Sesshoumaru and MacLeod held their weapons and each considered his opponent. The conviction of the former that the broadsword was the source of sorcery in the latter grew upon seeing the blade before him unsheathed. Every time he drew his own weapon, he could tell that Toukijin thirsted for blood. However, only the one holding Toukijin was aware of that desire. When his son held the blade, he could not feel the blade's intent.

The blade opposing him, however, was different. Even though they were separated by several meters, he could hear the opposing blade as clearly as he heard his own, and perhaps even more strongly. The black blade emanated a light as black as it was and as strong as either of the heirloom swords his father had left.

Since both opponents appeared to be content studying the other for the time being, Sesshoumaru entertained one further notion. He had phrased it as "the blade opposing him." Though the wielder did not bear the wild-eyed look of a human who had dared grasp the Toukijin, it was quite clear who was the master in the pair that stood before him.

"Stand down," Sesshoumaru ordered the Lackeys, realizing that they were both taking careful aim. "The one who will defeat this mortal... is this Sesshoumaru."

that, he leapt forward and attacked. Dean and Greg were amazed to see blow after blow parried by the Scotsman. Dean regarded the two even more carefully than Greg did, as if he were studying the scene for research. "This is crazy," he muttered.

"Eh?" Greg replied.

"Have you seen that guy strike or counter once?"

"Huh? Well, no, I guess not," Greg said, scratching his head. He gestured with the gun in his hands. "These things are more my style."

Take my word for it then," Dean said, returning his gaze to the combatants before him. "That MacLeod guy isn't attacking at all, even if he's able to block every blow Sesshoumaru-sama is making."

Sesshoumaru heard what the Lackeys were saying but didn't really pay attention as he had realized the same thing a while back. When his first strike had been easily parried, he had begun to hold himself back, unsure if he had underestimated his opponent. It was clear, however, that he had not, as evidenced by the lack of any retaliation against him.

It was also evident that the mortal was far less experienced with a sword than he let on to be. Perhaps he was a good swordsman by modern standards, standards which no lives depended on. However, Sesshoumaru was quite clearly in control of the fight, even if he had yet to draw blood. As such, he was slowly increasing the pace of the duel. Each of his attacks moved slightly quicker than the last. He was not unrewarded in his efforts. As the fight dragged on he heard the opposing blade howl ever increasingly for his blood, and with each increment of speed saw fear increment equally in his opponent's face.

was under no pretense that the target of the mortal's fear was himself. It was clear to him that the man feared losing control to the black blade in his hands far more than he feared death at the demon's hands. There was a point that would soon be reached where Sesshoumaru wasn't fighting a mortal wielding a sorcerous blade but a sorcerous blade given hands by a mortal. It was that moment Sesshoumaru was patiently waiting for.

// \\

Youkai elsewhere were not necessarily as patient as the Lord of the Western Lands. Kagura paced restlessly back and forth as if she were the one being guarded instead of the Saburouta and Hoshino.

Ruri, for her part, sat patiently with her hands in her lap, fully aware of what Inuyasha and Yurika were doing at the moment (which was quarrelling at a "Y" in the passageways). She watched Kagura as the youkai would occasionally stop for a few moments, flick her fan open and shut a few times, then resume pacing.

Saburouta had given up trying to make conversation and was simply laying on the floor with his hands behind his head and his feet propped up on the wall. Until a short while ago he had been whistling a random tune despite his charge's declaring it awful. He had decided to stop after Kagura had seconded the Kanchou's opinion but with some added force behind the request.

"It's too bad that brat Kohaku was human and died centuries ago. He was far better suited to this kind of duty than I."

"It will be over soon," Ruri said, causing Kagura to raise an eyebrow.

"You really think he'll defeat Naraku so quickly that Naraku will be unable to order me to kill you?"

"Oi, who said he was going to fight Naraku first?" the Jovian mused aloud, not taking his eyes from the ceiling.

"Kagura-san," Hoshino started, determined to change the conversation to keep herself from revealing just how right her bodyguard was, "I saw Akatsuki-san in the car with us before you drugged me."

"The long-haired fellow?" Kagura clarified, "What of him?"

"That is my question," Ruri continued. "What connection does he have to Naraku?"

Kagura paused in her pacing and considered the younger woman. "An answer for an answer. Why you two? I know what I saw in him, but I cannot understand why you desire him. He does not seem your type."

Ruri paused, preferring to not discuss her feelings with the woman before her but knowing that she needed her question answered more. 'Oh well, it's your turn to be embarrassed, Inu-kun.'

'So be it, Ruri.'

"I suppose somehow we understand each other, at a level I have never been able to share with anyone else."

'Evasive and yet completely true. Otou-san must be rubbing off on you.'

'Baka.'

'Damn straight.'

"A different response than I would have expected, but I suppose it will have to do. I suppose my answer will be equally aggravating. I asked him a similar question, and his response was that he shared some points of view with the man who helped Naraku, and had agreed to help Naraku in his associate's goals if said business associate would aid him in his."

Saburouta thumped a boot against the wall. "I think your answer was more aggravating, not equally."

// \\

The human was at his breaking point. Sesshoumaru could tell it was his last, best effort before giving in to his sword. For his part Sesshoumaru was increasing his caution as he increased his speed. His half-brother had proven to him many years ago the potentially fatal consequences of acting otherwise. His missing left arm was a constant reminder of that fact.

Finally, it happened. Sesshoumaru wasn't entirely sure himself how he knew that the man had broken to the will of the black blade he carried. Perhaps it was something in the mortal's eyes or a subtle change in expression. It was moot as the evidence came when the man didn't wait for Sesshoumaru's next strike to come, choosing instead to swing at the youkai's head with all of his strength.

Sesshoumaru ducked easily enough under the swing, letting the blade slice nothing more than air. The man struck at Sesshoumaru again, who brought his sword up and caught the attacking blade against it. He then leaped into the air and twisted himself to allow his sword to catch the other blade in its pommel. In his shock the human loosened his grip on his blade and the youkai took full advantage of it. With a practiced flick Sesshoumaru threw the weapon from his opponent's hands.

Dean and Greg tightened their grip on their own weapons, unsure of what would happen next as they watched the black blade spiral end over end away from its former master. Their concern was soon merited, though their faces were registering more shock than concern. The black blade stopped itself in midair and levitated of its own accord a few feet above the ground, it's hilt aimed towards the heavens.

Sesshoumaru landed and crouched, prepared for any attack against him the weapon might launch of its own accord. The sword rotated itself slowly in the air, leveling itself parallel to the ground, and after a moment's pause rocketed forward. It was the one attack even the fearsome Lord of the Western Lands could not prepare for. The sword had turned against the one whom moments before had considered himself the master it. It dove into the Scotsman's chest with a force that caused the man to stumble several feet backwards.

Unsure as to why he did so, Sesshoumaru replaced Toukijin to its home at his side and leaped towards his former opponent. He grasped the hilt of the sword to pull it out and found himself forced to his knees but unable to release the blade. The Scotsman coughed, a thin line of blood running from the corner of his mouth. "It would seem... that... it has a new master." He smiled slightly. "Blood and souls..." he began but his life was ended before he could finish.

Sesshoumaru felt control of his arm return a few moments later and wrenched the blade free of its former ally. He straightened and studied the broadsword in his hand. Though it was larger and heavier than the Toukijin, the power it was infused with, and was infusing him with, made it feel lighter. Dean stepped cautiously forward. "Sesshoumaru-sama..."

"Naraku does not intend to appear."

"S.. sir?"

The youkai reached down and slid the black blade into the scabbard on the corpse. "I do not think he intends to absorb myself or my son. Had this man held the control he claimed of this blade, he could have easily defeated me. Naraku over-estimated his strength." He disconnected the scabbard from its belt and then placed it in his own. "Let us go. Inuyasha may require assistance."

// \\

As of that moment, Inuyasha and Yurika did not require assistance, as shortly after arguing about which turn to take, he had caught the mixed scent of Kagura and Naraku in the air.

He had wanted Yurika to stay where she was but didn't even ask, guessing that she wanted Ruri back almost as much as he did. He knew from Ruri that in some ways Yurika felt more deeply for Ruri than even he did, just as in some ways Ruri felt more deeply for Akito than him.

'Baka.'

' 'You say that word a lot. I do not think it means what you think it means,' ' the youkai teased.

'And again I say 'baka.' Yes, I do care for them both, especially Akito-san, but that can't be as strong as this bond.'

The youkai slowed his pace through the corridors, to Yurika's relief. 'You would have no chance against me in a fight. Does that make you weak?'

'Of course not. Strength isn't just muscles, both of our lives have taught us that.'

'Ruri, the opposite is also true. Strength of a relationship doesn't come from just level of communication, no more than physical attraction does. If it was a choice between standing by Akito-san and standing by me, we both know that the decision would be simple. Akito.'

Ruri sat silently, ignoring a curious look from Saburouta.

'There's nothing wrong with it, either. If things had happened differently in Sengoku Jidai, yes, I probably still would have proposed-'

'-But I may not have said yes,' Ruri finished, staring at her hands. She thought for a moment before continuing. 'While that may be true, I do not regret my decision, nor do I doubt it.'

Yurika was looking at the cavern walls and missed the slight smile as it flashed across the youkai's face. 'I know, hime-chan. But you didn't.'

Ruri returned the smile she felt cross his lips. 'Baka ba'ka, baka-sempai.'

He thumbed loose the Tenseiga and stopped before a door terminating the corridor. 'That I am. "We're here."'

Kagura head jerked towards the entrance to what was serving as Ruri and Saburouta's cell as she heard the ancient wood shattering behind her. A cold, evil smile crossed her face. "Well, 'Inu-chan', has the puppy come to play?"

His left hand casually resting on the Tenseiga, he cracked the knuckles of his right before laying it on the weapons' hilt. "Hardly. I have come for Hoshino-san. Release her."

Kagura flicked her fan open across her face, leaving only her gleaming red eyes visible to her former lover. "What? No 'or I shall kill you', 'or I shall tear you limb from limb', or any other euphemism your dear departed uncle might have used?"

"Nope," Inuyasha returned as Ruri and Saburouta stood, unsure of what was going to happen next. The wait wasn't long, as Kagura hurled her Fuujin no Mai against the ceiling seconds later. She grabbed Ruri by the arm and leaped as the ceiling began collapsing, dragging the lighter woman with her.

Inuyasha cursed and grabbed Yurika as he dodged pieces of ceiling as it began to crash down around them. Grasping Saburouta by the collar with his free hand he leaped up, following Kagura and shielding the humans from debris as best he could.

Ruri looked down, trying to see what was happening below her as she was hauled to the surface. It was only a matter of seconds before she found herself underneath the sun once more. After landing, Kagura released the death grip on the kanchou's arm and shoved Ruri slightly but forcibly away.

"You don't have to fight him," Ruri objected.

"You're a good little soldier. You know that orders are orders," Kagura resonded, casting a sidelong glance at the younger.

"This is neither the UEF nor the Confederation," Ruri pointed out.

"No, it's not. It is a matter between youkai that humans should not interfere with."

Ruri's eyes formed into a glare as she saw the trio emerge unscathed from the newly formed pit on the other side of Kagura. "If it is a matter for youkai, why are you serving a hanyou?"

Kagura returned the glare before turning to face the slightly dusty trio.

Inuyasha released his grip on his passengers and stepped away from them. "Call Akito-san. I want to get out of here quickly."

Yurika nodded as the youkai turned to focus on his opponent. Ruri felt his mind open itself to her. Since the capture he had never purposefully closed his mind to her, but in all of his previous fights today she had felt his mind shut itself from her even though he did not realize it at the time. His mind and body this time were forcing themselves into a relaxed state in the same way they had when Kagura had been reclaimed by Naraku.

'Fluid,' Ruri thought to herself.

'Nan da?'

'Nothing, you have Kagura to worry about.'

'You're right, you now. It amounts to whether I let the youkai no inu tap the youkai no mizu or vice versa.'

'And the youkai no inu is more dominant?' Ruri questioned.

'Hai. This way is much more difficult, but more powerful for me.'

Kagura flicked her fan impatiently, creating small eddies around herself. "Oi, Inuyasha, are you thinking about your honeymoon already?" With that, she swept her arm and threw the eddies at him converting them into her razor sharp projectiles.

Inuyasha drew the Tenseiga as Fuujin no Mai howled towards him and dove straight into the onslaught. "What good is controlling the wind," he smirked, "if you don't move the wind faster than you opponent can move?" To prove his point, he drove the blade into the fury, nullifying her attack.

Kagura blinked. Not even the previous Inuyasha had been able to actually stop one of her attacks; he had only been able to block them. The only other person who had ever done what her ex had just done was Kagome's purifying arrow. Everyone else had either dodged or died. Kagura, however, dismissed the parry as dumb luck and that it had been a while since she had actually fought anyone.

The previous time that fate had brought them together, she had watched him train a few times. Every time she had watched him, the back of her mind was assured that if she ever had to fight him, she would defeat him. When they had fought side by side on his little fiancee's ship, she had assumed that his having somehow acquired low-gravity experience was the only thing that gave him a slight advantage over her. However, she had misjudged the abilities of both sons of Inutaishou when she had faced them in Sengoku Jidai. She silently cursed herself for forgetting Sesshoumaru's face when fate had brought herself and his son together as she released volley after volley of Fuujin no Mai at her former lover.

The current and former Nadesico crewmembers watched for the most part with mouths agape. Ruri's face bore no emotion as she watched the two youkai fight, only a casual interest in what happened despite what was going through her mind. She was, of course, concerned for the welfare of her love. However, despite her lack of martial knowledge, she had no doubts as to who would be the victor. She and Inuyasha both knew that Kagura was emotionally vesting herself in the fight, still bearing anger over their separation over a century before. Her opponent was removing all of his emotions from the fight.

Ruri was familiar enough with "ki" or the "swordsman's spirit," and in fact on occasion had gotten bored with Inuyasha's rambling on the subject. However, she had paid attention to enough of it to know that while one who possessed a strong ki could triumph over one who did not, one who could possess a strong ki yet elevate above it and cloak it was truly fearsome. With her fiance this ability was almost inherent when he focused himself in this way. A combination of his mother's blood, his father's training and mastery of battou-jutsu and Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu was certainly fearsome, but what caused Ruri to repress a shudder at the moment was thinking about the mastery of ki that her future father-in-law must have. He was in control of his emotions even more than she was of hers, and thus he must surely have earned a name meaning "killing purity."

Ruri blinked and brought her mind back to the world before her, realizing that the end of the fight was at hand. She watched as Inuyasha leaped high above the last volley Kagura had unleashed at him. His opponent had momentarily lost track of him behind her blinding attack and was unaware he was descending from above. A muttered "baka" could be heard issuing from her lips as he betrayed his position with a cry of "Ryu Tsui Sen!"

Kagura looked up in time to see the black armour descending rapidly towards her, the Tenseiga coiled to strike above her opponent's head. She tried to dodge out of its path but was unsuccessful. She grimaced in pain as she felt the blade connect with her shoulder. Her entire right arm went numb as she felt the blade tear and repair flesh and bone alike. She buckled to her knees, dropping her fan as Inuyasha landed and sheathed his blade.

The fires of hell itself flashed in her already-red eyes but were offset by the softness in her opponent's. "Gomen nasai, Kagura-sama," the youkai said softly, kneeling before where she sat on the ground. His mask returned as the recognized the sound of his vehicle coming. He stood and began to walk away from her, towards Ruri. "You will be freed from Naraku. You have my word in this."

Kagura harumphed as she nursed her numb and currently useless arm. "I doubt that you will. You know that I am ordered to kill you," she said, mentally summoning the small horde of lesser youkai that Naraku had managed to piece together.

Inuyasha stopped and adopted the tone of his father, but deigned to turn back to face her. "In that, I am afraid you will fail." He moved quickly away to usher Yurika and Ruri to the vehicle while instructing Saburouta to take the wheel from Akito, who was more than happy to oblige.

Inuyasha wasn't entirely sure how he knew what was coming. It wasn't anything that he could attribute to a sense, so perhaps it was just a hunch based on stories told to him as a child and again after the brothers were reunited. Either way, he turned to see the glowing mass that was one of Naraku's hordes. He closed the door behind Ruri and leaped on top of the vehicle, leaning his head into the still-open sunroof. "Saburouta, go!"

With the jerk inherent to a driver unaccustomed to the horsepower of the demon's machine, Saburouta rocketed the car forward and onto the road leading from the ruins. Inuyasha's eyes never strayed from the snarled mass of baser youkai following them, the silver revolver in his hand occasionally firing a round upon a youkai that managed to stray too close to the car. While he wouldn't' call the emotions he felt in the car below him fear per se, there was certainly some anxiety coming from the opening below him. As they neared the highway, he heard a familiar sound approaching and smiled as he recognized his father's M3. He watched as the car sided up beside his and his father's serene face emerged from the smaller vehicle's sunroof.

"A fine mess you've gotten yourself into this time," Sesshoumaru chided.

The younger smiled, moving from a crouching to sitting position as the vehicles accelerated upon reaching the highway. "Well, what can I say?" he asked casually. "It's normally messy when your ex shows up after you get engaged."

The elder youkai smiled faintly then looked up at their pursuers. He pulled Toukijin from his sash and threw it to his son, who caught it easily but plastered his face with a dumbfounded expression. Sesshoumaru shrugged and regarded the horde again. He drew his newly-claimed sword from its scabbard. "I believe it is time for you to formally inherit the Toukijin, as this rune-covered blade has claimed me as its master."

Inuyasha thought his father had said something else but his focus had shifted to his love, whose mind now was tinged with fear and who was clambering to join him in the sunroof. "'What is it, Ruri?'"

Ignoring her betrothed for the moment, she looked at the other vehicle and, more specifically, at the sword in Sesshoumaru's hand. "It can't be..." she breathed, inaudible to all but Inuyasha.

Impatient to wait for fullness, Inuyasha searched his love's mind. 'What's going on, Ruri-chan?'

'It was a book I read when I was first learning to read. I saw it in the Institute's library and picked it up because the man on the cover had eyes and hair like mine.'

The youkai's head jerked as if he had been physically struck by Ruri's words. 'That's one of the Runeblades?' he stated, shock spreading into his features and leaving his mouth agape.

Ruri fought back a laugh at his expression and reached up to close his mouth for him. 'You read it too?'

'I was a lot older than you were but it was still a century ago. I'd forgotten reading of Elric of Melnibone, though I picked it up for the same reason you did.'

Ruri allowed a small smile to cross her face but returned herself to business with a cry of "Sesshoumaru-sama!" to the other vehicle. The cry was left unheard by its recipient as it coincided with the synchronized braking and sliding of Saburouta and Dean.

"What the Hell do you think you're-" the younger youkai started, wheeling around to see why they had stopped. "Oh. Crap."

Sesshoumaru turned as well and saw two Aestivalis standing in the middle of the otherwise empty road ahead of them. He leapt down from the roof of his vehicle to stand between the two BMW's, watching the unmoving pair. His son joined him, warily looking over the red mech and its grey cousin. The elder turned back to face the swarm which was now rapidly approaching and asked without taking his eyes off of them, "Are those friend or foe?"

"Beats me," Inuyasha shrugged, "Ruri, do you recognize their squadron?"

"It's..." Ruri started, then her eyes characteristically widened. "One is Ryoko-san's."

As if on cue, the mecha bearing red plating raised its rifle and fired several rounds into the swarm with minimal affect on them. The grey mecha beside it joined in firing but appeared to be creating a light show more than anything else. Though neither unit had an external speaker engaged, Ruri heard the curses of one of the pilots through her youkai's ears over the din of gunfire. "It's certainly Ryoko-san, de degozaimasu."

Sesshoumaru stepped forward to join in the attack but found his son blocking his path. The younger embedded the Toukijin in the pavement before his father and took a few steps forward, drawing the Sword of Straasha.

'Be careful, Inuyasha,' Ruri said, her quiet request cutting through Inu's thoughts.

'I will. This blade may not be mentioned in those chronicles, but if its name is accurate I think I know how to use it. And to think, all this time even I thought it was just a fairy tale.'

'Still.'

'I know. I love you.' With that, he drew his sword and raised it to the heavens.

"Straasha! Eternal King! Eternal Sea!
Thine aid is sought by me!
For enemies of thine and mine
Seek to defeat our destiny,
and drain away our sea!" [1]

Though he knew that he was standing on dry ground, Inuyasha suddenly felt the embrace of water around him. He lavished in it momentarily then brought his mind back into focus on the task at hand.

"Greetings, my child. It has been long since one of my kind summoned me back to this plane. Though I do not recognize thee, I sense thy blood, as well as that thy need is urgent."

The youkai nodded. "Straasha-sam... King Straasha, I beg thy aid, that you lend to me elementals to defeat the demons that threaten us."

The deep green eyes of the face that had formed before Inuyasha in the currents seemed to laugh slightly. "That is all thee summoned me for? Thou art of me, thou hath this power within thineself."

Inuyasha's puzzlement grew. "Of you? But..."

The face's mouth smiled. "It has been indeed a long time, I suppose. Thee do not seem to have been taught all of the might thy blood contains. I shall grant thy request, but trouble me not again for something so trivial, something you yourself can do."

Inuyasha made to thank him but found blackness encroaching his vision, and soon found himself unconscious.

// \\

Consciousness slowly returned to the youkai's mind. He felt fingers brush against his hair and Ruri's comforting mind inside of his. He was unsure as to what happened after he blacked out, but nothing but peace was coming from Ruri, leaving him feeling safe.

'Ruri, what happened?' he asked as his body began to catch up with his mind in returning to wakefulness. Ruri made no reply to his question but neither did any of the emotions he felt in her change. He felt softness against the back of his head and surmised that Ruri had laid his head in her lap. He hesitated in opening his eyes, enjoying the peace a while longer. He inhaled deeply reveling in Ruri's scent being near her once again. He paused and sorted through the smells and sounds around him. Yurika was quite close by, almost on top of him, so to speak, and Akito and his father were near as well. Saburouta was slightly farther away and there were two more humans he didn't recognize, though neither smelled or sounded hostile.

Resigning himself to returning to reality, he slowly opened his eyes. Looking down at him were two large, round green eyes. He blinked. Green. A blue lock of hair fell from behind the face as it smiled down at him. Crimson flooded into his face as he quickly sat upright. In the late afternoon sun he saw his mistake. Yurika had loaned him one knee and his still-sleeping fiancee the other.

Yurika smiled at the blushing youkai as he tried to shrug off his embarrassment. As the blood slowly returned from whence it came the young demon took in his surroundings. Were it not for the fact that he still wore his demon armour and the presence of two mecha nearby it would have appeared to be a normal, tranquil spring picnic. When his father had had time to prepare and pack what he saw on the ground before him was beyond his comprehension. He shook his head slightly at the tea Tenkawa proffered and began unlacing the gauntlets around his wrists.

Most of the assemblage was content for the moment to not ask what had happened. This suited the younger of the demons, seeing as how he didn't even get to see how Straasha had aided him. He was aware also of the dearth of conversation in the group, partly, of course, due to everyone wanting to allow Ruri to sleep. He was better aware than any just how little she had allowed herself to rest during her incarceration. However, beyond that he smelled the emotions of the humans around him. Yurika and Akito both smelled slightly nervous, probably unsure of what happened. One of the two newcomers he recognized as Tsukiomi Genichiro , whom he'd met a few times before through Nergal. Inuyasha smelled from him the same thing he smelled in Saburouta - disquiet and distrust, which didn't surprise him. Sesshoumaru-sama was Sesshoumaru-sama. The final member of the group was feeling quite different from the rest. Her, he had never met, but recognized from Ruri's memories as well has his beloved's descriptions of her fiery attitude. "Subaru Ryoko," he began calmly, "I sense great hostility from you."

"What was that you did? How did you kill those things? What were they?" Ryoko erupted, giving vent to her questions.

"I'll give you what answers I can if you'll answer this: Did we run into you or did you know we were out here?"

Ryoko "hmphed" and crossed her arms. "Hari-kun said Ruri-chan needed help. So I came. Same with Tsukiomi-san."

Inuyasha lowered his head to control the hellfire in his eyes before continuing. "I see. I suppose that satisfactorily answers my question." He shrugged and raised his head. "However, my answer will be a little more frustrating. I am a demon, after all," he finished with a smile that showed the briefest glimpse of his fangs.

Inuyasha ignored the confused looks from the Jovians and Ryoko as he continued. "Your questions are backward so I'll reverse their order for you. That swarm was baser youkai, simple-minded demons and little more than animals burning with the fires of Hell. For your middle question I have no answer. I was apparently unconscious during the fight itself."

"Perhaps I have an answer," Sesshoumaru interrupted. "It would appear that you summoned a group of youkai no mizu. However, from my understanding of Western lore, their name for them might be more accurate, 'water elementals.'"

Inuyasha shrugged, "That's possible, but like I said, I don't fully know what happened."

"But you summoned them!" Ryoko roared, ignoring a restraining hand on her shoulder from Genichiro .

The younger demon smiled and shook his head. "No, I did not summon them, I summoned Straasha." He launched into as brief an explanation as he could of the conversation between himself and the ancient being.

"So, would he count as a god or a demon?" Saburouta asked when he had finished.

"Neither, frankly. Straasha is Straasha, just as Sesshoumaru-sama is Sesshoumaru-sama and I am me." Confusion grew on everyone's faces so he continued. "Ruri's worldview is absolute... things are good or they're bad," he smiled down at her still-sleeping form. "However, there are many beings which belong neither in heaven nor in hell. It's not that we're necessarily banned from either... Perhaps you could say we exist under slightly different laws of nature."

"Is that how youkai can move so fast, Inuyasha?" Yurika guessed.

The youkai laughed aloud. "The laws of phsyics are the laws of physics, kaa-san. But while they can't be broken, they can certainly be bent."

Yurika shook her head. "I don't get it."

"Alright. Look at it this way. When you accelerate closer to the speed of light, what happens?"

Genichiro shrugged and answered for the group. "Time slows down. So?"

"So," the demon responded, "what if instead of speeding up, you just slow time down a little?"

Ryoko decided it was her turn to laugh. "That's impossible."

The pilot continued smirking as the youkai raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" he asked plainly.

She raised her tea towards her mouth. "Yes," she said forcefully, never taking her eyes off of him. She saw him blur slightly and then suddenly felt her cup ripped from her hand. "N.. nani?"

Inuyasha sat where he had been before, only now holding Ryoko's tea. "No wonder great religious leaders resort to parlor tricks." He handed the cup to Akito before standing to remove the final pieces of armor.

"Where are you going?" Ryoko challenged, not content to let the tea lie.

The youkai collected Straasha's sword and swung it across his shoulders like a yoke. "For a walk."

// \\

Inuyasha sat near the edge of the precipice, the blade in the grass beside him forgotten in meditation as he stared out at the sea. He had actually forgotten just where on the coast their course had taken them. He had once practiced his kata on this cliff.

He felt Ruri's presence nearing him and turned to welcome her. She smiled as she seated herself beside him and leaned on his shoulder. He inhaled deeply, breathing in her smell once again, and let it out in a slow sigh. "Why now, Ruri? I can't even describe how bizarre it felt to watch an Aestivalis firing upon youkai."

"Well, you're not the one raised among computers and starships who one day found herself on the back of a youkai flying around his house."

"Touche. Still."

"Still, paradoxes do exist."

"Paradoxes just mean we don't understand it properly."

"So I suppose that means I'm still right."

Inuyasha smiled, "I suppose." He let the smile fade and sat silently beside her for sometime.

'You shouldn't worry so much.'

'You were in very real danger, and I let it happen.'

'Baka,' Ruri countered, her thoughts tinged with anger and frustration. 'You didn't let anything happen. What happened was above our control. We did what we had to do and could not have foreseen the consequences. Do you think I was any less concerned when you were fighting?'

Inuyasha wrapped his arm around her. "Gomen. You're right." He held her to him a moment more, then stood, placing his sword in his sash. "Let's go," he said, taking her hand. "They'll be waiting for us, and we both probably would like to return to Otou-san's."

Ruri stood but didn't move as he started walking, just slightly smiling after him. He turned to face her, "What is it, Ruri?"

She kept the smile and shook her head slightly. "It's nothing. You just didn't call it 'home.'"

He felt her smile infecting him. "Well, we do have to find our own place, you know."

// \\

Next up, everything starts heading south...

// \\

[1]To avoid any plagarism, this really is a direct rip from Elric. It's found in the Elric Saga, Part I, Book 2, Chapter 1: The Caverns of the Sea King. In the edition I have, It's page 46. This is the final stanza of the incantation Elric's mind spoke to summon Straasha as he was drowning.