Title: Two for Battle

A crow flew overhead as Shippo walked up front, with Kouga marching behind. Frightened by the crow, he scurried back and to hide in Kilala's fur where the rest of Inuyasha's group were walking. It was a solemnly sunny day. No one was talking. Wolves scurried about panting, showing the way to Kouga. Kagome (still a dog) sighed. A floating image of her human face overlapped the dog. The vision and the dog both looked to the sky with a thought.

Kagome asked herself, "Is today the day when things finally go back to the way they used to be?" The vision of her inner beingvanished as Kagome heard Inuyasha scolding her for daydreaming.

"Come on Kagome," said Inuyasha, "don't dawdle. Today's the day we're going to get those demons."

Kagome trotted to catch up with the group. They pressed into ever deepening woods, to a short outcropping of rocks beyond a trickling stream. Kouga broke the silence.

"My wolves tell me they're in there."

The group walked forward again and the vision of the Kagome trapped within the dog came out. Everything around her was black as her human form solemnly marched, bow over her shoulder. Kagome thought to herself, "It has been quite a few days now, since this fight began. So much has happened so unexpectedly. But most of all, I wonder…"

Kagome's speech wandered off as she walked expectantly towards something. At first, the something was hidden in the darkness, but suddenly it appeared. That something was Inuyasha as he used to be, a beautiful handsome hanyou. He stood in the path, hands to waist, waiting wordlessly for her to get there. Kagome stopped and stood in front of him admiring.

Kagome stood there thinking, "I wonder how it got to be so normal, as if this is the way it's supposed to be. How can he doubt that I'd love him as a hanyou? I would be disappointed if he was anything less." The Kagome in the dream smiled up at the Inuyasha, darkness leaving only the two of them together in existence. Then suddenly, the dream broke.

"Kagome?" yelled Inuyasha at her. "Kagome? Hey, wake up stupid."

Kagome looked up greatly irritated, "Inuyasha?"

"Come on, stop dawdling, everybody's waiting for you." Kagome joined the group at the edge of the clearing across from the cave.

Songo spoke to Miroku. "Well, how are we going to attack?"

"Perhaps it would be best if we went in as teams, so we could watch each other's back. Remember, these two are fond of trickery and if one is caught alone with them, they may suffer the same fate as Inuyasha and Kagome."

Shippo shivered and commented, "Or worse."

"Shippo," said Miroku, "maybe it's best if you stay here."

Shippo looked surprised but then made a determined face. "No, I'm coming with you," he said.

"All right then," said Miroku, "you stay with Songo and me. Inuyasha and Kagome…"

Kouga interrupted. "No way, muttface could never take care of her properly. I'll partner with Kagome."

Inuyasha growled fiercely. "You'll what? I'll never allow such as thing you fleabag!" Inuyasha tried to bite Kouga.

"Inuyasha, sit," said Kagome. "Kouga, it's best I go with Inuyasha, we are used to fighting together after all."

"Yeah, that's right, you mangy wolf!" said Inuyasha triumphantly.

"Tah!" said Kouga.

Unhappily he thought to himself. "Great, that leaves me partnered with…Ayami. Some how, I'm not looking forward to this."

Kouga looked towards an angry Ayami. She had her arms crossed and her back to Kouga. She glanced at Kouga as she sensed he was looking at her. Kouga rapidly pretended he wasn't looking at her at all and scratched his cheek nervously.

"Ah, yeah," said Kouga awkwardly. "So, looks like we'll be working together Ayami. Know any attacks?" Ayami shifted around and glared at him irritated, hands on her hips.

"Yeah, of course I do, you baka," said Ayami.

A sweat drop rolled down Kouga's face. Inuyasha and Kagome sat beside each other calmly. They rose as one and start trotting. Miroku and Songo followed behind them, with Shippo on Miroku's shoulder. Kouga and Ayami followed after that, walking far apart, not looking at each other. By the edge of the stream the first thing they encountered was a barrier.

"Oh great," said Songo, "how are we going to counter that? Without Inuyasha's red Tetsiaga…"

Miroku looked thoughtful. "It is a strong barrier. But maybe it is weak enough for me to break through."

Songo watched as Miroku put out a hand and said a prayer chant. The barrier blurred and distorted but didn't go away. Lights streaked all around everyone but then it is was if the wind stopped, and the barrier turned into sparkles that simply faded away. Miroku, who had only just finished chanting put his hand.

"That was indeed difficult," he said looking very drained.

"Good job Miroku," said Inuyasha. Inuyasha trotted up to the lead, tail wagging.

"We'll drag out those demons in no time!" he said enthusiastically.

Everyone moved in cautiously. There was a sudden gust of wind and thick fog rolled in. The couples called to each other in the fog.

"Songo!" said Miroku, a slap ringing out. "Ow."

"Kagome!" shouted Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha," fumed Kagome, "you're standing on my foot!"

Ayami called out uncertainly, "Kouga, where are you?'

"I'm right here," said Kouga, "stay close or, ow! Not that close Ayami!"

"All right everyone," said a fed-up Miroku, "I'm opening the wind tunnel!" The air was instantly cleared of fog.

Miroku leaned wearily on his on staff. "There. I think I need to rest a bit." Songo took Miroku by the shoulders.

"Kagome, Inuyasha," said Songo, "maybe you had better go ahead without us. We'll catch up."

From Songo's shoulder, Shippo said, "Be careful, Kagome."

Inuyasha thought to himself, "Great. This is going to be harder than I thought, if they keeping throwing tricks at us."

Before charging in, Inuyasha and Kouga looked at each other as if to dare.

"Going in, muttface?" said Kouga.

"Before you, wolfboy!" said Inuyasha.

"Hah. Just try and keep up with me, dogbreath."

"I'm gonna ream you, ya scrawny wolf!" shouted Inuyasha happily.

"Sit boy!" said Kagome ending it. "Inuyasha, we're going together, don't you remember we aren't supposed to be alone?"

The group walked up to the rocks, Inuyasha and Kouga tracking.

"Alright, they're in there," said Kouga. "Time to drag them out!"

Kouga rushed in and smashed a rock with his fist. A white dog raced out and looked square at Kouga. The two began to fight and Kagome and the others watched them. The other black dog snuck in right behind Kagome. Fortunately, Inuyasha noticed just in time. The black dog leapt and was about to land on Kagome when Inuyasha collided his shoulder with Kagome's knocking her out of the way. But then, while Kagome was off her feet the black dog jumped on Kagome again, trying to bite her. Inuyasha was about to grab the black dog when suddenly she faded away. Inuyasha looked around wildly. A sweet perfume began filling the air around, and Inuyasha began to look slumped. The others did too. The white dog backed off its attack on Kouga and disappeared. Kagome looked the most alert out of all of them, looking wildly around the clearing. The demon woman suddenly began walking out of the mist, laughing a low evil laugh. She had a sword and spoke sinisterly to Kagome.

"Well now," said the demon woman. "Ready to take me on?"

Kagome growled fiercely. "You bet."

The woman swung her sword at Kagome but missed on purpose. Kagome crouched to the ground and when the woman approached again, let off an orb of pink power. The woman leapt back to avoid it smiling. Kagome was about to be grabbed by the shoulders from behind when Inuyasha latched his teeth onto her attacker. It looked like Inuyasha could barely move, also Kouga, who likewise dragged himself closer to swipe at the mongrel. Everyone sat around Kagome protectively now.

"Kagome," asked Inuyasha anxiously, "are you all right?"

"Yeah," said Kagome, "but what are we going to do?"

Inuyasha spoke firmly, "We're going to have to get us and them out of here." Inuyasha used Iron-Reaver-Soul-Stealer on some boulders. A rush of air broke into the sealed dome of scent. Kouga broke up more rocks and Ayami helped too. Enough air was let in so that they recovered, but it was still everywhere.

"Here," said Ayami, "let me solve this problem." Ayami threw her leaf blades up towards the sky and tore through the sealed dome. Then she threw a leaf blade at a shadow in the rocks, and it dodged.

"There they go!" said Ayami running after it.

Everyone ran after the black dog, who met up with the white one. They ran into a clearing and both of them transformed into their humanoid demon forms. The woman had her hands on her mate's shoulders. The male demon spoke.

"Still persistent on following us?"

"Damn right we are!" shouted Inuyasha. "We'll finish this to the end, after that spell you put on us."

"Very well then," said the demon.

He unsheathed his sword and rushed towards Inuyasha in particular. He struck it along the ground, causing everything to freeze. Inuyasha was knocked down by the wind blast and Kagome rushed to his side to help him up. Kouga turned around and was pushed aside by Ayami just as a spiral of fire bore down on them both.

Kouga snarled after landing, "I don't like how you fight, now come out here, cowards!"

While Kouga was shouting, a fist up, the white dog demon showed up swinging his sword at him. Kouga jumped out of the way and dodged. Simultaneously, Inuyasha was attacked by the woman in her black dog form, and there was horrible snarling as Inuyasha suffered a wound on his side. The fur along his back was raised in a terrible gust of a mini tornado which he arched his back against, pressed low to the ground. Then lightening crackled the ground around him, heaving it. A leaf blade struck the woman and stopped her attacks. Ayami and Kagome rushed to Inuyasha's side and crouched there.

"These two are clever," said Ayami. "All their attacks are well rehearsed, they fight together perfectly."

Kagome spoke determinedly. "Then we'll have to fight as a team too. Inuyasha, keep your shoulder pressed against me, we're going in."

"What?" asked a confused Inuyasha.

"We'll attack at the same time, come on!"

Kagome got up and started running. Inuyasha started running too, catching up to take the lead. He launched himself at the man still fighting with Kouga (the woman had disappeared). He bit through the sword. Then when the man leapt back, he launched Iron-Reaver at him, which did some damage. Inuyasha growled and charged in again, Kagome by his side. The man backed up to avoid Inuyasha, but Kagome grabbed hold of his leg and shocked him with the sort of miko energy that she first showed with Mistress Centipede, or that Kikyo used to attack Inuyasha when she first came back from the grave. He backed up severely wounded and the woman suddenly showed up by his side.

"Fools," said the woman wrathfully.

Her hair began to lengthen and she transformed herself like dear sweet Fluffy would into a gargantuan dog. Her mate transformed as well. Neither were as big as Sesshomaru though. They're runts, what can I say? But they were still several stories high and angry. They tried squishing everyone. Everyone leapt out of the way, but then one of them cracked the ground with an electric shock and Ayami got caught in the blast. She fell backwards and was about to get stamped on when she was caught midair by Kouga. He carried her away from the battle and stood at its edge. Kagome and Inuyasha were leaping about, Kagome dragged by Inuyasha.

"Ayami," asked Kouga, "how's your injury?" Ayami bent down on a painful ankle.

"I'm sorry. My foot was caught in the rubble."

"Don't worry about it Ayami. You get yourself someplace safe."

"Yes."

"Don't worry Ayami, I'll come back for you once this battle's over."

"Kouga?" asked Ayami anxiously.

"Yeah?" asked Kouga.

"Keep safe, alright?"

Kouga nodded and leapt off to rejoin the battle. He landed beside Kagome and Inuyasha. He was standing in front of them defensively when Songo's boomerang flew overhead. It slammed the female dog demon, leaving a deep scar on her face. Songo and Miroku walked up.

"Inuyasha, we're here," said Miroku. "Are these the same demons?"

"Yeah. They're a lot stronger than I thought they would be."

"Do you know where the imbedded fang is Kagome?" demanded Miroku.

"Yeah, but that isn't going to be much help for us. It's deep inside now."

"Then perhaps my wind tunnel!" shouted Miroku.

Miroku moved up and unleashed his wind tunnel but the woman just laughed as she moved back. She conjured up a poison wind that wrapped around her. It caused Miroku to cough and buckle over. He quickly covered his wind tunnel. Shippo popped over Songo's shoulder to give comment.

"It's too much for him!" said Shippo.

"Kilala!" commanded Songo, cueing her two-tail to transform. She and Miroku climbed on board Kilala. "Let's go Kilala!" shouted Songo and they flew off to take their battle to the sky.

Miroku and Songo flew off while Inuyasha charged and was staved off by fire. The battle was now at the edge of the clearing and they were just outside a derelict monastery. Kouga, not faring too well, was knocked straight through its roof. Inuyasha charged and used Blades of Blood on a giant paw just before being knocked through the doorway. He came back out and stood in front of Kagome but a spiral of wind knocked him right back through the doorway. Kagome was knocked with him since he flew right into her, but fortunately he also shielded her from oncoming debris. Songo yelled looking down.

"Kagome, Inuyasha!"

Inside the temple, Inuyasha shielded Kagome with his body from the collapsing roof. He was covered with rotted timbers. Kagome looked up.

Anxiously, Kagome asked, "What are we going to do?"

Next time, the finale.