Ryuuookami – Chapter 4

A/N: Wow, look. I updated sooner than most times. watches as readers fall over from shock. Eh…heheh.

'Speak' – "Thoughts"

Kagura flew north on her feather boat, Tenshi sitting behind her. Below Juuroumaru leapt from tree to tree following them. After a good hour or so of arguing, Kagura finally won. And so they were headed north in search of Naraku and Kanna.

Tenshi gazed about, she had never been flying before. Everything looked different from up here, smaller, and the view was great. You could see for miles! The wind blew by her face and she was glad that she had put her hair up in a ponytail as it was rather windy. Below she watched Juuroumaru leap from tree to tree and sighed. "That looks like fun." Part of her really wished she could be a youkai like Juuroumaru, to have claws, leap from tree to tree, and have some kind of cool attack like Kagura. Oh well. She turned her gaze back to the scenery and thought about what they were going to do once they found Naraku.

Below, Juuroumaru followed after Kagura, keeping one eye on his mate and scenting the air for any trace of Naraku. He still wasn't happy about this, but after it was over and finished he wouldn't have to worry about his former master coming after him and possible hurting his mate.

They soon arrived at Naraku's former castle, it lay now in ruins and the thick miasma that had been there was now gone. Juuroumaru searched the grounds trying to pick up a trail, after a while he came back to where Kagura and Tenshi waited. 'Find anything?' Tenshi asked.

Juuroumaru shook his head no. 'Let us search farther north.' Kagura said pulling a feather from her hair. 'Naraku has other hiding places about.' Juuroumaru nodded and took off, Kagura and Tenshi followed after.

Kagome rubbed her head, a seemingly never-ending headache had started to plague her ever since Sesshoumaru and company had joined them. The brothers were constantly fighting for the lead, snapping and snarling at each other for dominance. As they were now. Kagome looked over to Sango and saw that she to had her eyes closed and a look of annoyance on her face. Kagome leaned over and whispered to her. 'Maybe we should take Hiraikotsu and knock them both unconscious.'

Sango looked tempted then sighed. 'There skulls are probably too thick, I doubt it would have any affect.' Kagome giggled. 'You're probably right.' A few walking minutes later the shards in the little glass bottle around her neck pulsed. 'Hey! I feel a jewel shard near by!'

Sango looked over at her. 'Really? Where?'

'Somewhere over there.' Kagome said pointing to her right. 'Hey, Inuyasha!' Kagome frowned when he ignored her and kept arguing with Sesshoumaru. 'Inuyasha!' Still nothing. 'INUYASHA!!!'

'WHAT?!' Inuyasha broke off his argument and turned to glare at Kagome.

'I sense a jewel shard!'

'Huh? Oh. Where?!' Inuyasha replied distractedly glaring at his half-brother who return it.

'He certainly looks eager to find it.' Shippo remarked from Kagome's shoulder.

Kagome growled under her breath. 'Over to the right somewhere.' She said pointing in the direction.

Inuyasha sniffed the air. 'I don't smell nothin.'

'Well, I sense it.' Kagome said.

'Well, I don't smell nothin! Maybe your dreamin!' Inuyasha retorted.

'I am NOT dreaming!' Kagome yelled back.

Akugi jumped up onto Ah-Un's back and sniffed the air. Smelling nothing by his normal wolf sense he switched to his Ryuu side and caught the aura of a large Hebi youkai. 'I sense a Hebi youkai.' He declared.

'Huh?' Inuyasha asked sniffing again. 'I still don't smell nothin.'

'It's shielding it's scent.' Akugi replied. 'I know where it is.' And with that he took off into the trees towards the Hebi.

'Hey! Get back here, chibi!' Inuyasha yelled giving chase.

Sesshoumaru stared boredly, if somewhat annoyed, after them then continued on down the road.

Akugi laughed as Inuyasha chased after him. 'Hahaha! Can't catch me!' Behind him he heard Inuyasha snarl. He could sense the Hebi with the jewel shard up ahead and put on more speed, leaving Inuyasha behind. A short while later, Akugi slid to a stop then in front of him was a huge serpent coiled around it's latest kill. Akugi growled at it and shifted into his Ookami form, a white wolf with erect ears, and bright gold eyes. The serpent slithered around to face the intruder and hissed angrily at the koinu, then lunged for him. Akugi bounced out of the way as the snake crashed into the ground where he had been, spinning he bit at the snake's neck trying to get a grip. (A/N: Akugi is bigger than most wolves but not as big as Sesshoumaru. I'd say he stands about as tall as an Elephant right now, as a almost one year old puppy.)

The snake slithered around trying to wrap itself 'round the koinu, but Akugi leapt over the coiling scales and lunged again at the snake's body aiming for the head an neck. The snake moved aside and sunk it's fangs into Akugi's back quarters. Akugi yelped and leapt away. By that time Inuyasha had finally caught up and dove into the battle slicing downward at the snake with his sword. It hit but the snake managed to escape to much harm, unfortunately distracted by the newcomer it failed to see Akugi lunging for it's neck. Akugi's teeth sank in deeply, getting a good firm grip. Bracing himself on his three good legs and shook the snake violently until an auditable snap was heard and the snake went limp. Akugi shook it a few more times and then let it drop to the forest floor where it lay unmoving and very much dead. Akugi stood over it panting while Inuyasha fumed below.

A few minutes later everyone else came into the clearing. Inuyasha and Kagome retrieved the shikon shard while the others examined Akugi's wound. Akugi had sat down and was whimpering quietly, staring at the wound. Sesshoumaru leapt down from a near-by tree where he had watched part of the battle. The pup was a fairly good fighter, he had noted. "Tatsuya's taught him well."

'Akugi, can you change back?' Sango asked inspecting the wound. 'It'll be easier to clean if you do.'

Akugi whimpered but did as told. As soon as his did his legs gave out and his butt hit the ground. 'Owwwww.' Kagome walked over and started digging through her bag. 'Just hang on a sec. I've got something in here for snake bites.' Akugi stared at the blood running from his leg, the whole thing burned as if on fire. A really big, painful fire. (A/N: Trust me I know, I got bite by a spider one time. Yeouch.)

'Ah!' Kagome said pulling the first-aid kit from her bag. Opening it up she dug out the snake bite serum and assembled it. "Good thing I decided to brave it through that med class at school." Kagome thought putting the finishing touches on the needle. 'Ok, hold still alright? It's gonna hurt.'

'You mean more than getting bitten by the snake?' Akugi asked sarcastically but quietly. 'Good point.' Kagome said giving him the shot. Akugi winced but remained quiet. After Kagome was done fixing him up she said 'There that ought to do it. You'll live.' Kagome patted him on the back. 'Can you stand?'

Akugi shook his head no. 'I feel dizzy.'

'Ok, will rest here then.' Kagome picked him up and headed back towards the path where camp had been made. Akugi groaned. 'I feel horrible.'

'Well, at lest your not going to die.' Kagome said trying to cheer him up. 'You'll be fine after a while. Okay?'

'Kay.' Akugi answered sleepily.

Kagome rubbed his back and laid him down on a sleeping bag, after a while he was out. Rin glanced at him worriedly. 'He will get better won't he, Kagome?'

'Of course he will!' She answered. 'Don't you worry, he'll be fine.'

'Okay.' Rin said. She, Shippo and Kirara sat close to him all night, keeping guard.

The next day they were off again. Akugi rode on Ah-Un with Rin and Shippo, who kept asking him if he was alright about every couple of minutes until Akugi threatened to throw them overboard if they didn't shut-up. Then it was every couple of hours with glares from Akugi.

The next few days were uneventful, Akugi healed well and was playing with the others again. No more jewel shards had found there way to them. And Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru still bickered with each other. Until the afternoon of one day when a strange aura crept into their awareness. Something was their, up ahead on the path, yet no one could see or smell it. But they could certainly sense it. Something was there watching them, waiting. A gentle breeze blew across the path picking up leaves and sending them tumbling to the other side of the path. Inuyasha drew his sword as everyone slowed down looking for the ominous presence. Even Sesshoumaru drew his sword, Toukijin. A low rumbling growl filled the air, and right in front of them a few paces up the path, ice blue eyes opened from seemingly nowhere to stare at them threateningly.

Japanese:

Hebi: Snake - Chibi: Runt