Chapter Eight, When Koga Meets Tasuki

Author's Notes

Judging from the title you should know it's a fun and special chapter!

Oh yeah, I picked out some music for my story just for fun. I think they would be really cool as background music on intense parts or emotional parts, ya know? Only if I can upload them!

To Miakatama86: Truth to be told, I seriously thought about pairing her up with Nuriko but decided against it. Ai can be understanding when she wants to but in the later chapters, you will see a fierce and dark side of her. So watch out boiz! Ai isn't exactly Miss Peace Love and Understanding you know! Inuyasha and Fushigi Yugi tend to have a helpless miko stereotype and I intend to break it! I'm a big feminist!

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They traveled towards the mountains without rest during the morning. Ai had sensed the faint presence of a jewel shard in that direction. Naraku now possessed most of the shikon jewel and the shards were now scarce. However, this discovery made no improvements towards Inuyasha's sulking mood.

At noon they stayed for lunch beside a small river. The water was cool and clear, it danced happily as it meandered towards the mountains that stood from afar. A few clouds floated in the clear blue sky as the wind gently blew, promising a gorgeous day. Nuriko, Tasuki, and Miroku caught fish and now they were merrily barbecuing the fish over a small fire.

"Say, Inuyasha, doesn't this valley look a little familiar to you?" asked Miroku as he examined the landscape. "All mountain valleys look familiar," muttered Inuyasha grumpily. Miroku recognized the "I'm-in-a-foul-mood" tone and instantly shut up. Meanwhile, Ai and Sango had become fast friends. They were talking non-stop and totally ignored the miserable boys.

After lunch, they continued on their way. Ai felt a little uneasy as she sensed the shards stronger and stronger. It's not because we are getting closer to them, she thought, rather it's they that are closing in on us, and fast. Inuyasha's ears suddenly pricked up and he sniffed the air attentively. "What is it, Inuyasha?" Sango asked. Instead of answering, he turned to Miroku, "I think you are right about one thing, Monk. We have been to this valley before. It stinks with the smell of wolves." "WOLVES!? You don't mean…" Miroku jumped in shock. "Yes, I'm afraid so. We are now in the territory of Koga," said Inuyasha grimly.

"Koga? Who's that?" asked Ai with interest. "Why don't you see for yourself?" Inuyasha replied, pointing to a small cyclone that flew towards them at impossible speed, hurling dust and rocks up into the air. Suddenly it stopped right in front of them and out walked a tall young man with sharp features and long black hair he tied up in a ponytail. "Who dare to trespass into my territory?" the young man demanded with authority. "No one wants to trespass into your stinkin' wolf den Koga. Besides, I go where ever I want," Inuyasha smirked at him. The young man frowned at the sight of the arrogant half demon, " It's you again, mutt." Inuyasha's face turned a few shades of angry red, "I'll show you who's the mutt here!" he said as launched at his opponent, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!" Koga merely jumped away and sneered at his attack, "Very amusing, half-breed." "Damn," Inuyasha swore under his breath.

Ai watched attentively at the battle that had unfolded before her eyes. She could see it clearly now: the boy named Koga had three shards, one on each leg and one on his left arm. What powers could he possibly obtain from the jewel shards? However, her thoughts had been cut short as Koga rested his eyes on her. (Sakura: here we go again) Ai watched suspiciously as Koga walked towards her. She was almost surprised when Koga put his arms around her waist. Almost. "I can't believe that you are still following that 'Inu-trasha'. But you are going to be much happier with me, my woman." After that, he swung Ai off her feet and carried her off at super speed. Nuriko cast a glance at Tasuki, "Fang-Boy, I thought that's your department." Ai heard it and almost laughed out loud, but she had more important business in hand. What did I do last time this happened to me? Right…

Five minutes later, Koga was out cold from the blow Ai gave him at the base of his skull. The group members all rushed towards him and saw Ai standing triumphantly over the wolf demon's unconscious body. "Did you use that attack again?" asked Tasuki. "Yep," Ai nodded smugly, "works every time." Tasuki shuddered.

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It was twenty minutes later when Koga finally came to. He was confused at first: one minute he was carrying his woman on his back and the next minute… All he could remember was a sharp pain on his neck. After another five minutes of searching through his memory, he came to this conclusion. "Inuyasha, what did you do to me you mutt!?" Inuyasha merely shrugged, "I didn't do nothin'. It was all her," he pointed at Ai. "What?" Koga grew even more confused, "my woman would never do that to me. Right Kagome dear?" Ai cleared her throat, "First, I'm not your woman. And second, you are mistaken, I'm not Kagome." Now Koga felt his head was about to burst, "Inuyasha, what did you do to my Kagome? She's delusional!" At this, everyone rolled his (or her) eyes, including Shippo. "I think it's time to fill him in," Miroku suggested.

After ANOTHER twenty minutes of explaining, Koga finally got it. At first, he announced that he's very sad about Kagome (to which Inuyasha replied with a 'Feh' and turned his head away) and then he turned his head to Ai. "Milady, any woman who could beat me deserves my respect. I apologize for the confusion, therefore I now swear allegiance to you and all your friends, even the mutt. All my wolf clan will assist you on your quest." Ai was speechless. "Thank you," she finally managed to blurt it out, "but who are you again?" "I'm Koga, the leader of the wolf demon tribe, at your service" Koga grinned, showing Ai his long canines. Creepy, Ai thought.

Koga invited them to rest at the valley where the wolf tribe resided in. Inuyasha strongly apposed but followed along. After nearly two hours of journeying and climbing, they suddenly found themselves in a lovely green valley with a spectacular waterfall. The water dropped from the top of the cliff into a small lake, with a rainbow hung at its waist. Ai felt like she's in paradise. "Wow, nice place you got there, Koga," she complimented heartily. "Heh, I don't see what's so nice 'bout this stinkin' den," Tasuki suddenly spoke up, "Ain't half as good as ol' Mount Leikaku." Koga turned his head around, surprise at the insult. He then scrutinized Tasuki from head to toe. Tasuki met his glare, head held high and his mouth cocked to one side to form a smirk. Ai sensed the obvious tension between them and quickly broke the awkward silence, "Oh, I haven't introduced you guys yet. Koga, this is Tasuki and Tasuki, you already know Koga's name." Koga didn't even get his eyes off Tasuki, "So, Tasuki is it? I bet you ain't half as tough as your talk." Tasuki wanted to reply, but Ai immediately cut him off. "Well, you too might have more in common than you think. For example, you are both gang leaders, both arrogant (Koga and Tasuki: Hey) and you both have speed as one of your powers. But most importantly, you both have fangs! I mean, how usual is that!" "I have fangs," Inuyasha chimed in. "SHUT UP! Can't you see I'm trying to get somewhere with these two?" Ai hissed at him. "You know what, I think she's right," Koga said slowly "we are similar." "Yeah, maybe a little TOO similar," Tasuki agreed. "You know, there's just not enough room for two bandit leaders in one mountain, so…" Koga stared at Tasuki challengingly, leaving off the rest of the sentence. "Are ya on for a lil' one on one?" the fire-haired bandit finished the sentence off. "Yup, Ai, I could see that you paired them up real good. I can sense, no smell, the chemistry here," Inuyasha commented sarcastically. "Just shut up," Ai gave him a death glare, she could feel a headache coming on.

Tasuki and Koga faced each other, each with a challenging glare on his face. Both of them could feel their adrenaline rushing through their bodies as they prepared to fight. The tense silence became almost unbearable until Koga started the fight. He rushed towards Tasuki, the jewel shards glowed on his legs, giving him the power of super speed. The audiences were stunned, but Tasuki, who had the same power, merely assumed his battle stance and focused on his opponent. "Rekka Shinen!" Tasuki took out his tessen seconds before Koga's fist connected with his face and shot out burning flames. "What?" Koga couldn't believe his eyes, but he jumped aside in time. "You know, for a human, you are pretty strong. But you won't last long. Remember, you are facing off a demon!" Tasuki merely smirked at Koga's comment, "So what if you are a demon? I can still kick your butt!" "Why you…" Koga growled, baring his teeth. Tasuki's last remark had agitated him. "Now, it's time ta spice things up a bit!" Tasuki grinned, holding pieces of papers in between his fingers, "play with my boys!" With that he threw the paper pieces up the air and they all transformed into snarling wolves. "What?" Koga was stunned, "you can summon wolves?" Tasuki ignored him and grinned smugly. "If he is allowed to summon back-up," Koga said slyly, "then so can I! A-wooooooooooooooo!" Koga howled. Then, silently and mysteriously, grey shadows of wolves appeared, phantom-like, all around the mountain tops. "It's your boys Vs my boys. May the best wolves win," Koga grinned at Tasuki.

At the command of Koga a small band of wolves rushed down the hillside. They formed a circle around Tasuki and his wolves, completely surrounding them. Koga waved his hand, gesturing them to attack. The wolves immediately obeyed. They sprinted towards Tasuki's wolves and began to fight ferociously. Tasuki's wolves fought back. They snarled, slashed, and tore at each other, not one beast hesitated to bite at its enemy's throat. The battle went on for about five minutes and eventually Koga's wolves gained the upper ground, they tore Tasuki's wolves into pieces. As soon as their throats had been slit, Tasuki's wolves disappeared. The only traces of their existence left were white, tore-up pieces of paper that scattered on the ground. "I see, it's only an illusion. I guessed you weren't so tough now, uh?" Koga said, grinning victoriously. "Wrong again," Tasuki's voice boomed behind him, "the wolves are only illusions to distract you! Rekka Shinen!" "Damn!" Koga swore under his breath. He tried to jump away, but it was too late, he got a full hit and was burnt to a crisp. "The best wolf did win," grinned Tasuki, his tessen rested on his shoulder, "and his name is Genrou."

Woohoo! Go Tasuki! For you Koga fans out there, he didn't die so don't worry. He's just burnt like Tamahome. I hope you enjoyed reading the chapter! Cuz I sure enjoyed writing it. I mean, Tasuki and Koga are like, so similar. A couple of similarities I didn't list in the chapters are: they both have potty mouths, they both have rivals (Koga and Inuyasha, Tasuki and Tamahome), and not to mention they both like to carry off priestesses. Lol.

After this chapter the story won't be as light-hearted. It's already Chapter Eight and I still haven't got the story on track! I was quite disappointed actually. I really need to think things through and stop being so messed-up!