A Journey in a Different Time

-Chapter 12-

No One Knows...

Inuyasha continued walking through the bushes in the forest with Michelle on her back. It's getting dark soon, he was hoping he would find Kagome but it became dark, so he's going to have to create camp here. Now he wanders what is he going to eat tonight. Well, since he's alone with Michelle, he has to take care of her, in which he hates to do. He won't be able to get any sleep tonight though, he's going to have to stay up late and watch her. Staying up all night...if youkais come, she won't be able to fight with no arrows.

What the hell-! She can't do anything anyway! Inuyasha sent her gently on the ground, making sure not waking her so he won't fight with her once again. How is he going to go find something to eat when no one is watching her? If only she didn't defend him when that blade was coming at him, he would've find something to eat right now with no one there...He would rather be alone now with everything happening. He's been really pissed ever since Michelle came...even more pissed when she's happy with that guy Natsuyo!

She shouldn't be happy here or she'll be to attached to leave this place once and for all. He needs her to leave this place! So now tonight he can't eat, only watch the little pest. But he knows, he should make a fire at least...He can just break the sticks from the branches and break the little big ones! So he dropped them to the ground and tried to make a fire. He definitely won't have anything to eat tonight...

He was waiting for sundown so he can make the fire. Now the only defense he has is Tetsusaiga. Wait....how do you make fire again?

All of sudden, Inuyasha turned around, he thought he heard something in the bushes. He turned back to face the sticks again...but then he turned around cause he heard it again. What is it? A youkai? Nah....there's no scent of a youkai that close. Smells like...human? That's when he saw someone came out of the bushes.

"Hey, Inuyasha!!"

"Oh no...." He said after he saw Natsuyo called his name. "What the hell do you want, huh!?"

"I was only walking around to look for food," Natsuyo answered.

"Really? Then can you stay here while I go fetch some food?"

Natsuyo looked behind Inuyasha and had a smile on his face. He turned his attention back to Inuyasha. "Sure! I would love to!" The smile became bigger. Inuyasha raised his right eye brow at him.

"O....kay...whatever! But if I see any clothes off of her, I'll tell her you'd try to have it with her."

"Don't worry! I won't do a thing to her! Just only look at her!"

"Pervert..."

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind. I'll be back in a few minutes!" Inuyasha started to run and then jumped up in a tree. Now he's jumping from branch to branch, maybe to find a lake or a river to catch some fish. Or crab at least, yeah that would be good.

(Where Inuyasha left them)

After Inuyasha left, Natsuyo looked at Michelle for a second. Now he wanders why she's sleeping. He walked over to her slowly and quietly, bending down, putting his hand on her forehead. Yup, it's a fever. He then walked around Michelle's body, standing behind her. Then he sat on the floor, then lying next to her. Putting his elbow on the ground, letting his chin rest in the palm of his hand. Then he put his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

He started to smell her hair...wait....it kind of stinks. Since when was the last time she took a bath? A couple of days ago, maybe? But who cares, all that matters is he likes her a lot, right? But does she like him the same way he likes her? Probably, she was flirting a little bit with him. He was doing a lot of flirting, but she probably was blind to see all of that. Her hair doesn't smell good, but her scent smells great...

At that time, he closed his eyes, trying to imagine how he's going to tell her the truth. And how he's going to tell her how he truly feels. But, does she like Inuyasha? Does she like Inuyasha even though he treats her so bad? Natsuyo somehow has a feeling she does. But...now he's thinking, what would happen if his twin brother were here. Probably kill Michelle...when he first sees her.

But no matter what happens, if his twin brother does try to kill her, he will protect her will all his life. He's more like in love with Michelle.

(River)

"Alright! Six fishes should be enough for tonight," said Inuyasha. He put his hand in his hair, grabbing one piece of hair and pulled it off of his head. He then used his long piece of silver hair to tie the fish together and carry it back to where Michelle and Natsuyo are. As soon as he knew they were nice and tight, he jumped on one of the branches and jumped to another one to get to campsite.

About like ten minutes later, he jumped off a branch and landed on the ground. He looked ahead of him, and let out a sigh and a disgusted look on his face.

"At least he didn't start to strip her..." He whispered to himself. He then looked around him and found a rock big enough to maybe smash or crack something. He picked it up and aimed carefully, he stretched it out back and then threw it at Natsuyo's arm that was around Michelle's waist. Natsuyo made a little squeak sound and pulled his arm away from her waist and sat up. He started to rub it after that.

"Idiot, we're both on guard duty tonight," said Inuyasha.

"Really? Can't I just sleep with her?"

Inuyasha stared at him. "No, baka!"

"Okay, okay!"

"You make the fire."

"Alright!"

(Kagome's group)

"Miroku-sama! What are you thinking?" Asked Kagome. Miroku was sitting on a bolder, stroking his chin, thinking about something.

"Not sure...just thinking on what you told me about Michelle's power," said Miroku.

"Like...?"

"Well, Inuyasha has a little bit of negative energy, his youkai form. So Michelle might bleed in a couple of days if Inuyasha stays too close to her."

"You could be right."

"Houshi-sama!" Sango called him.

"Yes?" Asked Miroku.

"Shouldn't we be looking for them now?"

"It's kind of late for that now. We can start looking first thing in the morning."

"But it would be too early..." complained Shippo.

"I know, Shippo, but a ban of youkais might come and attack them. I don't think Inuyasha can handle all of the youkais by himself because Michelle has nothing to equip herself with."

"That's true," said Kagome weakly.

Miroku stood up. "We should get to sleep early tonight. That way we can get up early enough to look for them."

"I agree! We're going to sleep early tonight!" Said Shippo. "I want more sleep anyway!"

(Back to Inuyasha and the others, late night)

"What did you say?" Inuyasha questioned Natsuyo after of what he told him.

"Naraku is going to revive the Shichinin-tai; it's a group of seven people. Natural human killers, they're all human. There use to be an eighth member but he left when he was young," explained Natsuyo.

"Who's the eighth member?"

"His name is Yokotsu; all of the members of the Shichinin-tai have 'kotsu' at the end of each name. But this guy, he changed it when he was ten, that's when he left the group."

"So what about this Yokotsu guy? Is he still alive?"

"No, he's dead."

"How?"

"No clue."

"Is there anything I should know about him?"

"Don't know much about him. All I heard is Naraku reviving the Shichinin-tai using Kohaku. I don't know what else they're planning, except to kill you guys and Michelle."

"Trying to get the jewel shards huh?"

"Yeah."

"We have I think four of them, two with Kagome and the other two with that pest!"

"Don't call her that!"

"Oh shut up, pervert!"

Natsuyo ignored Inuyasha for a second and looked at the last two fishes over the fire. He then looked back at Inuyasha. "Should we save them for Michelle?"

"No, I should eat them!"

"No, you shouldn't!!"

"Fine...whatever!"

It was silent for a few minutes. Until Inuyasha wanted to question Natsuyo more. "Are you sure you don't know anything about this Yokotsu person?"

"Yes! I do!"

"Who are the other seven?"

"Bankotsu is the leader, Jakotsu, Kyokotsu, Mukotsu, Renkotsu, Suikotsu, and Ginkotsu the machine. Kyokotsu is the biggest guy in the group. Jakotsu is...a homosexual guy..."

"You didn't have to tell me that!"

"Anyway-Mukotsu uses gas to kill people, poison gas; Suikotsu...is like a doctor...I think...Renkotsu is the guy who breathes fire and uses fire nets."

"Nice detail..."

"Uh...thanks?"

"Yeah, whatever! But I think of this one thing, Yokotsu is still alive, and I know that!"

"How would you know, Inuyasha? You don't even know what he looks like!"

"So!! It's just a feeling okay!!"

"Alright... you don't have to yell you know."

"Let's just stick to guard duty"

( I know not much happening there but oh well!)

(Next morning)

When Natsuyo woke up, he started to stretch his arms. He accidentally fell asleep near the fire. Looks like Inuyasha was doing guard duty last night. After stretching the arms, he stretched his legs and then his whole body. He looked over at Inuyasha and notice he has his eyes closed.

"Inuyasha...?"

"I'm awake! I'm just closing my eyes and started to concentrate on something!" Said Inuyasha.

"Okay...I'll wake up-"

"No! I'll wake her up!"

Inuyasha got up slowly; he must be really tired because he didn't get any sleep last night. He also walked slowly to where Michelle was sleeping; he put his hand on her shoulder and started to shake her. Michelle let out a little moan and opened her eyes slowly. She lift her hand up to rub her eyes and managed to say, "Good morning..." and tried to sat up. Inuyasha put his hand on her forehead to make sure if she still has a fever or not.

"Looks like it went away..." he said weakly.

"Really? I thought it would last awhile," Said Michelle.

"Yeah...." Inuyasha put his index and middle finger on her ankle again, starting to push into her skin. She didn't flinch yet, but when he pressed harder, she made a little gasp and flinched. Inuyasha lifted his fingers off her ankle and turned around, his hands behind his back again. "Hop on..."

"What?"

"Your ankle needs a little more time to heal up. So come on, hop on!"

"Wait! Let her go on my back!" Said Natsuyo out of nowhere.

Michelle gasped and was surprised when she heard his voice. But she pretended she didn't hear him and slowly went on to Inuyasha's back. When he stood up, he started to walk ahead.

"Natsuyo, you better lead the way," commanded Inuyasha.

"Sure thing!" After Natsuyo went a few steps ahead of Inuyasha, Michelle moved her head close to the side of Inuyasha's face. She started to whisper to him.

"(Hey...when did he come?)" She asked him.

"(Some time yesterday evening when you were asleep.)" He answered her.

"(Why didn't you wake me up!?)"

"(If I did woke you up yesterday, you would still have that fever.)"

"(Idiot! You should've known to wake me up!)"

"(I don't care! Deal with it, pest!)"

(Kagome's group.)

"Miroku-sama, are we going to head off now?" Kagome asked him when he came back from the river.

"Yes, very soon when Sango and Shippo are done washing their face," he answered her.

"That's good, we need to find them soon. I have a feeling that maybe Naraku will attack them soon..."

"Or a pack of youkais..."

"Please do not mention that..."

"Sure thing, Kagome-sama..."

Kagome and Miroku started to wait for Sango and Shippo. A few minutes later, they came walking their way, and they started to head off. Hopefully a youkai didn't attack them while they were sleeping.

(Inuyasha's group)

Michelle suddenly felt something triggered in her body again. Like waves moving in her...she's feeling pain. ( Just for you to know, every time she senses danger coming, she feels a slight pain in her...if there's a lot of negative energy coming at once, like Myoga said, she'll be in a whole lot of pain, bursting out with blood.) She moved her mouth close to Inuyasha's ear, so she can whisper something to him again as she did before. But when she spoke, she spoke very weakly.

"Inuyasha...coming..." she said silently. She was too weak to say anymore.

Inuyasha stopped and called to Natsuyo for him to stop. When Natsuyo heard Inuyasha, he stopped and turned around and looked at Inuyasha. Inuyasha turned his head a little, for his right ear to hear more of what Michelle was trying to say.

"What did you say?" Asked Inuyasha.

"Coming...youkais..." she tried to say again.

"Hmm...I guess we have to prepare for battle then," said Natsuyo with a smirk on his face.

"Yeah...let's get to it," said Inuyasha.

"Wait!"

"Now what!?" He turned his head for it to face Natsuyo.

"We can't battle if Michelle is on your back. You won't be able to fight."

"That depends if the pest's ankle is healed up, moron." He turned his attention back to Michelle. "Can you walk now?"

"I...think so," she answered slowly.

"Don't tell me you have a fever again!"

"I don't..." She doesn't want to tell him what's really wrong. "I'm just a little tired."

"Alright..." Inuyasha went to his knees so Michelle can just get off him of him instead off jumping off. When Michelle got off, she tapped her end of her foot a few times on the ground, making sure she doesn't feel any pain in her ankle. She looked down and smiled, she then lift her head up to smile at Inuyasha and Natsuyo. But she felt...kind of weird when she smiled at Inuyasha. He didn't smile back at her; he just made a "Humph!" sound and turned his position to face on ahead so he can lead the way. Natsuyo on the other hand, smiled back (of course), and followed Inuyasha.

Michelle ran up to them so she won't get left behind. She walked in between Inuyasha and Natsuyo, Inuyasha is in front, Natsuyo is guarding the back and Michelle is in the middle. For some reason Michelle feels safe in the middle. But all of a sudden, Michelle gasped and grasped onto her chest, feeling pain right there. Inuyasha's ears perked up, he heard her, but didn't bother to ask what was wrong with her. He then started to think what Myoga was saying the last time they saw him. The information he gave to him and Kagome.

"It's actually kind of dangerous for her to have that power." "She'll feel a slight pain in her body if something evil comes." "She becomes weak and unable to fight if too much negative energy comes by. She'll start to bleed and it could eventually kill her."

Maybe he's right about what he said. She is starting to feel a little pain, but doesn't it start to spread more if more negative energy...? Wait! They're not walking away from the youkais!! They're heading straight for it!

Inuyasha suddenly stopped and looked around, trying to sniff out the youkais. He then felt something bumped into him, and then another thing bumped into him and he fell flat on his on the ground.

"What the hell-!"

"Sorry, Inuyasha! I didn't know that you stopped so I bumped into you, and I think Natsuyo did the same thing," said Michelle very quickly.

Inuyasha lifted his face from the dirt and stood up quickly. He quickly brushed off the dirt that was on his kimono and quickly looked ahead. Ahead of him was really dark, even though it's day, it still looks dark deep within. Are they going in or out of the forest?

"What is it, Inuyasha?" Asked Natsuyo quietly.

"Youkais are ahead of his..." he answered him silently.

Michelle gasped. 'That's why the pain is getting stronger!'

Natsuyo stepped past Michelle and stood next to Inuyasha. "Do you think we should head back?"

"No..." He answered. "I think it's a little too late for that now, the youkais must've surrounded us by now."

"So we went the wrong way?" Michelle questioned him.

"No, we were going the right way because I smelt Kagome's sense this way, but it has been covered by these youkais."

"How many do you think there are here?" Asked Natsuyo.

"I have no idea."

Michelle gulped loudly. "Then...what do you suggest we do?" She asked him nervously.

Inuyasha didn't answer her. He just stared ahead along with Natsuyo, hearing nothing but silence. Michelle's spine started to shiver. She felt the pain spreading her body more. It must be coming closer.

"Look there..." Inuyasha said coldly as he lifted his hand to point ahead. Michelle and Natsuyo focused on the direction Inuyasha was pointing at, so cold and dark. There were first two red dots that appeared in the dark. Then two more red dots appeared. "Youkais..."

"What am I going to do?" Michelle started to worry. "I don't have anything to defend myself with..."

"Just stick close to the both of us," said Natsuyo.

"No, Natsuyo...you stay close to Michelle, I'll hold them off while you guys go search for Kagome and the others. Once the road is clear, Natsuyo, you take her and start to run ahead and find everybody else."

"But-!" Michelle started.

"Look, pest! You either go or get yourself killed once the road is clear."

"Inuyasha...you'll die..."

"I'm a hanyou; I can't die by these youkais. I don't die that easily."

Natsuyo grabbed her elbow, she faced him. "Michelle, just listen to him. He must know what he's doing," said Natsuyo firmly.

"But..."

"No butt's! If you don't leave with Natsuyo I'll kill you!" Inuyasha shouted. Michelle flinched at the tone of his voice. What was Inuyasha trying to do? Protect her so she can be safe or something else? Does he care about her a little bit?

Michelle faced down, a black aura covering her eyes. "Alright..." she whispered.

Natsuyo looked at her, not a smile nor a frown on his face. Just a face like Sesshomaru...Natsuyo looked at Inuyasha, he looked back, and he knew what to do.

'I'll watch over her for you, Inuyasha...you know Kagome will be worried and you entrusted me to take her back to the others. You know...Michelle won't survive this battle alive...'

Inuyasha turned to face the group of red-eyed youkais...As he took out Tetsusaiga, it transformed into its true form, getting ready for battle. All Inuyasha had to do is clear the path for Michelle and Natsuyo to escape...

(Kagome's group)

'Strange...a sudden change of the wing...' Miroku stopped in his tracks and looked side to side and then behind him. 'Are they...'

"Houshi-sama?" Sango called.

"Hm?"

"What's wrong?"

"A sudden change of the wind..." Miroku lift up his staff and pointed it in one direction where the trees were gathered up together...a forest... "I feel youkais energy there..."

"Maybe..." Sango was guessing.

"That's what I'm thinking. Maybe they're there."

"Should we go in there?" Asked Shippo curiously.

"Yeah, maybe."

"I can't wait any longer! I have to go through there no matter what! At least we'll be covering more ground that way!" Kagome screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Kagome-sama, I-!" Miroku was interrupted by a scream, from a young lady. Birds flew out of the trees and started to fly away from the area. Something must've happened in there. Everybody stared silently in the dark forest. Shippo was sweating and gulping, Kagome had a little bit of fear in her and hope, it sounded a lot like...

"AH!!"

"What is it, Kagome?" Asked Shippo.

"I recognize that scream!!"

"I think we all do. Let's go!" Miroku commanded them.

(Inuyasha's group once again!) ( Man this is a long chapter! sighs Need to finish!)

Michelle screamed at the top of her lungs when a youkai bit her forearm. The teeth was digging deep into her skin that her eyes started to get teary, tiny tears already rolling down her face of pain. Natsuyo quickly swung his sword around and chopped the youkai in half. Four red marks were on her sleeve, red marks which are blood.

"Michelle, get ready to run, okay?" Natsuyo warned her.

"But-!"

"Michelle! We agreed on this earlier, we HAVE to leave."

'But we can't just leave him here, can we?'

'Since the wind change the kaze no kizu will form!' Inuyasha grabbed hold of Tetsusaiga, waiting for it to power up. As soon as Inuyasha felt it, he lift Tetsusaiga in the air...

(Kagome's group once again.)

"KAZE NO KIZU!!"

"Did you guys hear that!?" Kagome said as she stopped in her tracks.

"Yeah, I heard it...They're really close by," said Sango quietly.

Then they started to hear something in the bushes. Lots of rustling sounds coming from it. They all stood still, feeling the spine shiver up to their neck, waiting for something to come out to either attack them or stop when they're out of breath. But it depends on who is behind the bushes. Shippo was hiding behind one of Kagome's legs, Kirara was on Sango's shoulder, growling and hissing at whatever is coming.

Then, they saw two objects jumped out from the bushes into the open. They were both on their knees, huffing and puffing, trying to gather up air.

"Michelle! Natsuyo! Where's Inuyasha!?" Kagome asked suddenly without even thinking for the others sake.

"He...told us...to go on...ahead..." said Michelle weakly.

"He's still there....fighting the youkais," Natsuyo had said after Michelle.

"Why did you guys leave him there?" Asked Miroku.

"He wouldn't let us stay, despite the fact I'm armless, he told Natsuyo to run with me so he can kill them all," Michelle explained to them, as she stood up straight with Natsuyo by her side. "He wouldn't let Natsuyo stay and fight because I'm armless and can't defend myself. I told him that we should all stay together, but he kept on fussing that I and Natsuyo should go on ahead and look for you guys."

Natsuyo put his hand on her shoulder; she turned to him and looked into his eyes. "Michelle, you really didn't have to explain the whole thing, they need to go back and help Inuyasha," said Natsuyo.

"Should we go back and help them too?"

"If we do, I think Inuyasha will just get frustrated and tell us to run away. So it's best just to let them help Inuyasha for the time being."

"It's probably best for you guys to stay here or run out of here anyway," said Sango. "You guys need to get away from here."

"I'll be her protector!" Said Natsuyo happily.

"We know, Natsuyo, we know." Said Kagome, Miroku, Sango and Shippo all together. Michelle was really confused. She first look at Natsuyo who had his eyes closed, smiling to himself; then back at Kagome and the others, but instead they had their eyes closed with frowns and their arms crossed over their chest, nodding to themselves.

"Wha...?" Michelle was perplexed.

"Never mind that, Michelle, we better get going," said Natsuyo happily once again. He took her hand and squeezed it tight, and started to run ahead. Michelle was taken by surprised cause her legs just jolt into running with Natsuyo. Why couldn't they took a break for a little bit longer?

Back to Kagome and the group, they were waiting until Natsuyo and Michelle to be out of sight. Then they heard something shout out something, from the direction Michelle and Natsuyo came from.

"Dammit! They just keep on coming!!"

"Sounds like our little inu needs some help with the youkais," said Miroku.

They all uncrossed their arms and started to run in the direction of Inuyasha's shouting. And it's about time that they found them! But do they have to go into battle right away?

"These damn youkais are a pain-in-the-butt!!"

Guess so...

But what happened between the three of them???