Disclaimer: We do not own Inuyasha

okay, now all the legal junk's outta the way, both of us apologize for the delay. we had abit of trouble locating the notebook where we write all this down, due to Akai's recent move. don't worry, we'll try and speed it up, since we have quite a few more chapters ready to go. now, on with the story!

Chapter 3

Koga was silent almost the entire time; at least until she accidentally slipped out that she tried to kill Kagome.

"YOU TRIED TO DO WHAT!" He exclaimed in fury, growling lowly. Kuroinu stared at him and sighed. so he's already taken, again with that idiot human. why is everyone so fascinated by her, anyway?

"Calm down. I didn't do anything to the human. I don't wish to anymore either. My brother takes a fancy to her."

"Who? Inuyasha?"

"I'm not sure about him, but my other brother, the one who took her, he likes her."

"That mutt! I told him to protect her! Wait until I get my hands on him! Where was he when captured her anyway?" Kuroinu sighed. This guy was cute to look at, but boring to talk to. He always over reacted when the conversation came to Kagome.

"Where is this guy now?"

"Who?"

"This Akaiinu. Your brother."

"He's with Inuyasha and those humans."

"Then I will challenge your brother. No body kidnaps my woman and gets away with it!" Koga said as if speaking to a crowd of people. Kuroinu chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Koga asked through gritted teeth, annoyed at her chuckling.

"You are. If you couldn't even beat me, you have no chance against Akaiinu."

The wolf demon growled. "Hey! You never beat me. You gave up before our fight was over."

"You would've been dead if I hadn't stopped." She said in an as a matter-of-factly voice.

Koga growled. "Who the hell does she think she is? I have the right mind to teach her a lesson." He thought mentally. His attention was caught when Kuroinu stood up.

"Well lets get going shall we?"

Koga gave a perplex look. "And where exactly are you going?"

"Duh! With you, of course. I want to go see my brothers again. It's been already almost a year."

"Weren't you going somewhere else before I met you?"

Kuroinu giggled, "Oh yeah, I forgot, but as much as I love him, I really miss my brothers. I'll go try to find my love as soon as I visit Akaiinu and Inuyasha."

Koga wasn't afraid to admit, he was curious as to who her 'love' was, but he did not ask.

"What makes you think that you're coming with me?"

She smiled sweetly. "Because you need my help." Koga scoffed. "I'm the leader of a wolf pack. I'm pretty sure I can take care of myself." Kuroinu gave a sly smirk.

"Sure you can. Well I bid you farewell, Koga." She winked flirtatiously at him and blew him a kiss before disappearing in a blur.

"That was one strange woman." Koga thought to himself and he too started his journey towards the Inuyasha gang.

-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Sesshy,"

Sesshoumaru ignored his mate's call for him. Until she stopped with that ridiculous nickname, he would pay her no mind like would to a servant. "Sesshy, why are you ignoring me? It's only a nickname. It won't do any harm."

"Obviously, you do not know the role and the rules of being my mate."

She wrapped her arm around his torso, leaning her head on his back. "But lovely, playing the role of your mate is so boring. Meaning the whole lady of the Western lands thing of course!" she added quickly after hearing the soft growl coming from deep within Sesshoumaru's throat.

He grabbed her hand firmly, yet gently and unwrapped them off his body. "Until, you learn how to act like a mate, I will not treat you like one. I do not know how human men treat their mates, but I am not like them and you will do as you are told." His voice was his usual emotionless, calm tone, yet Xiara felt frustration and anger hidden in those words. He took one glance at her and then walked away.

"Sesshoumaru," she said softly after him, but he never turned around.

"How does she do it?" Sesshoumaru thought to himself. He knew that what he said wasn't going to happen, or at least, not for a long time. She has that power over him. He couldn't hurt her, or order her around, or even kill her for that matter. He could have the sudden urge to do all these things, yet he doesn't. It was driving him crazy! "How can she drive me so mad at times, yet I still feel affection for her still. What is the matter with me?" He left to his studies so that he could plan for his trip. He had to patrol his lands once more.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

"Master, we have found the where-abouts of the Dog demon's daughter. She seems to be heading straight toward us." A young girl with snowy-white hair and pale blue eyes said in a solemn calm voice.

"Good. I was hoping she would come soon." Her master answered. His voice was like black silk that sent chills down your spine. "Kagura, I want you to lead her to the mountains were I'll be waiting for her."

The blacked-haired wind demon nodded obediently. "But master, what will I do with our prisoner?" The handsome demon gave a small grin. "I'll make sure he earns his keep." He took out the nearly completed Shikon-no-tama and showed it to his servant, cluing her in on what he was planning to do. She bowed.

"Yes. I understand." And with that, she left the room.

- - - - - -- - - - - -- - - -

Kuroinu slowed her running until it turned into walking.

"I can smell his scent. I must be getting closer." She thought to herself

She suddenly stopped dead in her tracks, something unusual was happening with Naraku's scent. His scent was coming to her, fast. Kuroinu waiting patently for Naraku to show himself. "It would be longer now. His scent is close." Butterflies soon grew in her stomach. She was so nervous and excited at the same time. A sudden gust of wind blew causing Kuroinu to stumble back a few steps

"Don't tell me it's her," she thought to herself as she blocked the speeding winds shooting at her. The wind had finally stopped blowing and Kuroinu removed her arms form in front of her to look around. It was when she realized the scent was coming from…high in the air. She looked up to see Kagura.

"What the hell do you want, Wind demon?" barked Kuroinu. Kagura looked down at her with a hint disgust. "This is the dog demon's daughter? She doesn't look formidable at all." She thought.

"Is that any way to greet you lover's messenger?" Kagura scoffed.

Kuroinu narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. "Naraku sent a messenger? What, does he think I'm stupid?" she thought.

"It is when they've been known to attack you." Responded Kuroinu.

"Only under orders," Kagura retorted, "Naraku sent me to get you, so it'd probably be in your best interest to follow me."

"Kuroinu laughed. "Fine. I'll follow you. But remember, you've done a lot of bad things- like murders," responded Kuroinu. She quickly drew her right hand blade and flipped it around in her hand, so that the pommel was balanced on her fingertips.

"And these blades are meant to kill murderers." Kuroinu continued and for a moment Kagura could see the gleam of excitement and expectation.

Kagura scoffed. "Don't forget your past." She plucked a feather from her hair and tossed it on the ground. Instantly, it grew to be boat sized. Kagura sat down.

"I'll never forget my past, Kagura." Said Kuroinu, her usual child ness gone. Slowly she stepped onto the feather. "Sometimes, it's the only thing that keeps me alive."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Their meal was almost done. The only one left eating was Akaiinu, and he never ate as fast as the others. He preferred to savor the moments.

"Hurry up and finish, will ya!" yelled Inuyasha.

"Why do you talk like that when you were the last one to finish!" responded Kagome.

Akaiinu let out a small laugh. "Thank you, Kagome. I'm finished now."

"Took you long enough…" muttered Inuyasha. Miroku stood up and announced that they should all go to bed, and that they did. All except for Akaiinu. He didn't need much sleep. And he wanted to think for.

"Aren't you coming to bed?" Kagome asked, when she saw he was headed the opposite direction of their campsite.

"No. I'll think I'll stay up a little longer to clear my head."

"Ya know, too much thinking will turn you into a evil, stick-in-the-mud like Sesshoumaru."

"Now I know the reason for the differences. You don't think at all…" Kagome said.

"What did you say!" Inuyasha gave her a glare and she only smiled and said it was nothing.

Akaiinu gave a small laugh before he started on the path to the tree. Unlike his sister, he walked slowly, appreciating the sounds and scents. Kuroinu always said she'd like speed because it helped her to escape- and that what she always needed, he thought.

For a while, he missed his cheerful, bloodthirsty twin sister. And that's when he heard the rustling of leaves. He wasn't alone. He stopped and sniffed the air. It was a wolf demon and he was moving quickly towards Akaiinu.

"You're not doing a very good job of concealing yourself, wolf demon." He said aloud. Now he knew exactly where the demon was approaching.

"I don't need to conceal myself, mutt!" yelled Koga. He came out of the woods and stopped in front of Akaiinu, who was giving him a skeptical look.

"Did you just call me a mutt?" he questioned. "You must be looking for Inuyasha, my brother."

"Koga growled at him. "You're Akaiinu, right? That crazy woman's brother!"

He must be talking about Kuroinu. Thought Akaiinu. "How do you know me or my sister?" Akaiinu asked. He was getting defensive now.

"You don't need to worry about that. I'm here to challenge you!"

Akaiinu drew his sword. "I don't want to kill you…"

"You almost killed my woman! I'm going to make you pay for that!"

Tell me he's not talking about Kagome…"I wasn't the one who did that. I saved Kagome, more than once." Akaiinu corrected.

"Yeah, but you still took her!"

Akaiinu sighed. "I didn't hurt her in any way. If you are here to avenge her, I suggest you go to my sister. If you wish to die, my sister will kill you happily. Now if you would please leave…"

"Kagome's my woman, you can't have her. Mutt!" Koga yelled.

He's so persistent…Akaiinu thought. Like a donkey…

"I didn't see you chasing Kagome. I had to fight Inuyasha, not you."

Koga gritted his teeth.

"I-I didn't know." He stammered.

"What is your name?" Asked Akaiinu.

"Koga."

"Fine. I shall ask Kagome if she knows a 'Koga'. Now leave."

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

"I'm glad to see Kagura returned in one piece." Said Naraku.

"She almost didn't, love." Responded Kuroinu. She hopped off the feather and walked towards the demon that sat by a tree.

"Kagura, go back to the castle," he ordered. In a rush of wind, Kagura vanished. Naraku then turned his gaze to Kuroinu. "You're looking pale."

Kuroinu gave a small smile. "I've always been pale. You know that."

She began advancing towards him. "I missed you."

"I missed you as well, Kuroinu. "Naraku responded, now standing.

They were standing so close; they could feel each other's heartbeats.

"I wanted to see you." Said Kuroinu. She could feel her stomach churning with butterflies. Her mind was racing in anticipation.

"I want to ask you something." Naraku said softly. "Will you come to live in my castle?"