Chapter 36

(Thanks for all the reviews! This story doesn't have many more chapter to it so I'm downloading slowly from here on in. I don't really want to end this 'cause I'm having such a good time with it. LadySesshoumaru41)

Sesshoumaru had fared a little better with his information. He had found a village that had only just finished there terrifying time with Naraku.

This time the demon seemed to have changed his direction. He looked like he was heading back to the monastery.

"There are three villages between here and the monastery on his currant path. If we go to the last one we may well get there before him."

Katame was busy tending to the meal. But she heard her husband's words.

"Sesshoumaru, what about those poor villagers in between. You're not going to just let them suffer are you?"

Katame went and knelt at her husband's feet. He brushed her hair away from her face. "Katame my love, we have only been chasing his shadow thus far. We need to get ahead of him if we are to have any hope of catching him. Only then will we be able to help the villagers." He pressed her head down into his lap and pet her hair. "You understand this don't you?" Katame nodded.

In the next the village a demon named Yamuri was having his fun. He had taken over the local lord's palace. He was an odd fellow. He liked to gain someone's trust before he would show his true self.

He was about to let the full force of his abilities show and destroy the village. But his plans would have to wait. Tonight he had unexpected visitors.

A group of demons and humans had arrived at the village. He would welcome them and see what fun he could have with them later.

"Welcome friends. Come, come you must join me for a meal. Come in and rest, you must be tired from all your travels."

The group went into the palace and sat down. Yamuri sat at the head of the table. He was chatting with his guests.

"What brings you to my humble home? Have you traveled far?"

Sesshoumaru didn't trust this one he could smell him. He was a full demon. Why was he pretending to be human and why was he being so nice? He must be up to something. Sesshoumaru would not reveal himself to this demon.

"We are traveling throughout the land looking for an old friend of mine. We wont be staying here long." Sesshoumaru wouldn't eat or drink anything just in case there was some trap or other device at work here.

"You aren't eating anything lord. Is it not to your liking." Yamuri seemed genuinely concerned.

"I don't eat human food." Sesshoumaru's tone was level but had a 'don't bother me' edge to it.

"I'm sorry, I should have thought..." Yamuri wasn't sure about this one. He was sure this demon wasn't telling the truth. Did he know who he was? Was he aware of his methods?

"Will you not spend the night? It is late and you should stay and take your rest." Yamuri said. "You can continue on your way in the light of day."

Kagome was sitting beside Inuyasha. She leaned into him and whispered in his ear. "I don't think this is a good idea. He has a jewel shard in his forehead. He is a demon. I sure of it."

Inuyasha patted her arm and whispered back. "Don't worry Kagome. I know what he is."

Yamuri was doing his best to be as accommodating as possible. He had the servants prepare the bath for his honored guests and had rooms set up for them.

"Perhaps, you would enjoy a bath before bed. Your slave girl can look after your needs or would you prefer I have my own servants attend you, my lord?"

"Don't be a fool, Yamuri. Your nose should work better than that. You know what she is to me."

"Forgive me. I assumed that one of your obvious stature would not limit himself to one female. My apologies, my lady." He bowed his head.

Katame did not trust him but it seemed that Sesshoumaru was prepared to spend the night. "Do you wish a bath, lord?"

Sesshoumaru nodded and Katame followed a servant to the room where the bath was. The servants had the water heated and ready for the guests.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha thanked their host and went into the bath. Miroku and Sango took the kids off to bed.

Kagome and Katame attended to their husbands needs. But neither lord was very talkative. They didn't trust their host. He was up to something they were sure of it.

Sesshoumaru insisted that they all get some sleep. But he would not. He lay down with his wife, but chose to feign sleep. He would be ready for Yamuri when he struck.

Sometime during the night Sesshoumaru woke his brother. He could hear them.

"It's beginning." That was all he said.

The place was surrounded by howling and mewling cats there were thousands of the things. They were definitely under a spell. The cats attacked on mass, jumping in through windows and clawing their way in through doors. The demons were hard pressed to cut through them.

"Ahhhh, damn! These things bite." Inuyasha was covered in cats. He threw a half dozen of them off and took out his Tetsiaga.

"This is getting annoying. It ends now!" He raised his sword and swung. "I have had enough!" Cats flew in every direction.

"Inuyasha! We have to get to the power behind these things." Sesshoumaru called out. "Miroku find Yamuri!"

Miroku and Sango ran out to find the demon that they believed was behind the attack. They were stopped just outside the palace by a huge mob of cats. Miroku used his staff to beat his way through the mob.

He called to Sango. "Get behind me I'm going to use my wind tunnel."

He unwrapped his hand and pointed it toward the advancing animals. A great wind erupted and sucked everything into his hand, the cats and several other things that were not tied down. Then he wrapped up his hand.

Sango saw her quarry. "Yamuri!" She detached her great boomerang and launched it with a mighty throw. The boomerang spun through the air.

Yamuri saw it coming and lept up into a tree. "You will have to do better than that young maiden. Come here and I will teach you a few tricks." He transformed into his true form. He was a white tiger, very beautiful and very dangerous.

Sango caught the boomerang in her grasp and readied herself for another throw.

Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru had managed to rid themselves of the cats and ran outside to find Yamuri.

The boys stayed with their mothers. The women had many scratches and bites all over them. They had both used their swords and fought to fend off the hateful animals attacks but still got hurt. Kagome was too busy bandaging Katame and herself to join the battle right away. But as soon as the women were ready, they too went outside.

Kagome had her bow ready.

Yamuri was attacking Sango. He was about to strike her when he heard Inuyasha's battle cry. "Iron reverse soul stealer!" Inuyasha slashed the length of the tiger.

"Ahhhh, you will pay for this!" He knocked Inuyasha a terrible blow sending him smashing him into a stone wall. He crumpled to the ground.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried. Then turned her attention to Yamuri. "You horrible beast!" She raised her bow and fired.

"Ahhhhhh!" The arrow pierced the heart of the tiger and he fell down dead.

Kagome ran to her fallen husband. "Inuyasha? Are you alright?" She fell down beside him. "Inuyasha?"

"Unngh.... I'm ok Kagome." He groaned a bit. "Help me up."

She helped him up and brought him to the dead demons corpse. She bent down and scooped up the jewel shard.

"Kagome, you did this? Wow you are getting good with that bow. Remind me not to tick you off."