Title: Clan Duties

Shippo was riding on Kilala's head, looking cute. Miroku, Songo walked alongside Kilala, with Inuyasha and Kagome walking in front of them. Sesshomaru walked far up front. It was night time, and very spooky.

Shippo shivered. "It's cold out here," he said.

"Yes, Shippo," said Songo, "it's very late and we're high on the mountain. We're almost there."

Shippo said nervously, "I don't know if I want to be there. This is going to be one fierce battle."

"I agree," said Songo.

"At least the moon is out," put in Miroku optimistically.

Inuyasha was walking when Sesshomaru halted and turned around. Inuyasha stopped.

"Inuyasha," said Sesshomaru.

"What?"

"I must ask you first, how resolute are you reverse this transformation?"

"D resolute. I'll do anything I can to rip that b apart!"

"If those are your resolutions, be sure to stand by them," said Sesshomaru.

"Why wouldn't I stand by them? That b transformed me and Kagome into this, and I ain't gonna stand for it."

"Indeed," said Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru walked on again. Wolves howled nearby. Sesshomaru halted the group by the cave entrance.

"Look at that," said Songo wonderingly, "they aren't even trying to hide it anymore."

"Does that mean they've moved on?" asked Miroku.

"They are there," was Sesshomaru's simple statement.

Unceremoniously, Sesshomaru threw light from his claws similar to Inuyasha's Iron-Reaver Soul Stealer, breaking down the entire front wall. He walked forward. Inuyasha's group followed, finding themselves in a mini-palace. It looked quite comfortable. Only it was a demon-type palace. Everything was floor level, with an adoration of nature. But the floors and walls were covered with fur, gold, silk, furniture. Inuyasha's group exclaimed and looked at things. They wandered room to room, looking at a huge bed in one room. They wandered into another quarter by the kitchen. There were many beds and weapons along the wall and Songo exclaimed.

"It looks like this part houses retainers," said Songo.

"Yes," said Sesshomaru unusually talkative. "This is the servant's quarters."

"Servants?" asked Miroku. "That means…"

"Yes," said Sesshomaru, "those you were fighting yesterday were only vassals."

Inuyasha listened interested. "Vassals? The one I fought though wasn't any vassal, he was a…"

"Lord," said Sesshomaru. "He was their master, lowly being that he is."

Shippo dared a question. "Do many demons have palaces such as these?"

"Only a few," said Sesshomaru. "They are common to those in the Dog Demon Clan."

The group walked on, coming to an indoor garden. A magical light drifted around ghostly flowers. Suddenly, the flowers parted and the master came forth. He stood before Sesshomaru, looking angry.

"Lord Sesshomaru," spoke the demon without respect, "you come seeking for me?"

"Yes," said Sesshomaru," and if you were wise, you would bend on your knees."

The demon looked at him rebelliously. "I will not bend on my knees for someone who has come to kill me. Nor will I bow to my former lord."

"Such insolent words," said Sesshomaru.

"We'll see who has a right to be insolent," said the demon. "I have increased my powers."

"With stolen ones?" said Sesshomaru. "I would like to see you try. However, your business is not with me. It is with this insufferable brother of mine."

"Heh," scoffed the demon quite pleased. "I have less issue with him than with you. But because I despise the clan, I will kill him if he asks."

"Ha! Who's killing who!" shouted Inuyasha. "Stay out of this Sesshomaru, I'll take him on!"

"Do as you will," said Sesshomaru walking off.

"Huh?" said Inuyasha surprised. "Hey, where are you going?"

"I have no more business here," Sesshomaru put simply. Inuyasha turned back to the demon at hand.

"All right you sorry excuse for a demon," boasted Inuyasha, "I'm going to rip up inside out for what you did to me and Kagome!"

Inuyasha jumped at the demon and tried to bite at the demon. He ducked a sword and leapt back against the wall, did a flip, and then reamer. The demon avoided his attacks and knocked him down hard. Kagome rushed to Inuyasha and nuzzled him.

"Inuyasha, stay down, let Miroku and Songo handle this," said Kagome.

"Ready Miroku?" asked Songo.

"Ready, Songo," he replied.

Songo unleashed a boomerang which was knocked back by a gust of wind. Miroku tried his wind tunnel but before he could use it the demon used lightening to split rock and Miroku leapt out of its way. The cave was crashing down all around and Shippo was freaking out. The demon then sent a gust of fire that caused Songo and Miroku to hide behind Songo's weapon, using it for a shield. Miroku then was about to use a purification scroll when Inuyasha got up.

"Miroku, let me handle this," he commanded. "Kagome, where's the shard?"

"In his right shoulder," said Kagome. "Be careful, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha ran in dodging shards of ice. He leapt up at the sword and broke it with his teeth.

"Wow, Inuyasha!" said Shippo admiring his move.

Inuyasha then rammed the guy onto the ground, tearing at his shoulder. He got shocked, but at last he tore out the fragment that was giving the guy power. He spat that out too.

"Any last words?" said Inuyasha.

Inuyasha was suddenly rammed from behind by a black dog and knocked over. Inuyasha started up angrily. "Kagome!" he yelled.

Inuyasha looked at the black dog growling and standing defensively in front of the fallen demon. But he heard Kagome's voice coming from behind him.

"Inuyasha!" called Kagome, "I'm back here!"

"Huh?" said a confused Inuyasha. The black dog in front of him turned into a woman and helped the wounded demon get up.

Wrathfully, she spoke. "We'll be back." The two magicked away.

Inuyasha spoke his confusion. "What was all that about? I think we had better have a little talk with that Sesshomaru."

Miroku walked forward and picked up the fragment left on the cave floor.

"Look here Songo," he said with importance.

"What is it Miroku?" asked Songo.

"By appearances, it's a youkai tooth."

"You mean from a dog-demon? Then why would a dog-demon have such a thing imbedded in himself? Why wouldn't he use his own tooth?"

"Good question, Songo," asked Miroku.

Sesshomaru walked from shadows to answer. "Because he has no power on his own."

"Sesshomaru!" said Inuyasha bolting up. "What the hell were you thinking, keeping things back from me!"

"I did ask you, Inuyasha, how determined you were. You should have killed the woman as well."

"Why the hell should I do that?" said Inuyasha.

"You grow tiresome, Inuyasha," said Sesshomaru. "Maybe I should end your misery?" Kagome moved to stand in front of Inuyasha (both still dogs).

"Wait Sesshomaru," she pleaded, "please tell us who that woman was."

Sesshomaru looked away with an amused smile. "Very well. That woman was the mate to ---------, ----------. She and her husband used to be members of the Western Dog Clan, until they began killing its members."

"Killing its members?" repeated Kagome.

"Yes, ------- liked to pick fights, and desired power. Since he possessed none himself, he took a fang from his wife and filled it with youkai from lesser demons. The two were constantly striving achieve greater standing, not unusual for demons to do. But when they turned their own fangs toward their kindred, I was forced to banish them."

"You banished them? And they came here?"

Sesshomaru looked away with an indiscernible expression. "I gave them a chance to settle down, but since they are insistent on causing turmoil for other demons and dishonoring the dog clan, they must die."

"Sesshomaru!" yelled Inuyasha. "Are you hiding anything else back from us?"

Sesshomaru turned. "Everything important you have found out for yourself." Sesshomaru walked away but called back to Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, I will give you one more chance to end this yourself."

"Wait! Sesshomaru, how are we supposed to find them?"

"Your allies, the wolves, should be able to help you with that."

Rin was in a meadow far away. She was sleeping happily as the sun rose, tucked safely between the two heads of Sesshomaru's dragon. Jaken was snoring not far off, staff in hand. Rin got up and rubbed her eyes. Something came flying her way. She rubbed her eyes again and cried out happily.

"Lord Sesshomaru! Master Jaken, wake up, wake up!" Rin shook Jaken rudely awake. Jaken ran to Sesshomaru's feet to bow with adoration.

"Good morning, my master," said Jaken. "I hope you fared well?"

"Good morning Lord Sesshomaru!" said Rin. "I was dreaming all night. I dreamed that Jaken was a monkey, Au-Um gave you a ride to a palace, and that you asked me to pick flowers all day!" Sesshomaru looked down on her irritably.

"Maybe someday I will return to a palace. But for now, I am burdened by retainers."

Sesshomaru thought to himself, "Perhaps, that is how I prefer it to be."

The sun shone brightly now. Ayami was sitting by a stream, feet dangling in the cool running water. The sound of a running wolf was heard and it rushed up to Ayami. She cradled its head fondly in her arms.

"There, there now," said Ayami to it. "What did you hear?" The wolf grumbled in her ear.

"Kouga and his group are going off?" said Ayami. "Well then I'm going too."

Ayami stood up and jumped away. Elsewhere, Kouga was sitting in the wolf den, Inuyasha's party sitting before him.

"So, he's some rabid dog, huh?" stated Kouga.

"Well," said Kagome, "I don't know about rabid, but he and his wife are bent on conquering territory. From the sounds of it, they've hurt a lot of people."

"Yeah, us included. Still, having to go against a couple like that makes me feel kind of bad."

"So what, Inuyasha?" said Kagome. "It was one guy, one girl. We're a pair too, right?"

"Heuh," said Inuyasha. "Yeah right, you wish."

Kagome grew angry at this. "Can't you even try to take me seriously?" she shouted.

Miroku interrupted. "In any event, we know we have two to look out for, and they're not easy opponents. Between the imbedded fangs and the sorcery, it will take all our strength to take them down at the same time."

"Yes, that's right," said Songo, "and we have no idea what the female is capable of. By the looks of it, she is the more powerful of the two."

"Let us only hope that their servants have fled for good," said Miroku. Shippo leaned over with a question.

"Songo, Miroku," asked Shippo, "do you know how to find these demons?"

Miroku answered him. "Kouga's wolves are handling that problem. They should be back at any time." A white blur was suddenly seen and Ayami landed beside the group.

"Kouga!" shouted Ayami, "I'm going with you! I have to avenge my people."

"Not you again, Ayami," said Kouga, "won't you stay out of this?"

Ayami responded heatedly. "Why should I? I have every right as you, maybe even more."

"Ah, bah," said Kouga, "what do you know about things! I'm going into battle, not baby-sitting a little girl!"

"Do whatever you want, Kouga," said Ayami angrily, "but I'm helping lead the attack."

Kagome defended her. "Sure thing, Ayami," she broke in, "we're glad for any assistance you can give us."

Kouga couldn't reply. Inuyasha thought to himself, "Hah!"

Breaking the mood, some wolves rushed up to Kouga and spoke to him. Kouga stood.

"All right," said Kouga, "they've found them. Let's go." The group got excited and moved out. Walking, Ayami looked at Kouga's back.

Ayami thought to herself, "Kouga. I just hope I can get you to listen to me."

Kagome thought to herself, "Inuyasha. I just hope things work out for us."

To be continued.