The Children of Mars.

Disclaimer: I still don't own InuYasha, although one day I will!

Author Notes: Hopefully you'll be able to keep track of how I'm doing this story, but I'm going to be alternating every two chapters between the past and present for now. You'll get why I'm doing it soon enough, but for now count it as two stories in one. Bargain!

Chapter Three: The price of a life.

Kagome slipped up the tree quietly, treading lightly on a branch and leaping up to the highest branches without making a sound and almost invisible in the moonless night, then glanced below her briefly to see the black hair of her boyfriend bobbing in the lower branches.

'Psst…' She hissed down at him, and when he glanced up she stuck her tongue out slightly, and pointed to the tree ahead of her.

The hanyou jumped down from the lower branches and moved quietly behind the tree, sliding a small dagger out from inside his dark robes, and palming it into his sleeve, he ducked down and glanced around. He moved forwards slowly, looking all around him, and stopped behind the tree Kagome had pointed too. He felt a slight rush of air over the top of his head as she leapt over him and landed in the higher reaches of the tree, and he then rolled forward around the tree and into the clearing beyond.

In the clearing was a tall light haired man, dressed in black pants and a dark green loose shirt, pacing back and forwards with a noticeably huge sword slung over his back. He was lit by the light from the small fire which his belongings were stacked next to. InuYasha dropped the dagger into his hand and threw it at the back of the man who dodged it casually, catching it in mid air, and then turned, throwing it into the trees next to InuYasha where Kagome had just leapt from. With a sickening thud it passed through her thigh and pinned her to the tree, the handle firm against her leg to stop her moving. The dark haired hanyou then tried to launch himself into the man while his arm was still outstretched, but found he was no longer where he had been stood. As he started falling towards the floor he felt a blade press against the back of his neck, and force him face first into the dirt.

A small cry came from the tree where Kagome was pinned, and then she sauntered out waving the dagger in one hand, and smirked at the fallen InuYasha.

'I told you we couldn't surprise him, and now you made me get blood all over my favourite pants!' She admonished, before falling to her knees next to him and running her fingers through his dark hair. 'Even if you were in your normal form tonight, I think he'd have taken us before we'd have known it'

She turned and gave a quick hug to the huge man who was still holding InuYasha to the ground and said 'It's good to see you again Master, it's been too long'

InuYasha then put up a hand and pushed the sword away from the back of his neck slowly. 'This isn't fair, you always pick on me when I'm human' He muttered, and then stood and grabbed the mans hand and shook it. 'Glad you're still alive, old man' He then reached into his robes and pulled out a note and held it out to him.

'So what's the deal? What do you need us to bail you out of now?'

After taking the note from the dark haired hanyou in human form, he tucked it away into a pocket and said 'Ahh this isn't something for me… This is concerning Tiber and the clan'

At the sound of the name, a low growl rose from Kagome's throat. 'That traitor' She spat, 'Have we found them yet? I have an urge to skin him'

'I thought that might perk your… interest my child'

'Brecht… do you know where they're hiding?' butted in InuYasha. The scarred faced man cuffed him around the head, making him wince and drop slightly.

'I've told you over and again… Never call me by my first name, Dog, or I'll be forced to kill you, and I'd hate to deprive my best student of her pet' Brecht said, with a voice full of menace, before turning back to Kagome. 'I've heard rumours that they're in the northern forests, they retreated after the last battle and their numbers have dropped dramatically… thanks to you' He smiled, baring his fangs and then leant down and pulled a map from one of his many bags and handed it to Kagome, who tossed it to InuYasha and then bowed low in front of Brecht

'Thank you for this Master, I shall hunt them down and dispose of them, I promise you won't be disappointed' She said, with her head sunk onto one of her knees, and baring the back of her neck in submissiveness.

'I know I won't my child… but now I must leave and head back to the mountain, I'm already hours behind.

With that, a blur formed in front of the young couple, and the teacher and his possessions disappeared faster than even than Kagome's supernatural sight could see. She glanced over towards InuYasha and tilted her head questioningly.

'Do we spend the night here and let you… get back to being yourself? Or should we set off now?' she asked.

InuYasha answered by sitting down next to the fire and leaning backwards against a nearby tree, at which point Kagome leapt onto his lap and buried her head in his neck.

'Tonight we have fun, and tomorrow we get to kill…. Could life be better?' She asked with a demented smile upon her pretty features.

InuYasha eyes closed slowly as he held the woman he loved, and he wondered absently to himself 'How long until I have to kill her…. Not soon I hope…'

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Author notes: Sorry this is short I promise I'll try upload a long chapter soon! This chapters for My Kitty and my Puppy :) thank you for the fathers day chocolate, and Happy birthday Kitty sweetie