I do not own Inuyasha (but I wish I did), though I do own Amily, Doushi, Konpaku, Kotodama, Nakumi, and Taka.

Chapter 12.

Iron Resolve and Kouga.

They had been sitting around the camp fire for an hour now, everyone in there own thoughts, though the thoughts were all similar. They all thought about the friend they had lost. They had wanted to stay at the village longer, but left shortly after day break, even though they wanted to stay the village had to many memories of their winged friend, so now they sat in a small clearing in the woods, well after night fall and a fire crackling cheerfully. Inuyasha sat up in a tree as he stared out at the stars, his arms crossed over his stomach with a leg handing over the edge of the branch he was sitting on. As he sat there he thought back to what had happened at the village and he cursed softly under his breath. Amily had been a pain in the ass, but she had been a friend, and Inuyasha blamed himself for not being able to catch her, then something in him changed, a new fire burned in him and he made a silent resolve. Inuyasha would fight Naroku, and he would win, he refused to let that self glorified half demon take another life.

Songo sat on the ground leaning back against a tree with her knees bent up, Kilala beside her, curled up and asleep. Songo's eyes were red and swollen from crying, this was the second time that Naroku had taken someone that she had cared about, she blamed herself for not paying attention during the battle, if she had she could have at gone after Shippo, but Amily had gone at the little demon fox kit, Songo didn't blame Shippo, just herself and Naroku. Then something happened, her grief disappeared and was replaced by anger and an iron strong resolve to see the demise of that monster, she had lost her whole family to him, her little brother was being controlled by him, and now she had lost a good friend too Naroku. No more. Songo would do all she could to destroy him; she would not let him destroy any more lives.

Miroku sat just out side the light of the fire, seemingly meditating but was far from it. As Songo and Inuyasha were, he was lost in thought, blaming himself for not being able to doge the attack from the demon that had attacked the village, if he hadn't been knocked out he could have tried to save Amily with his wind tunnel, he could have used it to pull her back from the edge of the cliff. Looking around the camp sight he saw Songo leaning against a tree her eyes red with the tears she had shed, Kagome was sleeping in her sleeping bag, her back turned away from the fire so the light wouldn't bother her, Shippo was on the other side of the fire sleeping fitfully, and Inuyasha was in his usual place, up in a tree looking up at the night sky. As he looked around he felt his heart harden not be come completely cold and uncaring, but hard with the desire to destroy Naroku. Miroku would not let Naroku destroy another life, Miroku refused to allow it.

Little did Miroku know, Kagome was not as sleep at all but was wide awake and lost in thought as was everyone else, she too blamed her self for not being able to protect Shippo or save their friend Amily. Kagome could still hear Amily's scream as she fell over the cliff. Kagome cringed at the thought of what happened to her friend, and just like everyone else her thoughts quickly turned to Naroku and wanting to see him destroyed, he had ruined too many lives and Kagome would be damned if she would allow it to go on any longer. She would not let herself be week anymore, in the morning she would ask Songo and Inuyasha to train her in combat and she would ask Miroku to help train her in her own miko powers, so that when the final battle came Kagome would make sure that Naroku was destroyed. With that planted firmly in her head Kagome closed her eyes and fell into a deep slumber. Naroku had made a grave mistake in destroying their friend, instead of breaking there spirits he only reinforced them.

The next morning Kagome woke up and got up right away were as she would normally lie there for a few minutes. She quickly rolled up her sleeping bag and got out the piece of cloth that held their friends feathers. After the battle Kagome had went around gathering up all the feathers that had belonged to Amily, and had kept the best ones, which had some how managed to equal out to two each for their group. Kagome opened out the cloth and looked at the grey dappled feathers that lay with in; she got out a shirt and ripped it into pieces. She took out a pin and made holes in the bottom of each feather, she pulled out enough string to twirl together before she strung it though two feathers. Kagome did the same for the rest, she placed the feathers back into the cloth before folding it back up, and carried it with her as she went over to were Songo and Inuyasha were eating. They both looked up at her and saw something in her eyes that made them set aside their breakfast and stand up.

"Kagome?"

Asked Songo uncertainly, as she tried to figure out what was going through the other girls mind. Kagome looked at Songo with hard eyes.

"Songo, I want you to teach me to fight, and I want you to help to Inuyasha"

Songo's eyes opened wide and Inuyasha's eye brow rose.

"What makes you think I'm going to do that?"

Kagome looked at him hard and replied softly.

"Because whether you help me or not, I'm going to learn how to fight. I refuse to stand on the side lines while Naroku kills everyone we care about."

Songo and Inuyasha stood up a little straighter, and to Kagome's surprise Inuyasha nodded, and she knew that meant he would help. Kagome didn't see Miroku or Shippo join the little conversation she was having with Songo and Inuyasha, so she jumped when Miroku spoke up.

"I agree with Kagome, she should be trained to fight, this way Inuyasha wouldn't have to worry so much about protecting her in a battle, and she could participate."

Inuyasha rolled his eyes and said.

"I know that you damn lecher, I'm gonna help Songo train her."

Kagome looked at her friend and decided to say what was on her mind.

"We can't let Naroku destroy anymore lives. We have to stop him, and I think I know how."

Everyone looked at her with surprise they had never seen Kagome with such determination before, but they would listen to what she had to say, because they too felt the same way, they wanted to see the end of Naroku just as much if not more then Kagome did.

"What's the plan Kagome?"

Kagome looked at every for a moment before she replied.

"We raise an army against him."

Everyone gasped at the idea. And at the fact that Kagome had come up with it, it was something that Inuyasha would have come up with. But they concluded it might work.

"Who would fight with us?"

Asked Miroku, as he faced Kagome.

"Well, I know Kouga and his tribe would fight with us, maybe even Sesshoumaru would fight with us."

Kagome was cut off by Inuyasha at the point as he growled loudly.

"No, no way, Kouga I can deal with, but not that damned half brother of mine."

Kagome looked at him glaring.

"Inuyasha we need all the help we can get, and I'm sure Sesshoumaru would help us fight, he does want to get Naroku for kidnapping that little girl who travels with him"

Inuyasha glared at Kagome but knew she was right, so only letting out a low growl he agreed.

"It'll take months though to gather up forces against Naroku"

Songo said uncertainly. Kagome nodded and replied.

"I know it will, but that will give me time to train in combat. I was also thinking that we could get Jininjie to help with the healing."

Turning to Miroku she asked.

"Miroku, could you please help me train with my Miko powers?"

At his nod Kagome smiled and faced all of her friends and held out the fold cloth. They look at her curiously. Kagome opened the cloth to reveal the stringed feathers.

"There's enough here for all of us, think of them as our battle standard, you know to keep us reminded why, and what were fighting for"

Picking up the end of a string, two feathers came away with it, handing the cloth the Songo, Kagome tied the feathers into her hair so that when she let go of them they rested against her pale cheek. Taking their queue they each in turn, picked up the end of a string which held two feathers. Songo tied them into her hair so that they were entwined into her pony tale, Miroku managed to tie them to his robes she that the feathers rested against his heart. Inuyasha tied his into his hair like Kagome and Songo, but under the back of his hair were no one could see them, so only he knew they were there, Shippo took his feathers and placed them into his shirt, because his hair was too short for his to tie them into. Songo picked up the last set of feathers and walked up to Kilala, who transformed into her large demon form, Songo tied the feathers into the two- tailed cat demons fur behind the left ear so that the feathers would fall just to the side of Kilala's face, and when Kilala went back to her normal form, for some strange reason the feathers shrank with the neko. Songo only shrugged and went back to her friends.

"Who should we go see first?"

Kagome looked at them, before replying.

"I think we should go see Kouga first, If I remember right his den isn't far from here."
She heard Inuyasha growl lowly but was surprised when he didn't say anything.

It had taking most of the day to reach Kouga's den, and by the time they had reached it everyone was tiered and on edge, more than once Miroku had quietly announced that they were being fallowed but by what he wasn't quite sure. Though they were soon to find out, just as the den of the demon wolf prince came into view the forest floor underneath their feet exploded sending the small group of people flying. Inuyasha slammed into a tree and slid down to the ground growling in pain. Miroku landed several feet away on his side were he didn't move for a few seconds before he struggled to his knees, Kagome and Songo both landed together on the ground, Songo quickly got up and looked down at her friend and saw Kagome get up shakily, a small stream of blood ran down Kagome's temple but that was all. Songo thought to herself as she looked over to were they had been previously been standing. There was now a deep crater.

'That blast should have killed us'

Being several feet behind the main group Shippo and Kilala hadn't been affected at all. Everyone looked up when a booming roar split the air as a giant ogre came crashing out of the woods, its body was heavily muscled, and it carried a large club in its hand, were Kagome could see three pieces of the sacred jewel imbedded into the wood of the club. She called out the Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha, there are three jewel shared in the club"

Inuyasha looked at her and nodded before smirking.

"Alright, he's mine!"

He said as he charged at the giant ogre while pulling out his sword and transforming it into the tetsusaiga, but to Inuyasha's surprise the ogre slammed his club down on the ground causing bright yellow streaks of energy to slam into the inu hanyou, sending him flying through several trees and a boulder. Seeing this Kagome gasped and went to go after Inuyasha to make sure he was alright but was stopped when the ogre stepped in front of her grinning stupidly at her and saying.

"You have jewel shards, gimme jewel shards"

The ogre reached out a hand towards Kagome. She tried to run away but felt the demon grip her, only to drop her quickly, looking around confused she saw Inuyasha standing there growling with blood dripping off the blade of his tetsusaiga, Kagome looked at the ogre and too her amazement the ogre's arm had been cut off. Quickly Kagome got away from the demon and went to stand over by Songo and Miroku. She called out to Inuyasha.

"Are you okay Inuyasha?"

He rolled his eyes called back.

"Of course I'm alright you stupid wench"

Kagome's eyes narrowed and did a very good impression of Inuyasha's growl, but little did she know, Inuyasha wasn't sure why he was okay, he should have been knocked out by that attack and yet here he stood with out even a scratch on him. The Ogre screamed in outrage and went after Kagome again trying to get at the jewel shards the girl had.

"Gimme. Now!"

The ogre screamed at the girl, but the ogre's tirade was cut short when a whirl wind appeared in front of the girl, when the winds died down there stood Kouga, the prince of the wolf tribe. The ogre blinked dumbly at the sudden appearance of the other demon. Kouga looked over his shoulder and grinned at Kagome.

"Hey there Kagome."

Kagome smiled, but then her smiled faded and she screamed at Kouga.

"Look out Kouga!"

Kouga quickly grabbed Kagome, while Songo and Miroku jumped out of the way of the ogre's club. The club left a large crater in the ground. Kouga skidded to a halt and looked at Kagome to make sure she was alright and for the first time noticed the blood running down her temple and growled lowly and turned to face Inuyasha.

"Hey ya damn mutt, how could you let that demon hurt my woman!"

Growled out Kouga, while glaring at the half demon, Inuyasha growled out and called back.

"Shut up you damn wolf, I didn't let her get hurt, it's not my fault she's a weak human, and she ain't your woman!"

Kagome's eyes opened wide before glaring at Inuyasha. While glaring at Inuyasha and while Kouga was busily yelling at the inu hanyou for calling his woman week, they didn't notice the Ogre demon swinging his club at Kagome trying to get her jewel shards, the only warning she and Kouga got was Inuyasha's sudden yelling at them.

"Kagome!..."

Kagome turned and looked towards the demon and seeing the club swinging to wards her she threw her arms up in front of her face. The Club hit both Kouga and Kagome and sent them flying. In the few seconds that it took Kagome to be air born she saw a soft green glow and didn't know were it came from but it felt familiar. Kagome and Kouga landed on the ground in a heap of dust, Growling viciously Inuyasha faced the Ogre and lifted his tetsusaiga, he let his attack the wind scare swirl around his blade and charged at the demon, but as he ran Inuyasha noticed the energy of the wind scare was stronger and that there was a little green hue to the attack, he grinned and yelled at the demon.

"You're dead! WIND SCAR!"

Swinging his sword Inuyasha let his attack go, it ate up the ground faster then it ever had before leaving deep furrows in the ground, the attack hit the demon dead on and the ogre screamed in agony at it was disintegrated leaving only the jewel shards that had been left from the club. Not caring about the shards, and leaving them for Shippo to get, he turned and ran towards where Kagome had landed, but she wasn't there.

"Inuyasha over here"

Called Songo as she stood by Kouga's prone body, he saw Kagome kneeling there taking care of the wolf demons wounds. Inuyasha walked up to her and looked at her.

"You should be dead"

He stated a little shocked to see that she was only slightly hurt with a few cuts a bruises and ripped clothing. Kagome looked up at him and smiled if a little dazed.

"I know, but I'm not, I don't know what happened."

She looked back down at Kouga and kept taking care of his wounds. Inuyasha grumbled after a few minutes.

"We should get him to his den"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The girl sat there clutching at the futon, her heart racing and she looked from Doushi to the others. The blue eyed man just looked at her shocked and dismayed. Before speaking Doushi clear his throat causing the girl before him jump, sighing softly he said.

"You remember nothing? Nothing of who you are? Nothing of your past?"

The girl only shook her head 'no' as her eyes filled with tears. Doushi was about to reach out to comfort her when the door to the hut opened and in stepped and elderly woman walked into the room carrying a linen covered basket. The girl looked at the woman and her eyes opened wide, the elderly woman and a long luxurious fox tail, though it was dulled and slightly grey from age. She looked back at Doushi then back at the woman before dumbly speaking.

"You… you have a tail"

The elderly woman looked at the girl sitting up on the futon and burst out laughing.

"Well my child, ye certainly are not blind"

The others in the room chuckled, even the one who held no expression smirked; the girl looked at them in confusion.

"But… why do you have a tail?"

The old woman stopped laughing and looked at the girl on the futon before walking over and kneeling down with some difficulty. The elderly woman reached for the girl and gently parted the flame red hair on the back of the girls head before muttering.

"Mayhap you hit your head harder then I thought"

The old woman looked at the girl.

"What is your name child?"

The girl looked down and was about to answer when Doushi answered for her.

"She doesn't remember who she is."

The old woman looked back at the girl with a grave look on her face, before speaking.

"Well then child we will have to come up with another name for you, we can not go around calling you 'girl' or 'child', now can we"

The girl nodded her eyes slightly misted. Doushi smiled and after a moment of thinking said.

"I know exactly what to call you"

The girl looked up at him with a questioning look. The elderly woman spoke up.

"Well out with it Doushi, do not leave the child wondering"

Doushi smiled and said.

"The perfect name for you is Taka, its strong just like you, and to have survived the rapids you would have to be strong"

He grinned with his statement. His younger brothers rolled their eyes and they stepped up. The older of the two spoke his voice holding no emotion except annoyance.

"Koto and I are going to go hunting so that we may still yet have that feast the village has been planning"

Doushi nodded in agreement and his two younger brothers left. Taka looked at him.

"I thought you said that the one who is your youngest brother is named Kotodama, not Koto"

Doushi chuckled and replied.

"Konpaku called Kotodama that, because he is too lazy to say his younger brothers full name"

The old woman scoffed and said.

"So is that why ye call Konpaku, Kon?"

Taka chuckled and the looked at the old woman.

"What's your name?"

The old woman looked at her startled.

"Oh I have forgotten to tell you my name, my name is Nakumi"

Taka nodded and before Nakumi or Doushi could stop her she staggered to her feet, she winced as she straightened her back, as she did though she felt something weird on her back and looked over her shoulder she saw too large bumps over her grey Kimono which she assumed had been given to her, she looked back at the other two and asked.

"What's on my back?"

Nakumi and Doushi looked at her weirdly before Nakumi replied.

"Those are your wings Taka, but they had to be rapped up because they had been badly broken"

Taka looked at them both astounded, she blinked a couple times before saying hesitantly.

"I… I have wings?"

Nakumi and Doushi exchanged glances before Nakumi once again spoke.

"Of course, Taka. Ye are a demon."

Doushi spoke up at.

"Well Nakumi I don't really thing she's a…"

They were both interrupted when Taka asked curiously.

"What… are demons?"

Both the old woman and the young man sighed. For the rest of the morning they explained to Taka what demons were and how most of them preyed on humans just for the hell of it, and then quickly told her that not all demons were bad when Taka became alarmed. Then they told her that she was in fact in a village filled with demons who didn't want to fight with humans and just wanted to live in peace but that the demons of the village would fight back if was necessary. Then Doushi told her that he and his brother were black dog demons and that Nakumi was a fox demons, and when Doushi mentioned the fox demon, Taka couldn't help but feel that someone a fox demon was important but wasn't quite sure why. Then Doushi and Nakumi got into an argument on wither or not Taka was a demon, because even though she had wings she didn't smell like a demon and did not have the aura of one.

The two younger brothers, Konpaku and Kotodama raced through the woods tracking a large buck, their eyes narrowed and their weapons at the ready for when the killing blow was to be delivered. As they raced Kotodama asked.

"So brother what do you think of the mystery girl that Doushi insisted on bringing back to the village?"

Kotodama heard his older brother growl in annoyance before he answered.

"I think she is a nuisance and will bring trouble with her"

Kotodama nodded but then said.

"The again she might bring happiness to the village as well, and Kami knows we could use a little happiness."

Konpaku only growled but louder this time and sped up until he was no longer in sight; Kotodama sighed and fallowed his brother at a lower pace. Deciding to let his older have the kill.

He stood there looking at the man in the white baboon cloak and grinned wickedly, before kneeling down in submission.

"So, I trust the plan is going well?"

Spoke the cloaked figure, with his chilled voice. He looked up at his master and grinned even more.

"Yes my lord, everything is going according as planned, in three months time the village will be destroyed"

The baboon cloaked figure smiled evilly.

"Good. Go, keep an eye on things"

He nodded and his master disappeared into nothing, he let out a low evil chuckle, before continuing on.

When Kotodama reached his brother, Konpaku had just finished cleaning the dear and began preparing it for the travel back to the village, Kotodama waved in greeting, but stopped when his brother gave him a dark look that quickly cleared leaving Kotodama wondering if he had just saw something that had never been there.

"Is something wrong brother?"

Konpaku shook his head.

"Nothing is wrong Koto. Here this is ready to be brought back to the village."

Konpaku handed Kotodama the rope that was attached to a platform that held the dear, Kotodama groaned and said.

"Why do I have to carry it back?"

His older brother grinned and said.

"Because I killed it, and besides you're the younger one"

Kotodama groaned again, but both brother chuckled and headed back home, never noticing the eyes that watched them go.

Translations

Doushi, kindred soul.

Konpaku, ghost or soul.

Kotodama, soul of language.

Taka, hawk.

Nakumi, warmth.