Reflections of the Past Chapter 26: Planning Their Defense, an inuyasha fanfic

I still don't own Inuyasha or it's characters...Thanks for your wonderful reviews...I really appreciate them...

Reflections of the Past: Planning Their Defense...chapter 26...

Koga left the spring earlier than the others..his scenses picking up something that they shouldn't...his mate was near, though why was an issue in and of itself...and he had every intention of finding out exactly what it was that would have her going against his order that she stay with their pack so that she would be safe..He stalked her, following her scent like a wild animal stalking it's next meal...silently...a classic example of hunter versus prey...but every now and then...just every so often, the prey is also hunting...thus leading each in erratic hush of limbs, of breathing...of scenses extending to search for the object of it's facination...He followed her, his legs extending beneath him, silently moving among the trees, he moved like the mist on a rain soaked day, hovering across the land, blending with the surroundings of nature, weaving his way around each fallen tree limb, his body blending with his surroundings as if he were a part of them until finally he was within range..

Koga stood silently behind a large tree, his breathing shallow as his eyes narrowed on his target...a beautiful red haired wolf wrapped in pelts of soft fur who inched her way silently through the forest, picking her way easily through the underbrush...stopping every so often so that the wildlife around her would continue their nightly activities...helping to mask the slight noises she made as she followed her mates scent, though suddenly she realized that his scent seemed to be all around her.. her eyes widened at her realization...she was being stalked, hunted down by something even more dangerous than herself..and he was close...so close that she would swear that she could feel his warm breath upon her, breathing in her essence...and then just as suddenly she was pushed against a tree...a pair of crystal blue eyes burning into her own...Koga.

"What exactly do you think you are doing here Ayame, I told you to stay with the pack." Koga growled even as his eyes trailed their way down to her softly parted lips..

" I had to come Koga, you are my mate, I won't sit back and wait for news of the battle...I will stand and fight...and you can either accept...

She was cut of by Koga's mouth as he kissed her roughly...It had been a week since he had seen his mate, and he fully intended to show her just how much he missed her...

Clothing seemed to fly in all directions as the couple surrounded in nature rushed to undress the other, their need overwhelming them. Koga bent to lift her legs, wrapping them around his waist as he pushed her further into the tree, his body becoming one with hers as their soft gasps of pleasure echoed through the forest...

A little while later...

Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha and Miroku made their way back to camp, all knowing why Koga had left the spring so quickly, each suspecting that his mate was near since they had all caught the faint scent of a female wolf nearby...

They entered camp, each sitting by their women, waiting for the wolf to join them so that plans for their upcoming battle with Naraku could be laid out..Problem was that no one knew when Naraku would be making his appearance...they would have to wait him out here...The group talked quietly among themselves, until the stirring of the forest had their gazes falling to the emerging couple responsible for the disturbance.

Koga and Ayame made their way to the campfire..."You guys remember Ayame, my mate." Koga said as he moved to take his place by the fire pulling Ayame to sit in his lap.

" Long time no see guys, seems we have alot of catching up to do don't we." Ayame said as she made herself comfortable.

" Yes, it has.." Kagome replied as she leaned over to rest her head on Inuyasha's shoulder, her hand falling to rest on her stomach.

" Well, we'll have to catch up later, I bring news of Naraku." Ayame whispered as she lowered her head fully expecting Koga's anger once she told him of what she had done..

"But first, we should find somewhere that is safe to talk...I don't want what I am going to say to be heard by anyone but us..." Ayame said as she looked up at Kagome , her eyes pleading for understanding...

"Well, I could put up a barrier, noone would be able to hear, let alone enter without risk of purification." Kagome offered" except that I have never really made one, but it's worth a try right?" Kagome closed her eyes, allowed her power to rise within herself unbound as she let it uncoil around her, felt as it brushed past each member of their group careful not to hurt the demons who sat around her...she pulled at her powers, willing it to form a dome around them, then locking it in place as she opened her eyes to see if it had worked..and by the grace of the gods above it had.

Inuyasha looked around him, took in the surprised expressions on their faces, then felt as Kagome again rested her head upon his shoulder.

"What's wrong...she's done the barrier, now lets get on with it.." Inuyasha grumbled as he raised his arm to hold Kagome close to him...

" Well, you see...Koga, after you left, Hakaku, Ginta and I left to patrol the borders...we had been gone most of the afternoon when we caught sight of Naraku's insects..as well as the swarm of demons that followed..we hid in the underbrush, watching as they made their way past..but it wasn't just a swarm of demons, Naraku was with them. He split them into groups, sending them in all directions, separating them from the main group. We waited till they had gone, watched to make sure that there weren't any lingaring bugs and we returned to the pack. I gathered all of our able men, and we followed, at a distance and downwind of course. We left enough men to guard the women and the pups..We followed Naraku for several days, always keeping a close watch for any returning groups but none returned, and yet he's kept traveling, stopping during the night but leaving again at first light. He is camped about one days travel from here. He knows where you are, or at least where Inuyasha's group is, he has to, there is no other explanation as to why he is headed straight for you.. I traveled through the night to find you Koga. He has a massive swarm of demons ...he means to kill you all.." Ayame said as she lowered her head, waiting for hell to break loose...He had every right to be angry with her, she knew that...she only hoped that he would see her reasons for disobeying his order.

"He means to surround us, to have his demons attack us in waves...to wear us down so that he won't have much fighting to do once we are all dead or exausted. He ambushed my parents the same way, here in this clearing, his demons attacked, wave after wave of death..a never ending cycle of destruction, killing all who stood in their path, focusing all their strength at weakening my mother and father to the point that they were nearly unable to fight...if not from exaustion then from the numerous wounds that had been inflicted. He'll do the same here, he'll attack us until we are unable to fight...Kagome whispered, her eyes lost in some distant memory before she turned her gaze to Inuyasha...he means to destroy you all, he strives to possess the means to his ultimate power...he wants me..."

Ayame spoke up again, interupting the feral growl emminating from Inuyasha...

"I split the pack Koga, I sent groups to follow the swarms that split from the main group...I figured that he split the swarm to surround you, so I split our pack to surround them...They won't attack until the fighting begins...this way the swarms won't know which direction to attack in..the group they were sent to destroy or the threat coming from behind..it should cause mass confusion, and through their confusion gives us our advantage...Naraku will lose control of his demons, he'll be forced to fight his own battle for once...Ayame muttered, hoping that she hadn't just sent what was left of their pack to an early grave...

Koga sat stunned, staring at the woman he had made his mate, his pride growing with each word that left her mouth...this woman had led his pack, had organized a plan of attack without giving thought to her own safety, but instead focusing on his...and by god it was a pretty damn good plan...

Inuyasha smirked as everyone's gaze met his.." Its a good plan, but we should split into groups, but by that I mean you pick a partner and stay with them...we are stongest as a group, and if Naraku manages to seperate us then he gains the advantage...we stick together, watch each others backs...Koga, you return with Ayame to help coordinate the packs, the rest of us will stay here to fight...this ends here...Inuyasha growled as his hand came to rest possively upon Kagome's stomach, his eyes meeting Sesshoumaru's in silent understanding...we must protect Kagome and Rin, that bastard won't get either one of them... "

And with that Kagome let down the barrier. They all had this night together, one last night to be with those they loved the most...and each had every intention of spending that time wrapped in the arms of the one they held closest to their heart...

Koga and Ayame moved to leave a short time later..."Protect her mutt face, or I'll kill you myself..." Koga warned, though he knew full well that he need not worry over Kagome's protection..each member of this pack was devoted to protecting her, each had their own reasons for their participation in this upcoming battle..and each was hell bent on protecting each other. This pack, this mix of humans and demons would no doubt be a force to be reckoned with...for each were loyal to each other..."You just worry about protecting your wench Koga, she's smarter than you are you foolish wolf..she might just save ' your ass.'." Inuyasha smirked as he reached to take Koga's offered hand. And with that they were gone, heading out to prepare..leaving the others to sit around the fire...before one by one each couple eventually dissappeared within the shelter of the forest for one last private moment alone...one last night to hold all they held dear close to their hearts...

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Morning dawned with the eariness of a coming storm..the sky held no warmth, the wildlife all hiding away within the surrounding forest. There were no birds calling to each other, no rabbits scurrying about in search of their morning meal...there was no breeze...Morning faded into early afternoon, and still all was silent, not a sound coming from the inhabitants of the small camp that sat secluded within a vast forest of trees at the center of the clearing...until...

Kagome sat upright, her eyes wide, her heart beating faster at the rush of adrenalin that coursed through her veins...'He's coming.'..she whispered as she stood facing the opening to the clearing, the others standing next to their chosen partners forming a circle of demons, humans, and a hanyou,their backs facing each other as they all readied their weapons...'' Naraku's here ..and so are his demons..."

How was it? Please review and let me know...It may be a few days before I can get the next chappy out, but I will still try my best to have it posted on Sunday as has been the norm...But the fighting scenes take me longer to write, so please bear with me...I promise I will post ASAP...please review, I love hearing your thoughts...Neisha