. Akito's anger still held onto him, but the demon let his coldness shatter, and looked down at the man warmly. "Trust her, Akito-san, and do not rush things. You don't remember yet, but let Ruri and Yurika-san tell you of your past. Know that you did not rush in building relationships with them, both as husband and father. And that is what they love you for, and why they still stand by you, when before you lost your memory you betrayed their trust by not returning when you had the chance. Fullness comes in waiting, child. Let it."

The youkai lifted the human to his feet, only to find Yurika beside them and taking Akito from him. He let her take her husband, and youkai and hanyou watched the two humans slowly descend the staircase. Once they disappeared from view Inuyasha slowly walked over and closed the door to the flat and without turning around leaned heavily against it.

'Did I do the right thing, Ruri?'

He felt her arms wrap around him from behind. 'I think so. I hope so. The only thing that worries me is the old saying - 'The devil you know--''

"'Is better than the devil you don't,'" the chairman finished. "'You have a point. If it were only me, or even only us, that I had to think of, I might have allowed her to stay without fear. But I can't put your family in danger, and I don't want you in danger.'"

She dragged him back towards the bed. "Sleep now. We'll try to get in contact with Saburouta or Dean tomorrow, and then try to find Naraku."

"Going to be difficult to contact the ship without Omoikane, but there's probably a way."

"There is when you leave a ghost in the shell," she said with a small smile as she climbed between the sheets.

Her love paused beside the bed. "You know, Mitnick has nothing on you."

'Baka.'

'Hai.'

// \\

Next up, Omoikane and Ruri reunited for a while, and the ghost in the shell triggered...