Authoress' notes: I was so afraid to write this chapter. I'm really not so hot on writing action sequences and basically this is what this chapter is. Hopefully everything makes sense...I think it turned out rather well overall. Please review and tell me if you think it turned out okay. Thanks guys. I hope you enjoy this :-/

EDIT - I didn't actually mess with this too much in the edit I was very happy overall with the result of this.

Family Ties: Part 7

Shippou raised his head from beneath the blanket he'd been snuggling under and blinked as he looked around the dark room. His nose twitched, and flicked his ears; trying to figure out what had stirred him from sleep. Kirara was also awake; her yellow-red eyes shine reflecting in the dull light.

"Did you sense something too, Kirara?" He asked quietly, mindful of the late hour and sleeping humans.

The demon-cat rose to her feet and sniffed the air quizzically. She started towards the door trying to get a better sense of the scent she was picking up from the wind.

"Hey, wait for me." Shippou complained scrambling behind the demon-cat. "Shouldn't we get Inuyasha?"

Kirara yawned and padded through the doorway of the home. She raised her head and got a better whiff of the scent in the chilled night air and twitched her ears as she listened. She continued her path to the back of the house outside a window.

" Whatcha find?" Shippou asked sniffing the ground beside Kirara. "That's Tanaya's scent. What's she going out this late at night for?"

Kirara cocked her head to one side and mewed, as if to say, "I don't know."

" Think we should go look for her? I mean since Inuyasha isn't a demon tonight and Kagome and Sango are worn out and wait a minute where'd Miroku go?" Shippou rambled until glancing around and noticed Kirara had started towards the forest without him. " Kirara? Kirara! Wait for me!" He called out and raced behind her.

The two entered the forest and were completely unaware of the sound of a flute on the breeze or the fog that rolled in behind them.

"You play beautifully." Michi complimented sitting next to Sango on the open porch.

Sango jumped and nearly dropped her flute. "You startled me."

" Sorry, I walk quiet." Michi laughed.

"Your whole family seems to have that problem." Sango sighed and turned her flute over in her hands, studying the grooves on it.

Michi offered a roguish grin, "We practice."

"That does not surprise me." Sango looked out at the forest as the two fell into a small stretch of silence.

"He didn't hurt you did he?" Michi suddenly asked.

Sango looked surprised by the question, "Miroku?" When Michi nodded, Sango shook her head. "No, he didn't hurt me. I just do not understand him."

"I'm glad; that he didn't hurt you. I was watching you two in the garden."

Sango blushed furiously and dropped her head. "I...um..."

Michi taped Sango on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it. He can be charming, when he wants to be. Which is probably what is he is right now." She muttered.

Sango arched her eyebrow, "Did he go somewhere?"

"I would imagine he went into the village."

Sango's expression darkened slightly, "I see. That's not too much of surprise, knowing him."

Michi glanced over at the young girl, before speaking. "He isn't very fond of my lectures which I suppose I should quite giving or he'll never come around to see me."

" Lecture?" Sango asked confused.

"Oh, it was nothing, just trying to keep him out of grave he seems intent on digging." Michi glared out at the woods and flexed the fingers of her right hand.

"I don't understand." Sango shook her head. "What do you mean by a grave, he's digging?"

"It's nothing, I shouldn't bother you with this. I'm thinking out loud, and probably not making much sense anyways. But I should ask you, it's late and getting colder, why are you out here?"

Sango watched Michi clench and unclench her right fist. "Miroku does that too." Sango indicated to Michi's motions. "Why?"

Michi looked at her right hand, than touched the side of Sango's face with it. She laughed as Sango jumped, pulled away and rubbed her cheek quickly.

"Your hand's like ice." She exclaimed.

"I know that's why I'm always looking at my fingers and moving them. I can't really feel them." Michi sighed and pulled off her glove. "It's been getting worse recently. It even hurts now, sometimes." She pulled the offending hand closer to her body and rubbed it trying to get the circulation back.

"I'm sorry." Sango looked at Michi's solemn expression and noticed how much browner her eyes were than Miroku's. "I didn't realize. Do you think it's the curse?"

Michi looked up as if that has snapped her back into reality. "It may be, but don't trouble yourself over it. I'm a bad hostess to heap my problems on you."

"I don't mind." Sango bit her lip, upon hearing Michi rise to her feet. She stood up as well and started inside behind Michi, when she got up the courage to ask. "Where did you get the scars? No demon makes those marks." Sango's second sentence had not been a question.

"I should know better than to try and fool a taijiya." Michi shook her head. "What were marriages like in your village?"

Sango didn't see the relevance to the question, but opted to answer. " They were happy, mostly; normally a mutual agreement. The man and woman respected each other, but why do you ask?"

Michi looked at Sango for moment before answering. "I'm sure you've traveled enough places to know that not all men respect their wives, it is no different here. Ryu, my husband, didn't want to marry me and he tells me so, whenever he feels it necessary." She sighed. " But such is the way of a man, I haven't given him a true heir and he hates me for it."

" Wouldn't a son carry the curse?"

"I truly don't know. My mother only had daughters and it is the same with my sisters. We don't know, for we've never faced it."

Sango suddenly looked to the right, "Did you hear something?"

Michi nodded and the two women eased back into the house.

"I'm going to get my weapon." Sango whispered, but paused at the rumpled blanket in front of the fire. "Kirara, get up." She pulled back the blanket was surprised that the demon-cat and kitsune weren't beneath it. "That's strange."

Michi re-appeared from the hallway holding a doll. "This is Tanaya's, I found it on floor, which isn't too odd because she sneaks out some nights, but I have bad feeling."

Sango agreed. "Kirara and Shippou are gone as well."

"I suppose they could be playing follow the leader." Michi sarcastically snipped, rubbing her temple.

"I doubt it."

"Oh, me too."

Inuyasha opened his eyes, as a sense of dread filled him. He glanced to the right and left before noticing that the candle had gone out. He narrowed his eyes, squinting his dark eyes forcing them to focus and realized that the candle had been cut in half. He glanced down at Kagome, who was opening her eyes as well. Moving as slowly as possible he leaned down towards Kagome. "Someone's here. The candle's been cut."

Kagome nodded and whispered back. "I can sense a jewel shard."

" Great." Inuyasha growled sarcastically, before asking, "Can you see it?"

Kagome started to sit up, but Inuyasha held her down and shook his head.

"I want whoever it is to think we're still half-asleep." His breath tickled her ear.

She nodded and shifted her shoulder as if trying to get more comfortable as her eyes scanned the room. Suddenly a weapon came sailing into her view, "Inuyasha!" She screamed as she realized how fast it was coming at them.

Inuyasha had already heard the incoming attack even human he had the skills of a warrior. He shifted himself over Kagome and cried out in pain as the sickle-like weapon tore deep into his skin. He felt himself be pushed aside and heard Kagome's pained screech, before the darkness overtook him.

Miroku put his hands on his hips and glared at his Shakujou, which mockingly pointed towards the hawk-demon's temple. He didn't want to slay this demon. What he wanted was to exact his vengeance on Ryu. Still, he knew better than to go off blindly and attack a human. Killing demons was one thing, but killing humans was an entirely different thing. He looked at his hands, still clean of human blood. Damn logical thinking. He didn't want to consider the consequences of his actions at the moment. He looked at both sides of the path and stepped away from his staff. He took five steps before Michi's voice rang in his ears.

"Don't fight for me. These hands of yours are still clean, of blood at least. Don't change that for me. Respect your uncle, my father and his decision; I will survive Ryu."

He sighed; she'd told him that as she treated his face from the punch he'd received from his cousin-in-law after the disrespect he'd shown his uncle, by announcing that he was throwing a pearl to swine by allowing this marriage. Michi had caught his arm before he could return the favor and led him away. He had been barely thirteen, but he knew how ridiculous this marriage would be.

"Damn him. I'll kill his body than damn his soul to hell for what he's put her through... but not tonight." Miroku ground his teeth together before picking up his shakujou and stalking towards the temple. He slowed his pace and crept around the outside of the temple before rushing up the stairs and kicking down the door.

The man-beast looked up surprised at the interruption and glanced at Miroku before snorting, unimpressed by the monk. He rose to his feet and spread his wings preparing to take flight.

Miroku glanced up and realized that the demon had enough space to fly in this temple. 'Of course, you're a demon that flies, why wouldn't the ceiling of your temple allow you to.' He steadied himself and planted his feet preparing for the demon's first move.

The hawk-demon snorted again, "You are of the family of that damaged priestess who feeds me."

"Yes, I am and I have come to kill you."

" Pitiful monk, do you think you can defeat me with your sutras? I have drank the blood of a priestess and no matter how dirty she is, her blood allows me immunity to such things."

An unusually cruel smile passed over his lips."Who said anything about sutras?" Miroku launched his staff at the demon. It hit its mark embedding itself in the shoulder of the demon.

The demon tried to take flight, but the staff's power held him earthbound. The human-like face of the demon contorted into a sneer as he ripped the staff from his shoulder and dropped it to the ground. Dark blood oozed from the open hole in the demon's shoulder as he rasped. "Stupid monk, I will eat you alive, than kill that no good priestess-wench and her child." The demon took flight, angling himself away from Miroku to pick up speed for his attack.

Miroku slowly removed the prayer beads from his hand and opened the wind tunnel aiming at the demon.

The hawk-demon lurched backwards, the powerful rush of air drawing him in. Wings flapped harder trying to get away from the air, but the demon lost more ground to the monk's power. The tips of the demon's wings entered the void and a dread coldness filled the heart of the beast. Further and further in went the powerful wings that had carried him over hill and valley, than the demon remembered the sword on his hip. The creature unsheathed the sword and arched it towards the monk.

Miroku kicked the sword away from the demon as he jumped back and closed the wind tunnel.

The demon flopped to the ground screeching like a wounded animal and swiping blindly at the monk, who had taken all but the bases of his wings.

Miroku watched the hawk-demon flail on the ground as he retrieved his shakujou. As he strode back to the demon he growled, "My cousin is an honorable woman."

The hawk-demon spit out a mouthful of blood and announced. "That stupid priestess-wench fed me to protect the people of her village, but I only wanted her blood. The damn bitch is ugly and stupid to trust me and she shakes when cuts her own arm."

Miroku thrust the staff against the hawk-demon's forehead, stunning the creature. "Her name is Michi and you are dead, Demon. Go back to Hell!" Miroku leapt back from the demon and sucked it into the wind tunnel. He re-wrapped the prayer beads and spit on the ground where the demon's body had lain.

Kagome struggled for breath and bit her lip trying to ignore the blinding pain of her side as she crawled across the room. The attacker, whoever it was had stopped after the first terrible blow and seemed to be waiting for his or her preys next move. Inuyasha was unconscious, blood pouring from his open wound as he struggled for breath. 'Don't think about it. Find a weapon.' Her fingers brushed over Sango's hiraikotsu, 'No, one I can actually use.' She reached blindly in the dark for her bow and arrows, silently berating herself for letting her guard down so completely.

'A Jewel shard! It's right in front of me. Oh no...' She looked directly in front of her and saw feet, black covered feet, like Sango's but too small. 'Crap!' She dared to glance up into the soulless brown eyes of Kohaku, who was raising his weapon to finish her.

" Goodnight." He bid her.

Kagome watched the weapon begin to descend and tried to figure out which way she should roll; but would it even matter? She rolled right and felt metal tear the flesh of her thigh. She screamed in pain and tried to pull Sango's heavy weapon down to use it as a shield.

Kohaku was walking towards her again, his slow, steady steps coming closer. Kagome dared peeked over the hiraikotsu to see how close her executioner was, when Sango burst into the room and tackled her younger brother.

" Kagome, throw me my sword, its on my hiraikotsu." Sango yelled trying to keep Kohaku pinned to the ground.

Kagome felt along the weapon, desperately seeking the sword. Finally her fingers brushed over the cool leather of the sheath. "Got it! Here!" Kagome couldn't believe how weak her voice sounded. Thankfully, her throw was far enough to get the sword to where it needed to be.

Sango reached up for the sword, forgetting her brother's reflexes and as she grabbed the sheathed sword, Kohaku slammed into her. The air exploded from her lungs and her gasped to reclaim her breath.

Kohaku was faster than she was, the sacred jewel shard in his back had increased all of his skills, and his weapon slashed towards her.

Sango wasn't known as the best demon slayer for nothing and she managed to get her arm and sword up in time to block the blade from marring her chest. Her sword had taken the brunt of the attack, and she ignored whatever pain there was to feel and countered her brother's next attack.

" Kohaku, please, don't do this. I'm Sango, your sister. You know me, remember, please!" She cried out as she blocked every blow, but never went on the offensive.

Michi pounded against the shield that held her in the main room of the house. She cursed and tried to break it with every chant and prayer she could remember, but nothing worked. She started pacing unable to sit still for the battle sounds that were coming from the other side of her home. "Damn you, whoever you are for holding me here! Come show yourself!"

"As you wish little, Michi."

The deep voice that answered brought Michi to her knees in horror. Her mouth formed words, but no sound passed over her lips.

Naraku glided over to where Michi had fallen and picked up Tanaya's broken doll. "Such a shame. I'll have to fix it for the child, when I find her again."

Michi looked up terrified, "What have you done to my daughter?"

"I merely gave her gift, but that little bird just won't quit running away." Naraku gripped her arm and forced her to stand. "Now then, we have a certain offer to discuss."

" Offer?"

"Yes, it's a little old, but I insist you make good on it."

Michi's face paled as she realized what he meant. "But my daughter...she..."

" Don't worry about your child. She isn't really your concern anymore." Naraku lifted Michi's hand up to inspect it. "It seems that I was careless when I worded that curse, but no matter." He touched her fingers and chuckled softly. "My, my those fingers are cold. That generational curse must be right under your skin, I think I'll see how strong it is." He raised her up by only her right wrist.

Michi cried out in anguish as she struggled in Naraku's hold.

Kohaku entered the room dragging an unconscious Sango. "I have brought her as you wished, Master Naraku."

"Very good Kohaku, now tie her up in the corner in case she awakens." Naraku turned back to the whimpering Michi. "You are quite afraid aren't you? Don't like demons?"

" Naraku! Put her down, now!" Miroku stood inside the doorway of the house.

"Or you'll what monk? If you notice, I'm holding your dear cousin and I don't think that wind tunnel of yours will differentiate between us. But try it if you dare."

"I don't need my wind tunnel to defeat you." Miroku stood ready with his shakujou. "Just put her down she has nothing to do with this."

Naraku touched Michi's cheek with his free hand and laughed again. "I disagree monk, for she is exactly what this is about. I made an error when I worded my curse, an error I will now rectify." The nail that had been resting on Michi's cheek grew longer and sharper, drawing a tiny line of blood across Michi's cheek. He lowered her and thrust the nail through the palm of her right hand.

Michi screamed in agony as the hole spread out from the point of entry.

Miroku stood helpless, stunned, and unable to act as Naraku ripped open the curse in Michi. He couldn't do anything; couldn't save her. If only there was a way. He watched in horror as one of poison insects crawled up Naraku and closer to the hole in Michi's hand. "No! You will not do this!"

Sango lifted up her head at the sound of a woman's scream. She blinked trying to pull herself back to reality. Her vision was still blurry, but she could make out the room and people in it. Kohaku was standing next to her; Naraku was in front of her holding Michi, by the wrist; and Miroku...when had he returned? He was yelling at Naraku, was he going to fight Naraku alone?

She shifted her shoulders and managed to turn her wrist enough to slip it out of the ropes that held her; Kohaku never had been good at tying knots. She stood to her feet as Miroku began to chant. She struck Kohaku from behind, knocking him unconscious. She carefully caught him before he fell completely and laid him silently on the ground.

Miroku's voice changed, the language he was using was no longer one that Sango recognized. The dark light that was exploding from Michi's right hand was covered with a blinding white energy. Naraku's grip on the woman was faltering, as he attempting to keep his skin away from the light. Sango grabbed her brother's weapon and spun it in her hand assuring herself that she wouldn't miss.

Suddenly, another blinding light poured into the room; dawn had broken over the horizon. Inuyasha's enraged voice was heard over Miroku's chanting and the din of the warring energies. The hanyou tore into the room with murderous intent, welding the already transformed Tetsusaiga, but he stopped at the sight of the conflicting energies. His ears flicked back and a deep warning growl came from the back of his throat.

Miasma flooded the room; the fighters, save Miroku, covered their faces to avoid breathing in the poison. Naraku threw Michi away from him and he and Kohaku vanished into the mists.

Miroku wavered on his feet; his face had gone pale and the energy that had been sizzling around the monk had dissipated with the miasma. Sango walked over to make sure he was all right and he collapsed against her, his breath coming in shallow gasps.

Inuyasha helped Michi to her feet, "You okay?"

Michi nodded numbly and held her palm up for him to inspect; besides the tiny scar in the center it was perfect. "He... He sealed it." She whispered astonished.

Inuyasha acknowledged with a nod her than asked, "Michi, can you help Kagome? She's hurt."

Michi started to follow him, when she turned to Sango, "Please take care of him. I'll be right back." She took another two steps when she froze, "Oh gods! Naraku, he... He said that he'd done something to Tanaya."

"I'll get her." Inuyasha grunted and started towards the door, when Kirara thumped through the doorway carrying Tanaya and Shippou.

The fire-cat trotted up to Inuyasha, and laid the unconscious kitsune at the hanyou's feet.

Michi grabbed Tanaya from the Kirara's back and held her tightly.

"No, Mommy, I'm not hurt. Shippou's hurt, the bird bit him." Tanaya tried to pull away from her mother and help the kitsune.

Inuyasha knelt down and sniffed Shippou's body. "He'll be okay. Just a scratch."

Michi wouldn't release her grip on her daughter. She started to cry as she checked to see if Tanaya was all right.

" Mommy, why are you crying? I'm okay, Mommy." Tanaya tried to calm her nearly hysterical mother.

Michi was trying to get a hold of herself, knowing that she was needed.

Inuyasha placed his hand on her shoulder. "Just stay with her for a bit. Me and Sango can handle it for a while."

" Thank you." Gratitude flooded the weary woman's features and she held her daughter; hugging and kissing Tanaya to assure herself that her daughter was real and in her arms.

Original Reviewer Responses:

Review Responses:

Araki-chan: You're very welcome for the fluffy scene. I had a lot of fun writing it...it gave me a great idea to use later, but it'll keep until I get a plot to wrap around it. Thank you so much for review and saying that you like to Michi, I really wanted her to be a believable and realistic character.

Nuklear Firefly: Sorry about the cliffhanger, but I wasn't happy with the next scene, yet and I wanted to get it right. I'm so glad you liked the chapter, thanks for reviewing and telling me so!! I'm also really glad you liked the story-part; it took me forever to get it just right...had to think like the monk...hmm interesting all in itself. But yeah I see him as such a good dad...can you imagine him with daughters??? – He'd never let them out of the house for fear of others like him.

Coherentidiot: See Tanaya's fine. I wouldn't have let her get hurt. I'm so glad you liked the scenes with the couples...they were a blast to write...side note: I wanna play that game that Inuyasha and Kagome too, but I need to find someone to play with. I'm glad you liked the extra feature, yeah, I did sorta make it up on my own. See I just kinda (though REALLY loosely) parodied the show...I was trying to 'be the monk'

xX Iron-Reaver Xx:

Muse: Goober!! Goober!!!

Tashana: squashes the muse Now that's enough of that, thank you! Sorry we're kinda arguing about the ending of this story

Muse Laughs:...Happy Happy cliché!!!!

Tashana: growls No, we will be real!! Anyways:

Thanks for the great review as always, I so appreciate the time you take with these! Yeah I noticed you had the fic up on your site, looks great!!

So glad you enjoyed the storytelling part!! And yes you were right, though loosely based that was where I got the idea!! (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") Dancing Kirbies for you for being so observant!!!

Ah, yes I so enjoyed writing up that little moment for Miroku and Sango. I so have plans for that conversation, later, but I must find a plot to go with it...but yeah I even thought it was pretty cool. I'm so glad you liked it thanks for making mention of it in your review!!

Again thank you for your comments about Michi, I was really worried she was gonna be a perfect character, but I just tried to make her as real as possible. She is a bit of a secret keeper, but that's part of her charm

Glad I could answer that question for ya!!! Hope you liked this chapter as much as the others!! Thanks for your great reviews!! E-mail me if you've got any questions!!!

Hikari: (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") (")( ") dancing Kirbies for you for drawing that awesome pic for me!!! I love it!!! I'm so glad you liked the last chapter I hope this one was as good. Thank you so much for the review, e-mail and the PIC!!! Thanks again!!!

Jaid Skywalker: Thanks for the e-mail sweetie (thinking on that I think I owe you one?)! And for the review!! I'm so glad you're liking the story, I hope you continue to enjoy it as I continue writing it!!!

Kaylana: Okay, well this wasn't so much of a cliffhanger...I hope you liked it. And I hope you've been enjoying the fic so far. Thanks for taking the time to review!!!

Pizza is Cheesy: Well I hope your finger aren't as tired this time J/k Anyways, thank you so much for taking the time to review my fic, I hope that you liked this chapter!! Thanks again and I'm so glad you've been enjoying the fic so far!!