Chapter Three:

Good and New

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold.

Song

Now, InuYasha has a good friend, a very good friend at that.

He also has many other friends, being the lovable half-demon that he is. And he is not afraid to admit the fact that this one particular friend stood out among the rest.

This friend was always with him, following him wherever he went.

This friend came to him when he needed someone to talk to, even if InuYasha's speech became muffled when he spoke to him.

His friend was also very familiar with InuYasha's body pattern. To some, it would be rather awkward to share your body pattern with a friend, but for the two of them, it was completely normal, if not enjoyable.

The friend could be called many things, but its most commonly used name was 'the ground'.

But, one problem.

His friend only came when one person called for him.

That person was Kagome Higurashi and the word that had to be called was affectionately named 'sit'.

Today just happened to be a day that Kagome decided that the two friends should meet.

"InuYasha... sit!"

And that was all it took for the two friends to meet. With a strangled cry, the half-demon fell down ungracefully while the Ground accepted him with open arms.

And the others watched as the reunion of friends happened, one shaking his head, one sighing and the other murmuring 'idiot' under his breath. Mumble curses sprang from InuYasha's mouth as he explained to the Ground about how much Kagome was an idiot. And in truth, the Ground agreed with InuYasha, for Kagome did when she muttered 'sit' once again. InuYasha was pushed closer to his friend and the Ground began to educate him on the importance of friendship.

"Next time, InuYasha, don't hit Shippo! He's still only kid," she said heatedly, moving back towards Kaede's hut to where the others were standing. Sango smiled at her slyly, before retreating back into the hut along with the aspiring priestess. Miroku stayed behind, also sharing a glance with the young fox kit as he hopped in after Kagome.

"You should learn, InuYasha," he said softly, looking at the half-demon's prone form.

Apparently, InuYasha and the Ground had much to talk about, so Miroku decided to leave the two friends in peace. He entered the hut, which was cool due to the shade, and he was thankful. Kagome had taken up residence next to the old priestess, who was cooking over the fire. Sango sat across from the two priestesses, stroking the small fire cat in her lap. Shippo was next to Sango, watching the fire interestedly. The monk moved and sat a few feet away from the slayer, staff lying languidly in his lap.

"So, Kagome," the slayer started, scratching Kirara behind the ears, eliciting a purr. "What's been going on in your time lately?"

"Nothing new. I just have a test coming up next week," Kagome responded, shrugging. Sango nodded in agreement.

"Hey, if ya' go back to your time again, can I have some of those wieners," Shippo said excitedly. The schoolgirl smiled and nodded just as energetically. Kaede let out a laugh, stirring the pot fervently.

"The oden will be ready soon," she said slowly, careful with her words. "May I ask why ye sat InuYasha?" This question was directed to Kagome, who huffed angrily.

"He hit Shippo! I told him not to, but he never listens!"

Kaede nodded gravely, looking out the door to see if InuYasha was still on the Ground.

He wasn't, having finished his conversation with his friend and walked into the hut disturbed and angry.

It was apparent that he didn't have a nice chat, at all, with the Ground.

He slumped down, far into a corner and away from the others. Kaede clicked her tongue.

"Ye must learn, InuYasha, not to hit children."

"Feh," was her answer and Kagome was rather tempted to sit him again. But she fought back that urge, and growled at him slightly. His ears flattened against his skull and he shrunk away. Miroku chuckled at the display, shaking his head. Sango, too, was shaking her head, smiling before excepting the bowl of oden Kaede was now passing out.

"Have some, InuYasha," the slayer said sweetly, and the half-demon dare not trust her, her words too sweet to be true. So he shook his head quickly and watched her hand the bowl to Shippo, who immediately began to gobble it up as fast as he could. InuYasha sighed.

"So," Miroku said, trying to ease the tension that had built up. "Did you hear any new rumors?"

This was directed the half-demon, still slouched in his corner. InuYasha shook his head, rather forcefully, suggesting that this arrangement was not to his liking.

"I don't understand it! That bastard usually attacks us around this time; why wait now?"

"Perhaps he's just buying some time," suggested Sango, quietly. Kirara mewled her agreement, snuggling closer to her mistress. Kaede nodded.

"Naraku is a tricky fellow; ye must be on ye guard at all times."

"Ya' don't need to tell us that, ya' old hag," whispered InuYasha fiercely. Kagome growled and sent him a look, to which he quickly nodded his head and did not utter another sound. So, they sat there a little while longer, Shippo happily eating the oden as fast as he could, some of the noodles stuck to his face.

Kagome also thought that Naraku's silence was odd. They hadn't fought him for a while and they hadn't gotten any new jewel shards either. For the most part, they had been roaming the countryside, fighting random demons and fighting each other. Twice Sango had to leave to get Hiraikotsu fixed, Miroku left more then once to go ask more women that fated question, and InuYasha was spending time in trees more the usual. And Kagome was beginning to miss her home.

"Have fun in the past," her mother had called to her, waving happily as Kagome rushed to the well house. Her grandfather was sweeping next to the Goshinboku and Sota had already left for school. And her friends! How could she forget them? They were always gossiping and encouraging her to go out with Hojo, it was hard not to forget them. And she even slightly missed the boy, with his overly enthusiastic outlook on life.

She sighed, drawing the attention of her friends.

"What ails ye," Kaede asked softly. Kagome shrugged.

"Just missing home, is all…"

"Feh…." Kagome felt anger surge through her again, but she watched as InuYasha suddenly stood up, a distant and wild look in his eyes.

"What is it, InuYasha," whispered Shippo frightfully, some noodles still on his face. But InuYasha chose not to answer. Instead, he moved swiftly out of the old hut. The other followed him, Sango with the Hiraikotsu on her back and not even bothering to step into her slayer outfit, Miroku behind her, keeping a respectable distance, and last was Kagome, Shippo, and Kirara, the latter running behind the former.

InuYasha stood away from the hut a few feet and an equal few feet away from his previous implant. His head was whipping around as he smelt the air, his nostrils dilating excitedly. Miroku came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"InuYasha, what's wrong?"

"Quiet, monk! Let me…," but InuYasha didn't finish, his amber eyes looking across the village wildly. He grinned sadistically, revealing pointed fangs. He turned to the others, hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt.

"InuYasha," whispered Kagome softly, her hands moving up to her bow.

"Demon. Comin' this way."

That statement was all it took for them to begin to head out of the village and into the clearing beyond the village itself. They were walking slowly, InuYasha in the lead as he continued to smell out the demon's path. Sango was on top of a transform Kirara, no longer the small and cuddly fire cat that had been in her lap minutes ago. Miroku was walking by Kirara, Shippo on his shoulder and Kagome was jogging behind InuYasha.

"Why are we walking," she panted tiredly. "He could be running here!"

"No," InuYasha said slowly. "He's goin' fast, but stops once an a while, like he's takin' a break or somethin'."

"Oh…."

"But the weird part is, I can't tell what type of demon he is."

"You can't," called Sango, sounding worried and slightly irritated that the half-demon's nose had failed him.

"Nah, an' I don't even think that he's maskin' his scent. Shippo, can ya' smell him?"

And the fox kit lifted up his head and took a sniff of the air, eye uncertain but heart ready to please.

"Kinda…. I can't tell what demon he is, but that… his power is kinda bent up… ya' know… held up inside. It's almost as if he isn't one demon, two demons makin' a full demon…."

"Wow," Miroku whispered, nearly tripping over a rock in his way. Which was just as well, for his hand had begun to wonder off to a certain somebody's backside.

"So, he's a full demon, just his parents were two different full demons…." He looked up at Shippo, who nodded fiercely. Sango made a sound in her throat.

"I never heard of something like that… that makes this demon a new species of demon, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, it does," whispered InuYasha. It took Kagome awhile to realize that they were heading towards the Goshinboku. She sighed; it had been a long time since she had been to that tree. InuYasha also looked like he was thinking along the same lines, even as he continued to look out for the demon.

"When you said that his energy was bent up, you meant that his energy was locked away inside of him, right," questioned Sango softly, readjusting her boomerang. Shippo nodded.

"From here I can tell that it just swirls inside of him, waitin' to be released."

"Can you tell what two types of demons made him," Kagome called back to him and Shippo shook his head.

"Just that they oppose one another…. Like day an' night…."

"So, the demon could be part dog, part cat," suggested Miroku, once more edging towards his favorite backside. But Sango caught him and sent him a dangerous look of annoyance and he backed down quickly.

"Or part smart, part dumb," countered InuYasha, sounding rather intelligent at his own right. Kagome sighed exasperatedly.

"What? They're opposin' sides!"

"That's not what Shippo meant, InuYasha."

"Feh, that's what it sounded like to me, wench," the half-demon replied heatedly, his bubble deflated and Kagome sighed again, arms limp at her sides. It was no use. So, they continued to trudge along, InuYasha keeping a look out for the demon.

"Is it possible that this could be one of Naraku's incarnations," Miroku said slowly, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. Sango perked up.

"Maybe! Perhaps, he's tired of waiting and now he wants to attack us for once."

"No," Shippo whispered, mocking Miroku's stance comically. "Then the demon would smell like him; not two demons in one, right?"

"He's right," offered the half-demon, stopping short. The others lined up beside him, Kagome on his right, Miroku, Sango, Kirara and Shippo on his left.

"An' he's comin', right over the hill." And indeed, they had stopped in front of a hill and were now waiting for the elusive demon to come. Kagome would be lying if she said that she wasn't nervous, she was. It had been awhile since they had fought a demon, and she was positive that her archery skills were rusty. And that was all Kagome needed when they were about to attack a demon. And as they waited, loud shouts came from over the hill. The slayer and feline took a fighting stance, the latter growling and the former scowling. Miroku had already conjured up two sutras and the hand on Tetsusaiga's hilt was twitching.

"Ya' idiot! That rock was right in front of ya' an' ya' ran in it," called out a gruff voice mockingly. Kagome tensed, as did the others, but InuYasha shook his head.

"That's not the demon… the demon's behind him…." So they waited again, and this time, four figures emerged from over the hill. One of them was a teenager, wearing, what Kagome could identify, a white T-shirt and some faded jeans. He had black, gelled back hair and brown eyes and at the moment, was laughing his head off. The teen next to him was a little bit taller and had orange hair curled in the front. He wore an outfit similar to the teen next to him, just with black jeans and green T-shirt. He was also wearing a scowl, directed to the first boy. There was one other teen with them, with long red hair and a maroon school outfit, shaking his head amusedly.

They continued walking down the hill, oblivious to InuYasha, who had growled lowly. By the time the new boys were within ten feet of them, they stopped and stared. The one with black hair looked around, excitedly, the orange haired boy sharing the same reaction. The last, with Kagome had dubbed the mature one, looked suspicious. But before either group could get say on the matter, if there was one, a new figure showed up, taking a position next to the Mature One.

The newcomer was short, about five foot four, and had black hair that rose up like flames, with a white starburst in the middle. With startling red eyes that could have been passed as blood, he looked at InuYasha haughtily. He wore all black, a cloak with a white scarf around his neck, and didn't appear to have a weapon, like his comrades. He also wore a white bandana, his hair spurting over it protectively.

All in all, his appearance didn't make him look homely and Kagome doubted that he really was. But upon his entry, InuYasha tensed.

"That's the demon," he whispered, trying not to get the attention of the four men, even if they already had it. Sango and Miroku nodded, while Shippo hopped down from the formers shoulder and moved towards Kagome.

"Ya' two stay here," InuYasha continued, and he also continued his staring contest with the demon. "To make sure that the humans don't get hurt," he added, watching Kagome flare.

She had barely said okay when the slayer, monk, and half-demon ran forward, the latter with the transformed Tetsusaiga in his hands. InuYasha reached the demon first, who surprisingly, had drawn a katana and was now blocking the Tetsusaiga with what looked like, barely any strength. The demon's comrades had jumped back and the red haired one looked ready to attack, but Sango and Miroku whizzed passed him as InuYasha drove the demon away from Kagome and Shippo.

"What the hell," shouted the orange haired boy. "What the hell are they doin'?" His comrade nodded and rushed after them, but thankfully, Shippo stood in front of him, his hands raised.

"Stop! Ya' can't go over there!"

"Why not," snarled the black haired boy, raising his fist when he heard a shout. "That's our friend you're attackin'!"

"Shippo's right," countered Kagome, rushing over to stand beside Shippo. "You can't go over there, you might get hurt."

"But what about our friend," he snapped, and was about to run off again, but the Mature One stopped him.

"Why are they attacking him? What has he done," his speech was soft, but irritated. Kagome gulped.

"Because, he's a demon, he could've hurt you…."

And at this statement, the three men froze. The priestess expected that they would, most humans wouldn't know that their friend was a demon. The kit sighed as the battle raged on and Kagome smiled softly at them.

"I'm sorry, but he is… and it's our duty to-"

"How did you know," whispered the red haired one, green eyes shocked and suspicious. Kagome started back, confused.

"W-what…?"

"How'd ya' know he was a demon," the black haired one said, and moved forwards, as if he was about to attack her. The Mature One caught him and shook his head.

"No, Yusuke," he said and then turned back to Kagome, who was still shocked. She shook her head and sputtered, while Shippo looked on worriedly.

"Wait! You knew? You knew he was a demon? What…!"

"Yes, we know he's a demon, how did you know?"

But Kagome refused to answer, just stared at them wide-eyed. Yes, it wasn't abnormal for humans in this time to know about demons. What was abnormal was that if they had a friend that was one. Most demons hated being associated with humans, so why was this one their friend?

"Wait," shouted the orange haired one. "Look at what she's wearin', Kurama!"

Kurama did, and blinked once. Then his face took on a serious expression as he eyed her green school uniform.

"What time are you from," he asked, and Kagome stared at him.

"What d'you mean, what time am I from…?" And that was when she also got a good look at their outfits. Mostly the fox's.

"Whoa! You're from the future! 2005! You are, aren't you," she screamed, and Shippo took a step back. They nodded and she gasped.

"You came from the well…?"

"No, a portal. You know how to time travel, do you not," Kurama asked again as a loud explosion was hear. She nodded and the older fox also nodded.

"Call off your friends, we have much to talk about." Kagome looked stunned and then narrowed her eyes.

"I don't know who you are, but you can't just-"

"Now, or Hiei will kill them."

"Huh…."

And a loud shout was heard, from InuYasha, followed by "Wind Scar!" and another explosion. Yusuke had had enough.

"Hiei," he shouted and rushed forward, disappearing over the hill. Without a second thought, Kagome rushed after him, Kurama, Shippo and Kuwabara behind her. Miroku was the farthest away from InuYasha, who was locked in combat with Hiei. The monk looked like he was preparing to set off some more sutras when Yusuke pushed past him. With a loud grunt, Miroku fell and Kagome rushed to his side.

"Miroku, where's Sango?"

"Over by InuYasha. And I thought he told you to keep the humans away?"

"That wasn't necessary," responded Kurama, surprising the monk, who looked at him stunned. Kuwabara was following Yusuke, who had just dodged a blast from Tetsusaiga. InuYasha rushed Hiei again, aiming for the fire demon's head, but Hiei thrust forward his katana, which caught InuYasha's blow. InuYasha growled and put more pressure on his sword, trying to push Hiei back, but the demon was resistant.

"What are you," he panted, amber eyes glowering. But, Hiei didn't respond, just pushed forward and threw InuYasha back. The fire demon's patience was beginning to wear thin and this half-demon just thought that he could defeat him? As InuYasha landed on his back, the fire demon rushed towards him, but was stopped by a certain feline.

Roaring fiercely, Kirara ran towards Hiei, who stood his ground, katana pointed forward. The fire cat lunged upwards, claws outstretched and sabers glistening in the sunlight. Hiei dodged and moved to the left, away from the prone InuYasha. Kirara followed, stalking the fire demon like prey. She crouched, shoulder blades bunched and muscles tensing. Hiei took a similar position, baring his fangs in a snarl. Unbeknownst to them, Yusuke and Kuwabara rushed towards InuYasha.

"What the hell is your problem," shouted Yusuke as InuYasha began to get up. But the half-demon ignored him and ran towards the circling duo, Tetsusaiga at the ready. Before Yusuke could go after him, Sango rushed passed him, Hiraikotsu raised. Kirara and Hiei were still circling each other, waiting for the other to make the first move. InuYasha reached them first, and leapt in the air.

"Kirara, get down," he shouted, and the fire cat obeyed. Leaping out of the way just in time, Kirara joined her mistress.

"Wind Scar," InuYasha roared, and triple blades shot out towards Hiei. Growling, the fire demon shot up in the air and was now level with the half-demon as the attack demolished multiple trees. But Hiei didn't have time to attack, for a loud shout of "Hiraikotsu!" went through the air. Turning his head, he watched as a large boomerang hit him in his abdomen, threatening to go through him.

With a grunt, he twisted himself like a cat, and avoided a fatal blow. But that didn't stop the boomerang to miss him completely. Hiei landed and crouched low, his ribs exploding with pain and blood, and watched as Kirara, with Sango on top of her approached. He heard whistling wind behind him and was vaguely aware that the boomerang found itself in the slayer's hands again.

"Take this, demon," she whispered, the last word coming out like an insult. He growled in response and watched as Yusuke, Kuwabara and Kurama came rushing over, the latter having propped up that damnable monk. There was a girl following them, wearing a revealing skirt and yelling at the half-demon loudly. But said half-demon took no notice and advanced towards Hiei, along with the slayer and her familiar.

"What's your reason for hangin' out with these humans," InuYasha said nastily, baring his fangs as he came in level with Sango. But the fire demon refused to answer, he just raised his katana higher, crimson eyes lighting. The slayer and half-demon took this as an invitation for a fight and rushed forward, the former in the lead. Kagome rushed over, forgetting the newcomers who were yelling curses at her friends.

"InuYasha," she screamed. "Stop! He's their friend, not their enemy! Stop, now! They know, InuYasha, they know he's a demon!" But InuYasha refused to listen to her, just advanced on the fire demon as quickly as Sango was. Kagome stopped and raised her hands over her mouth to magnify her voice.

"InuYasha, sit boy!"

And that was the second time that day that the two friends, the Ground and InuYasha met. They would now have a more important discussion; how to listen to a girl.

Yusuke stopped and looked at her, brown eyes wide. Kuwabara took a similar stance, just with his mouth open wide instead of his eyes. Kurama stopped, and readjusted the monk on his shoulder, who sighed as he looked at the prone half-demon. But even the reunion of the friends didn't stop Sango or Hiei from fighting each other. Sango had raised her Hiraikotsu once again, and let it fly, straight towards the demon that was still in a crouched position.

Letting out another growl, he dodged the weapon, striking it with his own and cutting it in half. The two pieces fell to the ground quickly as Hiei propelled himself higher in the air. He had to get away from these humans, now! But Kirara was persistent. She leapt up, her mistress still on her back, and was level with Hiei in no time. As both of the fighting members' friends ran up under them, mostly around InuYasha who had started swearing again, Kirara gave a roar and moved closer to her prey.

But Hiei took no notice of the cat, not until her claws were raking down his back, cutting his flesh easily and nearly breaking his spinal cord. With a strangled cry of anger and pain, the fire demon fell to the ground, not as gracefully as he would have hoped, but landed on his booted feet all the same. Hiei was panting by the time Kirara and Sango had landed, the latter looking on unsympathetically. His back hurt and he could feel the blood pouring from his wound like no tomorrow. He heard it hit the unstained grass like a mini waterfall of his life.

"Now, do you yield," Sango whispered, drawing her own sword as Kagome came up behind her.

"Never," Hiei replied, and he raised his own sword, not bothering to show his pain. But before they could rush each other again, Kagome ran in front of Sango, hands raised as if to stop her.

"Wait Sango! They know he's a demon, they know!" Sango gave her a questioning look, but lowered her sword all the same. InuYasha rushed up next to Kagome, and was followed by Shippo.

"Why the hell did ya' sit me! I was tryin' to save ya' from a demon," he shouted, pointing dramatically at said demon. Kagome shook her head fiercely as Yusuke and Kuwabara came up, now supporting Miroku as Kurama ran towards his friend.

"You don't understand, InuYasha. They know he's a demon. He's their friend, not their enemy."

"Demons don't befriend humans," stated Miroku uncertainly. Yusuke gave him a hard shake.

"Shows what ya' know! Ya' hypocrite; your with dog boy an' a kid demon, aren't ya'?" Miroku blushed, but Sango was quick to retaliate.

"They're different, he's not," she said, gesturing to Hiei, who was still panting and holding out his katana. Kurama was trying in vain to get him to put it away, but Hiei refused.

"InuYasha, they're from my time," Kagome said. And before InuYasha could ask, she answered for him. "I could tell by the way they're dressed and how they speak. Though, I'm not so sure about the demon, I think we can trust them."

"Damn right," shouted Kuwabara, looking at InuYasha rather hatefully. Nobody, but nobody messes with shorty but me, he thought angrily. Gasping, Kagome turned back to Kurama, and was surprised to see Shippo perched on his shoulder, examining the wounded Hiei.

"Hey, is your friend okay," she called to him. But Kurama didn't answer, so the priestess moved forward and towards them. Once they got there, they noticed that Kurama had backed two feet away and was quietly arguing with Hiei.

"Put away your sword, old friend. They are no longer our enemies."

"You lie," Hiei spat, staggering on one foot and glaring daggers at the humans. "One of them is a priestess!"

"And she's the time traveler…."

"What," the fire demon said slowly, looking at Kagome thoughtfully. "Are you sure?" Kurama nodded and the katana in Hiei's hand fell to the ground with a soft thud.

"Hn, at least we completed one part of our mission," he said slowly. Sighing in relief, the others moved forward. Realizing that he wasn't an enemy, Sango looked quite concerned at his wounds.

"Are you alright? There's another priestess in the village; she could fix that for you." Hiei scoffed, and stood up straight, which surprised everybody who didn't know him. He still hurt, but he wasn't going to be to get better. Nodding, Kurama placed a hand on his shoulder and looked at them all.

"Well, shall we go to this village? I suppose we have much to talk about." InuYasha and Yusuke grumbled in an identical manner, the latter hauling Miroku up from the Ground.

Needless to say, Miroku also got to know InuYasha's best friend and was happy that he did.

They both seemed to enjoy female's backsides.

Author's Notes: Please tell me what you thought about the fight scene. Dedicated to randomwriter88 and Suuki-Aldrea. Thanks for the reviews!

Total # of Pages: 36

Total # of Pages for this Chapter: 16

Ja ne ICBINA