Disclaimers Notice: The only thing I own is the way in which I chose to use the characters and setting (oh, and a few of my own creations...)

Authors Beginning Note: Next Chapter should have a lot of action, and hopefully more Sango and Miroku (sorry S & M fans that I haven't put them out more-Shame on me)

Shout it outs!

Whitefang's Hottie- I wouldn't necesarrily call myself an expert...but thanx!

Rayame325- Yah, training sucks, but its for a good cause. It kinda makes for good humor.

Cece- Well, since you asked soooo nicely...I'll think about it :)

Annoyed- You know, I do have a life outside of typing-lol. :P

animefreak808- LOL, the beginning of your review was...a bit...interesting? Anyway, Thank

you much!

Tanwen-Whitefire- I'm glad you thick it kicks!

Valese- A mystery to be found it, it is.

Chapter 51

Eve of Battle

"Jakan, what is the matter?" Rin cocked her head to the side. The toad in question was breathing heavily and muttering wails of worry. He was perspiring more than usual, and acting quite skittish.

"Silly girl! How can you not know! Well, she is just a human after all, she can't feel it." Jakan was rambling on and on. At certain intervals he would cry, and others he would laugh hysterically.

"Rin thinks that is quite enough." She jumped off of her bed and stood before Jakan, who didn't even notice her.

Smack

Jakan looked surprised at the girl.

"Are you feeling yourself now."

"You stupid human! What did you do that for!"? He yelled angrily. Rin smiled at his normal performance.

"Rin is sorry to have slapped you, but she feared you would have worked yourself sick. It was better that Rin had done so than left you like that."

"Well don't do it again." He turned and rubbed his sore cheek.

"Hmm?" Rin turned to her closed curtains. She could hear a chanting from the window.

"What is that?" She went to look, but the door was flung open. Jakan Jumped and whirled upon the intruder clutching his twisted staff.

"Lady Rin! You must come with me at once!" Hosomi yelled in disarray.

"What is that noise?" Rin said pointing at the window. Hosomi shook her head and grabbed Rin's wrist dragging her out into the hallway. Jakan was looking everywhere, half expecting to see something to jump out at them. Hosomi was no better.

"Where are we going?"

"Someplace safe."

"Is it because Naraku's army is fighting here?" Hosomi stopped and looked at her.

"How do you know?"

"I listened." Hosomi shook her head and continued walking.

"Than you know that it is too dangerous to be out and about."

"Yes, Rin knows."

"Good." After a long time of walking they stopped in front of a door.

"But this is Lord Sesshoumaru's room." Hosomi fumbled with the keys.

"Exactly. Of all of the places in the castle, this is the safest. Sesshoumaru made sure of that. Especially before he left. When she flung the door open, Rin was about to follow Jakan in when Hosomi gently grasped her shoulder.

"Rin." She stopped down to the girls level. Tears pricked her eyes.

"What ever you do, and what ever happens. Be safe. For My sake, and Sesshoumaru's." She looked into the girl's eyes a moment longer, and shoved her harshly.

"Wait..." But the door was shut and locked. Jakan locked the door from the inside as well and bared it shut.

"Lord Sesshoumaru is so prepared. I doubt even Naraku himself could get in. Ha!" Jakan stuck his chest out in pride of his master.

"Inuyasha what are you doing!" Shippo yelled as Inuyasha took off his necklace, shirt, and temporary female chest. Loosening his hair, it fell back to its normal state only it was a lot sleeker than he was used to. Cursing, he took out his normal red clothes in the dark he loathed so much.

The two were some distance far off than the Miko camp and were sure to be unnoticed. Scouts had been sent a ahead and reported that Naraku's army was just now getting preparing to assemble into battle formation, giving them a few spare moments. Tomorrow they would finish treading the necessary distance and line up in their formations. For now, they rested.

"Here. I don't need it." Shippo caught the golden necklace and gaped at the human Inuyasha.

"It's a new moon remember." Shippo looked up quickly then sighed.

"Shippo! Where are you!" Kagome's soft yell rang out amidst the dead trees. A small light could be seen and crunching leaves heard. Inuyasha froze. He was still wearing the traditional Miko pants, and sandals. He looked ridiculous.

"Kagome I...!"

"Shut up you little runt or else she'll hear you!" Inuyasha spazzed.

"Shippo it's..." Kagome stopped as she found the one person she had hoped to find, and the quite unexpected guest.

"Oh, hi Kagome!" Shippo said cheerily.

"Inuyasha..." Kagome said quite breathlessly. Inuyasha was embarrassed and frustrated.

"What!" He snapped. Kagome seemed to get a reality check.

"Sit boy!" Shippo squirmed away quickly, and just in time before he was pressed into a Shippo sandwich.

"Inuyasha, what are you doing with Miko clothing? And...she stopped. Inuyasha spat out some dirt and sat crossed legged ready to supply a tart remark.

"Don't tell me...Inuyasha...you're, you're..."

"What is it Kagome?" Shippo asked.

"Oh Inuyasha, why didn't you say something? I mean, I had no Idea, that you were a, and all this time."

"Oh you mean when he was pretending to be..."

"A cross dresser..." Kagome said not paying attention to Shippo. Inuyasha and Shippo fell over at Kagome's statement. This might take some explaining to do.

"Kouga, aren't we going the wrong direction?" Hakaku asked.

"No."

"But ain't the fightin back that way?"

"Yes, but we're going to grab a few friends first." Ayame smiled. The two were annoying, but funny, and just because they were less than smart at times didn't mean they weren't friendly. Ayame kept looking at the blushes that covered the faces of Natsuko and Mariko. Mariko however blushed the most and acted the shy one she was and lowered her eyes to the ground. Natsuko however stood up straight and scowled, but other than that showed no indication of something being different.

"What's the matter?" Kouga asked catching Ayame looking back a few times.

"Oh, nothing." Kouga looked back, but couldn't tell what she had been looking at. He shrugged and they continued on their way.

"Sit, sit, sit, SIT!" Kagome was fuming once told what had really happened.

"What the hell was all that for!"

"For being a lying jerk!" Everyone either courteously avoided looking at the quarrelling pair, or stared curiously. Shippo had wandered off again, and Keio was casually looking on with good humor.

"I didn't lie about nothin!"

"Well you certainly didn't tell the truth about anything either!" Keio shook his head and decided that at the rate they were going, it would last all night and people would need their sleep, so he waved his hand, creating a small sound proof, invisible bubble, at least it looked invisible on the inside, but to outsiders, the view was obstructed completely by soft swirling lights that makes one become dizzy after a while. Shippo was the first to find this out. He was on his side with swirly eyes in minutes.

"Keio, what is that?" Keio looked at Miyako.

"They're quarrelling. I decided they needed their privacy.

"Who."

"Kagome and Inuyasha."

"Who is this Inuyasha?"

"That would be Yoshino."

"Please elaborate. She looked icy as she crossed her arms. Keio sighed but looked up and smiled as he explained.

"Yoshino is the disguise that Inuyasha used. Inuyasha is in reality a dog Hanyou of a royal bloodline who has never truly taken up the title, so his half brother Sesshoumaru has in his stead. He's been traveling Japan with Kagome, the monk Miroku, the Taijiya Sango, Shippo, and a niko named Kilala, all in search of the Shinkon Jewel. His demon aura has been suppressed by an ancient artifact that he carries with him that makes him also appear to be human."

Miyako couldn't decide if she was more furious at Keio hiding all of this then bombarding her with it all at once, or at Inuyasha for hiding this and traveling under the guise of a Miko and wasting her time and breath. Keio could see her anger and annoyance at all this.

"Please, do not blame Inuyasha for this. He did it because he cares for the girl Kagome deeply." Miyako looked sharply at Keio's pleading face, and let out a long breath. Sitting next to him, she looked at the fire, occasionally looking towards the orb as she felt vibrations coming from it.

"Lady Miyako..."

"Stop. Keio." He did, looking slightly uncomfortable at the thought of what she might say.

"Keio, my performance and actions of late have been...imprudent...rash so to speak, and I apologize for acting as such towards you. I know you do things...and don't do things for the sake of what may be...and it's not always easy. Sometimes I get frustrated not knowing some of those things that you do, and knowing you can't tell me. So please, accept my apology." She stood up and bowed low before him. A tear rolled down his face and he shook his head.

"No, lady Miyako, do not bow down before me. I am not worthy, I..." He quickly stood up. He quickly recognized that she would not move or sway from her place until he told her has forgiven her, or her presence disgusts him.

"I assure you that any ill actions that you may have done towards me were forgiven even before they had been placed." Miyako stood up and looked into his sincere eyes and smiled. She bobbed her head.

"I will return soon enough to sleep. I have matters of importance to discuss with some of the others." Keio gave a graceful bow and watched her leave.

"Why did you come disguised as a Miko!?"

"How else would I come?!"

"I don't know, as yourself!"

"I couldn't come as myself?!"

"Why not?!"

"Because I'm a half demon!"

"SO!?"

"SO? Get a clue Kagome, you air head!"

"Sit boy!" Inuyasha hit the ground sooner than he had time to think.

"What did I do now!"

"You called me an airhead. My name is Kagome! Not airhead!"

"I know that, wench!"

"Sit boy!" Inuyasha went down again. When he sat back up he didn't even bother looking at Kagome, let alone opening his mouth. After sitting in silence, Kagome moved and sat on her heals in front of him.

"Inuyasha, what's wrong with being you?"

"Does it really matter how I came? I'm here, all right, does it really matter? I thought it would make you happy to at least have someone around that you know." He stopped suddenly.

Oh shit...I didn't just say that...out loud...

"I mean..."

"Did you really?" Kagome's eyes were misting over.

"No." Kagome shook her head. She knew when Inuyasha was lying.

"What?" Kagome smiled. Inuyasha gulped as he felt her arms wrap him into a hug. He was totally unprepared and his face was completely red.

"Thank you Inuyasha." She pulled back and smiled up at him.

"Feh." He turned his head and tried to ignore that nauseated nervous feeling in his stomach. He glanced over her shoulder.

"Why didn't you open those?" He said indicating the unopened presents. Kagome looked back at them, and smiled, but noticed Inuyasha's guarded face.

"I wanted to wait for a good time when there weren't so many people around." He shrugged his shoulders.

"If it's okay, can I open them now?"

"Feh." Inuyasha pretended to not even notice her afterwards. She looked at the unopened parcels and decided on which one she would open first.