"Come on, let's tell the other villagers that it's safe here now," Kouga mumbled into Inuyasha's ear, causing that (somewhat familiar) strange sensation to course through his system. But this time, it wasn't unwanted, "That priestess'll wanna patch us up, we can't deny her the right of worrying about us now can we?"

"I don't want to...not yet," Mumbled Inuyasha as he made himself comfortable in the wolf demon's arms, a small chuckle coming from behind him as he did so, "Let's just enjoy the peace for now, before Naraku comes to try and get his jewel shards back..."

"Yeah...that bastard'll come for his jewel shards, I guess we have to enjoy the peace while it lasts," He could hear Kouga murmur, and a small frown tugged at his lips as he turned to look at the wolf demon's face. He seemed too solemn, maybe his demon form had bothered him more than he let on. Damn, this was all Inuyasha's fault... "What're you starin' at, mutt-face? Do I have something on my face or somethin'?"

"No," Shaking his head, Inuyasha let out a small sigh as he turned his gaze forward once more. How could Kouga feel so comfortable holding him like this after what he had just seen? ...maybe, Inuyasha pondered, that was all the more reason Kouga wanted to hold on to the half demon, to hold on to his sanity, "But...my transformation...it's bothering you, isn't it?"

"Can't say it doesn't," Inuyasha's stomach turned slightly at the other's response, although the grip around him tightened slightly as he could feel Kouga's breath against his ear, "But that doesn't change a thing when it comes to how I feel about you. Don't ever think it would, you're still the damned adorable mutt-face I fell in love with. Nothing can change that, all this really means is that I'll have to be around to bring you back to reality in case it happens again, hmm?"

He could feel his cheeks burning with the comment the other had just made, although they became even hotter as he felt lips press against his unprotected cheek. Soon enough he caught Kouga's eye, they were so close to each other, and the little distance that was between them was shrinking as the wolf demon's face came closer to his, Inuyasha's heart pounding hard into his throat with each passing moment...

Suddenly, there was an itch at the base of his neck. An all-too-familiar itch. Pushing away a disappointed Kouga, Inuyasha used his right hand to smack at the annoyance, glaring down at the flattened flea demon that peeled off once he pulled his palm away from his neck, "You're a real pain in the ass, Myoga. What the hell do you want this time?"

"Lord Inuyasha, it's Totosai," The flea demon started, causing Inuyasha's stomach to flip uncomfortably at the mention of the sword smith's name. This couldn't possibly be good, Inuyasha's inference only being proven true with Myoga's following words, "He is, once again, being pursued by your older brother Sesshoumaru and is in need of your protection-"

"Tell the old man he'll have to look elsewhere, Inuyasha's injured," Kouga interrupted, glaring at Myoga while Inuyasha turned his gaze back to the person who was holding him, "I'll do the protecting around here if the old man needs it that badly, I'm perfectly fine for the moment. And I'm sure that fur ball of his will be enough help for now, at least for distracting pretty-boy."

"I'll do fine, Kouga, at least let me help," Inuyasha grumbled, as flattered as he was with Kouga's offer, he wanted to do things himself. He wasn't that weak, his wounds were already healing damn it! "Besides, it's me Sesshoumaru wants to kill, you don't have to bust your ass over my problem."

"Correction, our problem, mutt-face," Sternly did Kouga say his piece, a smirk planted on his lips as he spoke, "We're in this together whether you like it or not, you're my mate now. And that means we share our problems and stick them out. What kind of mate would I be if I let you face the world alone?"

As much as Inuyasha didn't want to admit it, the wolf demon had a point. It was annoying, the way that the other was always right, but in this case he really didn't have room to argue. After all, without the Tetsusaiga, he'd be a goner against his older brother, so in his present state he'd need all the help he could get, "Yeah, I guess you're right. Let's get Kirara then, we'll need her help too."

"I think Ginta and Hakkaku have taken care of that," Kouga pointed in the direction of the said wolf demons and the reappearing villagers, whilst Inuyasha's line of sight followed the direction Kouga was pointing in, the commotion catching his attention, "Your friend looks like she's healed too, her paw was hurt the last time I saw her."

Inuyasha jolted and let out a small laugh as Kirara pounced onto him, licking his cheek in greeting as the half demon supported the two-tailed feline in his arms, "Yeah, I guess we actually stand a chance against Sesshoumaru now then...say, where did Myoga go?"

Blinking a couple of times, Inuyasha attempted to comprehend the sudden disappearance of the old flea demon, but far too quickly did the answer to this problem come. Sesshoumaru must have been close by if Myoga had already fled from the danger, and sure enough his nose picked up the scent of his older brother, "...we have to head into the forest of Musashi, to keep the fight away from the villagers."

He could see the other nod as he was helped to his feet, Kirara hopping onto the ground and changing into her fearsome demonic form. When he reached to draw Tetsusaiga however, Inuyasha froze when he couldn't even feel the hilt there, he had almost forgotten that Totosai still had it, "Damn..."

"You don't need the sword right now, not when you have us," Kouga tried to assure Inuyasha, and although he managed to give a weak smile to his companion, he wasn't so sure that the words could be true in a million years, "Besides, if we run into Totosai first, I'm sure he'll let you use it, even if it isn't done 'cleansing' yet. It has to be good enough for at least one use by now."

"You're right," Inuyasha nodded in agreement, his spirits warming considerably by the most recent point the wolf demon had brought up. If Totosai allowed him to use the Tetsusaiga, he might defeat his brother this time, after all it was three demons against one! But...as much as Inuyasha hated to admit it, even to himself, Sesshoumaru was far more powerful than the average demon, "Come on, let's find Totosai before Sesshoumaru does."

"Get on, then," Kouga turned his back to Inuyasha and knelt, causing the hanyou to blink in confusion, "I know that cat can keep up with me, but I also know that you can't. It'll be faster if it's just me and the cat on foot."

"No way! I can keep up just fine on my own!" Snapped Inuyasha angrily, and with a huff did he turn his back to both Kirara and to Kouga. His foot might have still been healing, but he was standing fine on his own, wasn't he? He could certainly run on his own, too! However, before he could react, Kouga was in front of him and grabbing him by the waist, "Hey! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"You're too stubborn, you know that mutt-face? Just accept the ride, it'll be faster that way," Before Inuyasha could protest, Kouga was holding onto Inuyasha's waist and was supporting him on one of his shoulder guards, "Now make sure you don't fall off, we're going at top speed here."

Without warning, Inuyasha's world began to swirl around him, he could barely keep track of the several miles of woodland that was passing by. After what seemed to be eternity did he feel the wolf demon come to a halt, although he was dizzy and ended up falling back onto his rump when he was put back down onto the ground. It was then that Inuyasha made a mental note to, if it could be prevented, never to accept a ride from Kouga again.

"Inuyasha? Thank goodness you've arrived!" Hearing the old man's voice call to him, Inuyasha managed to straighten his vision enough to recognize that Totosai was offering him Tetsusaiga's hilt, "It's good enough for you to use against Sesshoumaru, I'm going to need it back to finish the job though. Is that clear?"

"Yeah, yeah, I've got it old man," Grumbled Inuyasha as he got to his feet, taking the sword and putting it in it's familiar place at his side, "I don't want to be possessed by my sword, after all. Not after what happened earlier..."

"It's not gonna happen again, quit belly aching, mutt-face!" Inuyasha could feel the rough impact with the back of his head as Kouga swatted him, causing a low growl to rumble in his own throat, "Besides, even if it does, we can still bring you back to earth, no sweat. Just concentrate on fighting that older brother of yours, you'll do fine."

"A worthless half-breed like Inuyasha would never stand a chance against me, it is pointless for him to even try."

Kouga visibly jumped before he turned to face the demon that had just walked into the clearing, Inuyasha could feel his intense hatred for his older sibling return to him, that hatred alone he felt to be an aura around his form, "Looks like you wanted to show your face after all, Sesshoumaru. Too bad that you're gonna die because of it."

"You act as if I were the coward, mongrel," With a light smirk did Sesshoumaru draw his own demonic blade, "But today, dear brother, you shall meet your end. Die, Inuyasha."