Author's note: This is probably a relatively short chapter, but I'm trying to set everyone up for the final battles. Yes, sniff, the story is drawing near the end. There are only a few chapters left. I'll probably take about a month off once this gets finished before I start on a new story. I have a Justice League story I need to finish as well. I'm not sure which one I'll do after that, but I'll list them below. Feel free to cast your votes or to give me ideas if you want.

Brother: RK. Saito discovers that the younger brother that he thought he had lost during the Bakumatsu may still be alive.

That Which Is Lost: Full Metal Alchemist. AU. Set after Maes Hughes's death. Roy Mustang attempts human alchemy to bring Hughes back to life, leading to disastrous results.

Recap: Shippo's wife, Souten, and their twin daughters showed up unexpectantly in the Western lands to lend their aid. Inuyasha, Kenshin and the others arrived later, only to find that nearly everyone had been killed. It was then that Kenshin unlocked the full potential of the Tenseiga and caused it to transform for the first time.

After Kenshin revived their slain comrades, Shishio appeared before them. He issued a challenge to Inuyasha and Kenshin, telling them to come to the Shizu Temple in Tokyo. To make sure that they will come, Shishio has kidnapped Inuyasha and Kagome's granddaughter, Izayoi, as bait.

This has caused Kenshin to transform even more and it's ramifications have yet to be seen.

The Samurai of Tomorrow

Chapter 38: Tokyo

"I'm picking up a faint smell."

"Can you tell where it's coming from?" Sanosuke asked.

Kouga frowned as he sniffed the air again. He, Sanosuke, and Saito had argued on where to begin their search for the missing Shippo. Namu and Kirara had kept silent as they followed the trio. After an especially heated quarrel, Saito had convinced them that they should return to Tokyo. The former Shinsengumi had reasoned that since Tokyo was the main seat of power in Japan, then it was inevitable that Naraku would have some connections there. As they had no other ideas, they had all decided to follow his advice and return to the city.

Kouga and Kirara had picked up youkai scents immediately upon entering Tokyo.

Saito pushed down the desire to light a cigarette. As much as he loved to irritate the wolf, now was not the time. Tobacco smoke would only hamper Kouga and Kirara's sense of smell.

"It's hard to pick out, but I can faintly smell it," Kouga said. Kirara mewed in agreement. "It's always hard to smell things in a human city, there's so many other distractions."

"Where's it coming from?" Namu asked. Even with his father's sword amplifying his hanyou powers, his nose still wasn't as strong as the wolf and cat's. Kouga sniffed again before pointing towards the east.

"I smell something that way and also to the west. It's spread all over the city," he said. Saito narrowed his eyes as he looked around them. A great darkness was descending upon the land that he loved and he didn't like it.

Slay. Evil. Immediately.

"We are wasting our time," Saito said. "Wolf...lead the way." Kouga smirked before taking off in the direction of the strongest scent. The others followed close behind.

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Kaoru paced back and forth, feeling helpless and angry. Kenshin, Aoshi, Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sango had all left for Tokyo, leaving the rest of them behind. She had wanted to go with them, as had Yahiko and Miroku. Miroku could very well have gone in fact, however, as he was technically in Yahiko's bokken, the dead monk had decided that it was his duty to stay with their descendant.

"All will be well, Lady Kaoru. We have all faced difficult times such as this and have persevered," Miroku reassured quietly. Yahiko, for once, didn't comment on Kaoru's mood. He himself was disturbed over recent events, especially Kenshin's change of attitude.

"I'm worried about Kenshin," Kaoru admitted softly. She was worried about the others as well, but Kenshin was her main concern. Ever since he had said 'I will kill you', he had become less like the Kenshin they had come to know. He wasn't the Battousai, not exactly anyway. Nor was he an awakened Sesshoumaru; he still called himself Kenshin. No, the former hitokiri seemed to be somewhere between the three: not really the Battousai, not quite Sesshoumaru, but yet still Kenshin enough to care for their well being as well as the safety of the kidnapped child.

"It will be fine," Miroku said again. Even though he didn't say, the dead monk was worried as well. He knew full well how dangerous Naraku was, and after hearing about this Shishio Makoto, he was even less at ease. However, the dead monk had come to know just how reckless and irrational Kaoru, Yahiko, and Misao could be in their actions. Since the three had been left behind with Megumi and the others, he had decided it would be better to stay behind as well to be the voice of reason.

Kaoru paused in her pacing to look over at Misao. The young woman had been sulking ever since Aoshi and Kenshin had left with the hanyou, the priestess, and the dead youkai slayer. She watched as Megumi walked over to place a hand on the young Obiwaban's shoulder and speak quietly to her.

Amaya had been the worst to calm down in fact. She had her parent's stubbornness, their temper, and her father's recklessness. It had taken all of them, plus a threat from Inuyasha, to keep her from going along to save her and Akio's child. It was possible that more youkai would attack, even after the assault. She needed to stay behind to guard the Western lands. Souten had left soon after with her daughter Nariko and the dragon Kouryuu to check on their family lands.

Souten had been the second worst to calm down. After Shishio had hinted that something had happened to Shippo, the Thunder youkai was ready to storm into Tokyo to demand where her husband was. Again, Inuyasha had been forced to threaten her as well.

Kaoru and Megumi, of course, had been the third worst to calm down. Inuyasha's threats didn't work as well on them. Sango and Kagome had been the ones to calm them down.

"They'll be all right, Kaoru," Yahiko said suddenly. The boy crossed his arms and gave a very Inuyasha-like smirk. "Kenshin and Inuyasha are fighting together, and Kagome and Sango are there too. No one can beat them, I know they can win!" Kaoru gave a faint smile as she saw traces of the boy's ancestors in his face. He came from strong stock.

"Well," Miroku said with wry amusement, "Who are we to ignore the young lord of the Western lands?"

Yahiko's face turned red in embarrassment, causing all of them to laugh.

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Kenshin studied the temple in the distance, his eyes glowing a bright golden in the slowly fading daylight. He had said little to the others on their journey here. There was little to be said. He sniffed once and flexed his claws.

"You smell that too, eh?" Inuyasha asked. Kenshin nodded.

"Smell what?" Kagome asked.

"There's no one here, not Naraku, or Shishio or even a human or cat. This place is empty."

Aoshi quietly watched Kenshin out of the corner of his eyes. He stood quite still, with his golden eyes fastened on the temple. The change had been slow at first, but it was there. Aoshi had thought that this was the Battousai at first, but now he wasn't so sure. A few strands of red hair had recently turned silver on the former hitokiri. He wondered if Kenshin was even aware of it.

"It's a trap," Sango said. "You know it's not like Naraku to confront us face to face unless he's up to something." Inuyasha opened his mouth to reply, but Kenshin beat him to it.

"You're right," Kenshin said coolly. "Remember Inuyasha, Naraku once had Kagura steal Rin away from me, much like he has done with your grandchild." Inuyasha stared at him a moment before turning away.

"Yeah," he answered quietly. "I remember. You were going to kill Kohaku." Sango was silent at this and Kenshin didn't respond. Kagome paused a moment before moving towards the former hitokiri.

"Are you..." she paused. "Are you Kenshin or Sesshoumaru?" Kenshin hesitated before answering truthfully.

"I don't know."

It was Aoshi who finally started to walk towards the Buddhist temple in the distance. The others looked at each other before finally following silently behind. There was nothing to do but go forward. They knew it was a trap, but there was nothing else they could do.

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Saito didn't like this. Kouga's nose had led them straight to the Imperial courts. Both Kirara and the wolf insisted that the youkai scents were located most strongly in this area of town. The areas with the second highest concentration were where the government and military offices were located.

"I don't like this," Sano said quietly. Saito narrowed his eyes as he surveyed the grounds.

"What's the problem?" Kouga asked, oblivious.

"The problem, Idiot, is that this area is the residence of the Imperial family," Saito answered dryly.

"So?" Kouga asked. "I'm the leader of the Wolf tribe and Inuyasha rules the Western lands. Even Shippo's wife has her own little kingdom."

"There would be severe political ramifications if we're caught," the former Shinsengumi answered, with a hint of sarcasm. He didn't admit it, but he was disturbed by this. Could Naraku be controlling Emporer Meiji himself? It was Sano who finally summed it up with a smirk.

"Who cares?" he asked. "I don't care about the emporer." Saito smirked in reply.

"So..." Namu ventured slowly. "Are we going in or not?" Kirara mewed, as if she was wondering the same thing. Saito's lips pulled back in a wolf-like grin as a predatory glint shown in his eyes. Kouga growled quietly in anticipation as Sano cracked his knuckles.

Namu took that as a yes.

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"Naraku!"

Naraku chuckled mirthlessly as he and Shishio stepped out of the shadows. Inuyasha and Kenshin's mouths both pulled back in identical snarls. Kagome pulled an arrow from her quiver, but didn't yet draw her bow. Aoshi withdrew his short swords.

"Where is she?" Inuyasha growled. "Where's Izayoi?"

"She's not here, if that's what you mean," Shishio said with amusement. Inuyasha growled as he withdrew the Tetsusaiga.

"Careful Inuyasha," Sango warned. "That may not be Naraku, it could be one of his youkai puppets."

"We also don't know what Shishio is capable of in his new form," Aoshi added calmly. Inuyasha shook with rage as he glared at the two men. Kenshin, on the other hand, glared at them with a far colder rage. Two more strands of his hair turned silver.

"Tell us Naraku," Kagome demanded. "What have you done with Shippo?" She remembered all to well what Shishio had said. Naraku smirked unpleasantly as he walked slowly towards them.

"Done with him?" he asked. "Why...the fox is here, right now." Inuyasha sniffed once and growled.

"You lie, you Bastard. His smell isn't in the temple."

"Oh?" Naraku asked in a show of innocence. "I mean to say, that he's here in me." The others gave a start of surprise.

"What does he mean..." Aoshi started. Inuyasha and Kenshin both growled up at him. Naraku walked closer and for the first time they saw his eyes.

He had green eyes.