Author Note: Yay I have another chapter posted within the same week! Hopefully the story will begin to pick up now that I know where I'm going! Alrighty guys enjoy ch. 30! Wow I'm already halfway(maybe) there!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to or affiliated with Inuyasha but this particular story is M-I-N-E! :)

Deal or No Deal

Inuyasha was in a foul mood. Then again, he was always in a foul mood, but when you're hauling around a slow, aggressive, human woman who keeps trying to escape, one's mood is expected to become a bit more foul. The taiyoukai glanced back at the girl who called herself Kikyou as she attempted to keep up with his brisk pace.

Kikyou...what a stupid name. Well whatever, as long as she stays quiet and keeps up, I won't complain, but what would Naraku possibly want with her?

A muffled "oomph" met his sharp ears, and the taiyoukai stopped to fully turn around and address his hostage.

"Ya know, if you're having that much trouble we can take a break, ugly."

"Grr! Stop calling me ugly! And I'm fine, thank you!" she snorted.

Inuyasha wasn't buying it. He knew the insufferable woman was exhausted. He really didn't care, but if she collapsed, then he would get stuck carrying her again, and he definitely wasn't having any of that! But...he really didn't care.

The big taiyoukai plopped down where he stood and quickly crossed his arms and legs. "Well I could use a break, ugly, so you better make the most of it!"

Kikyou slowly lowered herself to the ground, not once averting her glare from his even fiercer gaze. The two sat in silence for a while, until Kikyou finally plucked up the courage to ask, "What does Naraku want with me?"

"Like hell if I know. It has something to do with the getting back at the bastard, so for now, I'll do what that asshole wants," Inuyasha grumbled, looking bored.

Inuyasha immediately saw the alarm that flashed across the girl's hard eyes; worse yet, he smelled it. His instincts suddenly turned on high alert.

"What's the matter?" he asked gruffly.

She glared at him for a minute before asking a question of her own. "Why do you hate Sesshomaru-sama so much?"

The question threw Inuyasha off guard. The thing was, he had never really thought about it before. He just did.

"Cause...he's a disgrace to the family," he mumbled a little awkwardly.

Kikyou blinked slowly at his reply. "You know, that's a pretty stupid reason to hate someone."

"Yeah well that ain't none of your business!" The taiyoukai snapped.

The awkwardness that followed their conversation was almost unbearable, but Inuyasha never backed down from a fight.

"He's half human, and I really hate humans! They do nothin but destroy everything they touch!" he growled darkly.

"...Youkai destroy things too, you know," the girl said quietly. "To be honest, I'm scarred of Naraku," she shivered as she said the name.

Inuyasha had no doubt she was frightened. The smell rolled off her in waves, and he couldn't help but pity the girl...a little.

The words his brother spoke to him suddenly rang in his ears. "Inuyasha...he's the one...using...you..."

The taiyoukai crossed his arms and pondered the warning. Maybe it would be a good idea for him to be a bit cautious around this dark hanyou.

"...I'll make a deal with ya," he stated suddenly.

The girl looked up in shock and stammered, "W-what did you say?"

"Listen woman! I said I'll make a deal with ya! If you agree to go with me willingly, I won't take you to Naraku. But ya can't complain, got it!" He grumbled as he turned his head and lifted his nose.

"Where will we go?" Kikyou asked nervously.

Inuyasha stood up and offered her his hand as his mouth ground out one word, "Mother's."

XXX

"No no no! Move it to the right you ingrates!" Ukitake shouted across the clearing. Sesshomaru watched the three male kitsune, she was directing, readjust the large emblem on the front of the castle that had been damaged during the battle. Shippo soon joined them, and began the difficult process of trying to persuade his grandmother to take the well needed rest she deserved. Ukitake then proceeded to lecture the boy on the use of delicacy when handling a lady who was beyond her years. The scolded pup soon gave up and, noticing Sesshomaru, began to walk in his direction.

Sesshomaru gazed up at the fox prince as he lounged against a tree. He raised his eyebrow in a silent question that bade the boy to speak.

"She won't listen, no matter what I say. But then again, you are just as wounded as she and refuse to rest also." Shippo lowered himself to the ground at a respectful distance from the hanyou, then crossed his arms and legs. The kitsune locked eyes with the older male, then declared, "I am informing you that I intend to court Kagome. Since you aided my grandmother, I believe I owe you at least an honest confession on my part."

The two stayed silent for a bit, each sizing the other up. "Your attentions will not carry you far. I'm afraid she is...spoken for." Sesshomaru spoke quietly.

"By you?"

"...No"

Shippo gave the hanyou a confused look. "Then...who?"

"By one who has...a prior claim," Sesshomaru said in a voice that refused to continue the topic.

Ukitake must have noticed them while they were conversing, for when Sesshomaru glanced her way, she was slowly making her way towards the pair.

"Getting along, boys?" she asked a bit sarcastically. "I believe your comrades are preparing to depart soon?"

"We leave within the hour. Inuyasha couldn't have gotten too far with Kikyou, and I plan to intercept them before they reach Naraku."

"Hmm, I was planning to give this to you at a later time, but with the revelation of your transformation, I believe you may need this sooner than I anticipated," the elder said, as she proceeded to pull out the beautiful pearl and gold necklace within her kimono.

With gentle fingers, the hanyou took his mother's memento and placed it within his haori. "Thank you, Ukitake-sama."

"It might benefit you to give that to Kagome. After all, with her abilities as a miko, she might be able to tap the hidden powers your mother sealed away in that jewel all those years ago...I remember those days so clearly," the clan leader said with a dreamy, far-off look. She reached into her Kimono again and pulled out three small jewel shards. "I believe these belong to you, as well," she said, while handing them to the Inu. "Use them wisely," her warning rang true.

Sesshomaru silently nodded. He gracefully rose to his feet and bowed to the kitsune before stalking off to find his friends.

To be honest, Sesshomaru was torn. On one hand, he wanted to quickly find Inuyasha and rescue Kikyou, but at the same time, he wanted to give Kagome the opportunity to recover completely, which meant a lot of rest and recuperation. The complexity of the situation was truly throwing his protective instincts into a tizzy.

Sesshomaru gazed toward the hills that Naraku had escaped to as the memory of that night came rushing back to him. He growled low in his throat and snarled, "Inuyasha, you foolish pup."

Other Author Note: Yay I finally get to bring Izayoi into the story! I have been waiting for this moment a long time!