AN: Hey guys, sorry it took so long to update! My computer is broken, so I haven't been able to get on anything besides AIM and YIM (aol instant messenger and yahoo instant messenger), and my email on my dad's laptop. But, now, my time on the computer is only two hours each day! My parents are trying to get me and my brothers off of the computer more. Okay, enough with me rambling on, I bet you want the story! Oh, one more thing. I wont be able to reply to the reviews like i used to. part of the whole computer problem. so, in general, i want to thank all of you who reviewed! i love you all and i hope you continue reading!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything you recognize from the TV Show! (But I sure wish I did)

Family's New Enemy

The sun was beaming down on their backs, as the small group continued to walk across the field. Kaede forced herself to move on without complaining about lack of water. Knowing that her friends went through this heat almost every day made her feel pathetic for being at home in the modern times with an air conditioned home. Running her fingers through her dry hair, she forced her thoughts away and tried to concentrate on the tasks at hand.

They were traveling light, with a few weapons and four bags of supplies. They had set out seven hours earlier that day, taking a few rests whenever they came across a clear creek or shady trees. None of them spoke, except for a few words every now and then, but nothing much. Kaede kept her thoughts to herself, but, with each step, she felt the area around her was familiar.

Fumo glanced up at the orange sky, the sun setting behind the hills. "It's getting dark. We should find a place to make camp."

They continued on until they came to a small clearing. Trees and bushes surrounded it, giving them enough shelter and firewood for the night.

As if noticing her awkward silence, Fumo glanced up from his pile of broken logs and twigs, and stared at Kaede. "Are you alright?"

She nodded, her eyes searching around her. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just… this place seems so familiar to me."

"That's because we are heading west," Atio said, coming out from behind a bush with an armful of berries and trout they had gathered earlier. "Your uncle, Sesshomaru, doesn't he live in the west?"

"Oh! Yes, he does," Kaede said, the nagging in the back of her head ceasing. "We must be getting close to his village. He lives at the bottom of that mountain," she pointed the small mountain a few miles ahead of them.

"Would he know what happened to our families?" Maki suggested, lying down some more twigs and logs next to Fumo's leg as he started a fire.

"He might," Fumo said, gently blowing on the small spark. With each small breath, the fire grew, and he continued until it exploded into a giant flame, turning each log placed on it into ash. "We could stop by and ask him on our way through the pass."

Kaede nodded, feeling uncertain with the idea. Her father and uncle haven't seen eye-to-eye much. The chance that her uncle would know, let alone care, of her father's absence was next to nothing. She placed down her blanket, and laid down, her eyes looking up at the admirable stars. She never dreamed she would travel across Japan like her mother and father had. Battling demons, helping villages, meeting new people along the way. It seemed too much of a fairy tale to her. One she wished she could wake up from, find herself in her bed, and have normal human ears instead of the dog ones passed down from her father.

Sighing deeply, she placed her hands behind her head, her thumb and forefinger playing loosely with her fluffy ear. With a roll of her eyes at her own stupidity, she turned over, and rested her elbow on the blanket to steady herself as she lay on her side. "Hey, Atio," she called, trying to break some tension amongst the group. "Didn't I hear that you had an apprentice?"

"Oh, yes, I did," Atio said. "Her name was Suki."

"Can you tell me a bit more about her?"

He let out a soft sigh, resting his back against the trunk of a tree. "She was very young when she came to me with the request of training her. Very persistent, too," he chuckled at the memory. "But she was very focused on what she was learning each day."

"She was not much older than Kei, wasn't she?" Fumo asked, leaning against a tree trunk himself, resting his hands on his lap.

"Three years older, yes," Atio said with a small nod. "But she behaved as though she were our age."

"What became of her?" Kaede asked, resting her head on her forearm.

"I took her out one day, to a small village with a demon haunting their lord. I was called out to exercise the demon, and Suki demanded that she would go along, said it would be a great experience for her to learn and grow from." His eyes softened, and Maki moved closer to him, wrapping an arm around his neck for comfort. "So, without another thought, she came along. Little did I know that the demon haunting them was controlling the lord himself.

"The lord, who at the time I didn't know was the demon, led us into the back room, where the demon was supposed to be staying. As soon as the door slid shut, the demon burst out, the dead lord's corpse fell on the floor, and Suki screamed. The demon had slashed right through her. I had quickly slain the demon before he could reach me, but it was too late for Suki."

"That's so terrible," Kaede whispered, feeling her friend's sorrow. "The poor girl."

Atio could only nod. No one else spoke; the air had grown stiff, and quiet. The stillness was so thick, Kaede felt uncomfortable. With a sigh, she rolled over on her back. "I sure hope everyone's okay," she nearly whispered.

Fumo let out a deep breath, "I'm sure they are. Our parents are strong, I'm sure they are taking good care of the younglings."

"Would Lord Sesshomaru greet us?" Maki asked, the uncertainty in her voice was obvious.

"Don't worry about my uncle," Kaede answered. "I'll take care of everything."

XOXOX

Sesshomaru's home was bigger than she remembered it, and Kaede had to lead her shocked and awed friends through the entryway and into the front gates. There were more guards than the last time she came, and she had to explain who she was more than once to a handful of guards at a time.

"I am Lord Sesshomaru's niece," Kaede said for the tenth time, frustration outlining her voice. "These are my friends, and we are here simply to visit."

The guard frowned, apparently not believing her. He stood up straighter, trying to seem tough and strong. "I'm sorry, but Lord Sesshomaru is not allowing guest's at this time."

"Kaede?" Came a shrilled voice from behind the guard.

Kaede grinned, seeing her Aunt Rin rushing towards her, waving her hand in the air. "Oh, my gosh! It is you!"

The guard turned, bowing his head slightly in Rin's presence. "Mistress Rin, do you know these people?"

"Of course I do!" Rin shouted, wrapping her arms around Kaede in an embrace. "This is my niece, Kaede! And I assume these are friends of hers, too."

"Yeah, this is Maki, Atio and Fumo," Kaede said, turning around. "Guys, this is my Aunt Rin."

"It's nice to meet you," Fumo said, Atio and Maki nodding in agreement.

"Please, come! Come!" Rin said, grabbing Kaede's hand and leading her through the gates. "It has been so long since I've seen you! Tell me, how's the family doing?"

"Uh," Kaede frowned, stopping slightly as she looked back at the others. "That's what we're here for, actually. Aunt Rin, could we speak with you and Uncle Sesshomaru in private?"

Rin looked at her, searching her face. At the sign of Kaede's calmness, her excitement vanished and she led them into the mansion. "I take it things aren't going well?" Rin asked.

Kaede sighed, "No, not exactly. That's why we're here now. But, I would really like to talk about it in private."

"I understand," Rin said, sliding a door open and waving her hand for them to enter in. "Please, sit down and I'll get your uncle. Make yourselves at home."

"Thank you," Fumo said as they took their seats on the futons. Atio and Maki sat close together, still surveying the mansion around them. Fumo sat closer to Kaede, his eyes searching around him as well.

"Will you guys relax?" Kaede laughed. "My uncle won't harm you if you're a friend of mine."

"He likes you that much?" Atio asked.

"Yes, actually. I'm the only one in my family that he actually likes, at times."

Fumo laughed lightly, "Well, let us hope that he cares a small bit about your father and mother enough to help us."

The door slid open, and Rin walked in followed by her husband Sesshomaru. He stood tall, his expression the same as always – emotionless. Kaede stood, walked up to embrace her uncle slowly. "Hello Uncle," she said.

He patted her head softly, "Hello Kaede. Rin tells me you wish to talk to us about something?"

Sighing, Kaede nodded, "Yes, shall we sit down?"

They each took a seat, Sesshomaru and Rin across from the four. It was quiet for a second, but Kaede broke the silence slowly. "My parents, as well as my friends' parents, have vanished."

"Along with my daughter and niece and nephew," Fumo said.

Rin gasped, "Oh, those poor dears! How old are they?"

"Nenene is four," Fumo said, his voice quieting at the loss of his daughter. "And my nephew, Kei, is nine, and his sister Rei is seven."

Rin swallowed, turning to Atio and Maki. "Are those yours?"

Maki nodded slowly, tears forming in her eyes once more. "Yes, they are."

"Oh, I'm so sorry," Rin said, tears of her own forming in her eyes. She looked up at Sesshomaru, "Honey, we have to tell them about Sakura."

He nodded, "Yes, I agree."

"Sakura?" Kaede asked.

"Yes, she is a powerful young woman, skilled with the powers of wind and time," Sesshomaru said. "She has never been noticed before, she was always in hiding. But, with the death of her lover fifteen years ago, she decided to take her revenge now."

"Who was her lover?"

"Takudo, the reincarnation of Naraku. The same man your parents killed fifteen years ago."

Fumo and Atio gasped, glancing at each other. "Takudo?"

"Yes, it seems that after his death she used her powers to keep an eye on my brother in the new time he lives in, planning her next move."

Kaede cursed, "So she's been watching us for the past fifteen years just waiting to strike?"

"It seems that way," Sesshomaru said slowly.

"Do you know where Sakura is hiding?" Atio asked.

Rin glanced at her husband and then back at the others. "We don't know. I wish could be of more help, but that's all we know."

Kaede nodded, "Well, thank you for your help."

"Do you have a place for the night?" Rin asked, changing the subject to something easier.

"Um, actually, no," Kaede answered, making a face.

"Well, I'll go get some room prepared for you to sleep in tonight." She stood up, bowing slightly before leaving, dragging Sesshomaru along behind her.

XOXOX

"Mom! Dad!" Kaede screamed, running forward. The air was thick with smoke, and she fought back coughs, afraid to slow her pace. She couldn't slow down. Not now. Not yet.

Her parents were standing in front of her, yet she couldn't reach them. Their bodies were lying on the floor, stiff as a board. Tears welled in her eyes as a horrible thought came to her mind. She refused to believe that they were dead. Her parents weren't ones to give up so easily. They would fight until the end, never accepting death.

"Wake up!" She shouted, tears streaming from her eyes.

An arm reached out from behind her, wrapping around her waist and pulling her away. She stopped running, turning around to look at the man that was pulling at her. It was Fumo, his eyes glistening like evening stars.

"Kaede, darling," He said, his voice a whisper in her ears. Just hearing him speak caused her heart to flutter, but she refused to be taunted. "Why are you running?"

She pushed against him, trying to fight out of his grip. "Let go of me, Fumo! I have to save my parents!"

"Are they more important than our love?"

Love? What was he talking about? She frowned, looking up at him in disbelief. "Love? Our love?"

He smiled, lowering his face towards hers. "Of course our love. Who else's?"

She blinked, too stunned to move away from his lips. He kissed her, fighting against her teeth to allow his tongue to go through. After snapping back to reality, Kaede closed her lips tightly, not allowing him to continue his passion. She punched and kicked him to get off of her, allowing her claws to scratch his arms.

He finally let go of her, his eyes staring at her. "What's wrong, Kaede?"

"This! This isn't real! I'm dreaming!" She shouted, tears streaming down her face. "I don't want this to happen! I'm only fifteen!"

"So? Your mother was only fourteen when she fell in love with your father."

"I'm not my mother! You're not my father! There's a big difference, Fumo!"

"Like what?"

"You…" she hesitated, fearing what she was about to say. "You don't love me."

XOXOX

She woke with tears streaming down her face. Gasping for air, Kaede gently brought her fingers to her lips. They were swollen. "Oh, my gosh," She whispered, looking around her room for any sign of anyone. No one was there.

"It was all a dream," she said, allowing herself to let out a deep breath of relief. "Thank goodness."

A knock on her door scared her, causing her to jump up. "Yes?" She asked, pulling her blanket up against her chest. "Come in."

The door slid open, and Fumo walked in. His eyes caught hers, and he frowned. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, I'm fine," She answered. "Why?"

"I heard you screaming all the way in my room," he said, taking a seat in front of her.

Her eyes grew wide. "Did you hear what I said?"

"No, it just sounded like mutters," he replied, his frown still remaining. "Are you sure you're all right?"

"Yes, I just had a nightmare," she said, looking down at her lap.

He tilted his head, "About what?"

She hesitated, "Just… scary things."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

She frowned, refusing to look at him. "No. At least, not yet."

"Well, whatever it was that happened, I'm sure it wasn't real," he said, giving her a warm smile.

Kaede looked up at him, returning his smile. Her heart began to flutter in her chest again at just the sight of his smile. But the pain her lips felt still screamed at her. She was confused. Was she allowed to love this man, or hate him? Her dreams told her to hate him, but her heart still told her to love him.

"Are you okay, Kaede?" He asked, interrupting her thoughts.

She smiled, "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all."

He smiled and patted her shoulder. "Get some sleep, we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

"Don't remind me," She laughed, watching him walk towards the door.

He slid the door open, and turned back to look at her. He opened his mouth, ready to say something. But, at last minute, he changed his mind and said something else. "Pleasant dreams."

"You too," Kaede whispered, and he walked back to his room, sliding the door shut behind him.