Chapter Twenty-Five

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Later that night we all sat by the fire at the base of a large tree in a densely covered forest. Sango was laying unconscious on my bedroll, her companion Kirara tucked against her chest protectively. It was a sweet sight to see, the two obviously inseparable under normal circumstances.

'Who is Kohaku, I wonder?' I can't help thinking, remembering Sango whispering his name softly. 'Clearly someone of importance to her. Someone she might have lost.' I frown, able to mentally picture the graves as if they were right in front of me. Would she have to endure that pain as well?

"What's troubling you?" Inuyasha asks softly, glancing towards where Miroku and Shippo were both sleeping not too far from Sango, the monk's back leaning comfortably against another nearby tree. He had taken it upon himself to watch over the pretty young Slayer, and despite his perverted tendencies, I honestly think his worry was genuine.

"Sango said a name earlier. Kohaku. I just hope he isn't one of the dead back at the village." I murmur softly, before Myoga speaks up.

"Kohaku is the name of her younger brother. He's only just a boy, ten years of age." Myoga explains sadly. "I'm afraid he must have been lost with the other Slayers back at the castle." My eyes widen, before lowering slightly as I look to the young woman sadly. She had endured so much in such a short time.

"She's strong. She'll get through it." Inuyasha speaks up calmly as he stands and moves from his spot across the fire to come and settle down next to me. I blink slightly in surprise, looking up to him. "What?" He snaps lightly as he crosses his arms defensively.

"Nothing." I murmur softly in return, deciding to keep it to myself. To think that he had handed out such a compliment to a stranger, a woman that had tried to kill him no less. 'He respects her.' I realize, a small smile on my lips.

"Seriously, what's with that smile?" Inuyasha frowns, looking at me suspiciously. I shrug my shoulders, my smile only widening. "You're putting me on edge." He mutters disdainfully, grabbing up a stick and poking at the fire to stoke it. "How's your back?" He asks then, glancing at the torn material of my top.

"Healed for the most part, at least as far as I can tell. It doesn't hurt nearly as bad now." I reply honestly, having used what energy I could earlier to give me some relief. "I should probably change, though." I sigh heavily grabbing onto my bag and pulling out some of my normal clothes. "Kaede is going to kill me. I forget my first set of clothes back in the future, and I rip this one to shreds." I mutter to myself, before slowly standing. "I'll be right back." I add lightly, taking my underwear, shirt, and jeans with me. Walking a comfortable distance from the camp I divest myself of both layers and my bindings, before pulling on my underwear and bra. I wince a little as part of the clasp rubs against a still raw spot on my back, but I honestly just didn't feel comfortable without some sort of support. Ignoring it as much as I could, I pull on my jeans.

"Your back is all bloody."

Gasping softly in shock I turn sharply, eyes wide and face reddening as I see Inuyasha emerging from behind the bushes, a bowl of his hands and a cloth laying over his wrist. We hadn't used all the water we had gathered for dinner and dishes, so I could imagine that was what the bowl carried. His amber eyes slowly rolled over the front of my frame from top to bottom, pausing at my bra with a quizzical look, before lower once more down to the dark purple material of my panties that showed through the still opened zipper.

That's where his gaze lingered the longest, and grew darker.

'Oh shit!' I inwardly gasp, realizing that the gaze he was giving me was causing a now familiar warmth to wash over me. 'He can smell it.' I remember, horrified. I turn sharply to face away from him, quickly fumbling with the zipper and button of my jeans before crossing my arms over my bra clad chest. My bra revealed so much more than my bindings did in cleavage, even with it being a simple green t-shirt bra. "U-uh, okay. I-I can take it from here. Thank you for bringing the water." My voice cracks horribly with nerves, and I could almost envision the cocky smirk Inuyasha no doubt was wearing right now.

What the hell was wrong with me?

What the hell was wrong with him?!

"You're going to be able to reach your own back?" Inuyasha argues dubiously, before I hear him stepping closer. "Let me help. I won't try anything, I'm not like the monk." He insists, humor in his voice. "I mean, not unless you want me to be."

I nearly died right then and there.

"NO!" I squeak out, face burning as I blatantly lie.

'I told you, the things he can do with his tongue-'

'Shut up, Mayumi!' I squeal to her, absolutely not wanting to revisit the image of his head between my thighs right now.

Too late.

'Fuck me.' I gasp to myself as Inuyasha presses the cool cloth to my back.

'Say that to Inuyasha and see the reaction you get.'

"Sorry, I know it's cold." Inuyasha murmurs softly from behind me in response to my gasp. With a gentleness I had only just become familiar with, he wipes away the dried blood. "You've only got some marks left, but it will heal nicely once you've finished." He comments as he continues his work diligently. When he's finished he slowly draws the cloth away from my back, and I can hear the bowl drop to the ground beside us. The bloodied water sloshes out of it as I shiver from cold of the slight breeze breaking against my now wet back.

Until it's not.

I feel Inuyasha's arms wrap around my middle from behind as he pulls me into his chest, careless of the fact that his front would get wet because of my back. My heart thumps so loudly, that I know he can hear it. His head comes to the side where Naraku had struck me, fingers ever so carefully brushing against the dark, bruised but healing, skin. He pulls his hand away, seeming to hesitate for a second as his body stiffens with indecision, before I feel his warm lips replace his fingers on the sore skin. He leaves a sweet kiss there, before resting his chin on my shoulder as he holds me to him tenderly.

And my heart is absolutely aching at his sweet gesture.

"I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you." He finally murmurs softly, and I shake my head, swallowing thickly.

"It's not your fault, you know it's not." I reply firmly, tilting my head to rest against his own, completely forgetting that I was still half naked in his arms. "You know, for someone who tries to look like such a big bad demon, you sure showed a soft spot for Sango today." I smirk slightly as Inuyasha huffs, before flinching when the claws of his right hand tickle my sides. I snap my hips away from his touch before freezing as I looked towards Inuyasha, and he gives me a sly, knowing smirk.

"Never took you as the ticklish type." Inuyasha mutters, laying a sweet kiss on my shoulder, but thankfully not using this new information against me.

Yet.

He stands tall once more, gently letting me go so I could throw my shirt over my top half finally. Turning to him slowly, I can still feel a blush gracing my cheeks. Our last couple of encounters alone had been hot, intense, and so quick that I had hardly a chance to think about my own moves.

This…this was so different.

I gaze up at him as I take a step forward, and then another once more so we're nearly nose to nose. Inuyasha is looking down at me calmly, his gaze so intense that it causes butterflies to flutter madly in my stomach. Up until this point he had been the one to initiate our embraces, but as I raise my hand to clasp around the back of his neck, that was about to change. He moves all too willingly as I put light pressure on the back of his head, urging him to lean down to meet me as our lips brush ever so softly together. This kiss wasn't hot, lustful, or desperate. It was slow, sweet, and I could tell he was savoring it just as much as I was. I break the kiss softly, Inuyasha leaning his forehead against my own as his nose sweetly brushes mine. He moves his hands that had stayed at his side respectfully until this point, grasping onto my hips firmly. I think about everything he has done for me, for Shippo, Miroku, and now for Sango, and pure gratefulness and admiration flood me.

"Thank you for being you." I whisper to him softly as I close my eyes, allowing myself to just be lost in him. I feel him stiffen against me momentarily in shock, before his hands move from where they rested on my hips so he could wrap his arms fully around me and pull me into him. I don't know how long we stay like that, before he leads us back to the camp, and allows me to once again fall asleep in his lap.

All I knew was that I felt safe…wanted…protected.

And irrevocably in love.


We stayed at that camp for another couple of days, until Sango was finally feeling up to traveling. Even then we didn't move too far too quickly, taking it at both her pace and my own. Inuyasha's concerned gaze never strayed far from me, even if we walked a distance apart. If the others noticed our gazes towards one and other, they had the good sense to keep quiet about it.

"Even a large castle can be difficult to find." I sigh as we stop once more around midday, Sango clearly needing a little rest as she started to fall progressively further behind the group. We settled on a hill overlooking a small village, the water in the rice patties shimmering under the bright sun. I stood with my back to the group, looking over the rolling landscape, Shippo coming to join me. He tugged at my pants, clearly wanting my attention as I look down to him with a soft smile. "Yes?"

"I really hope the next time we find Naraku, I'll be strong enough to help." Shippo states, my eyes widening in surprise hearing him. Glancing over towards Inuyasha, I notice his eyes are furrowed as well in concern, his body stiff, as he gazes at the little boy standing beside me.

He didn't want to see Shippo hurt either.

I crouch down, looking the brave boy in the eyes. "Let's hope when the time comes, and we cross Naraku's path again, it won't be necessary for you to fight." I state solemnly, running my fingers through his hair gently. Shippo frowns, but nuzzles his nose to my chin regardless, before turning and walking back towards the main group. I follow him, uneasiness settling in my stomach.

'He's just a boy, demon or not. I can't believe I haven't had the good sense to leave him with Kaede in the first place.' I berate myself, glancing towards Inuyasha once more to see him staring at the Shippo. There was a mixture of pride and worry in his eyes, though you'd miss it if you weren't looking with how fast it was gone.

"When you don't have any directions or landmarks to go by, even something as grandeur as a castle can be impossible to find." Miroku circles back to my earlier statement with an impatient sigh.

"Come on!" Inuyasha crosses his arms where he sits on a boulder, looking towards Sango. "You've got to be fully recovered by now? You want to hunt down that Naraku creep too, right? So why don't you just join us for a while?" My mouth drops slightly in shock as I look to him. For someone who had been so reluctant to expand our group in the past, he was just raking in people now.

"Hm." Sango replies lightly at the offer, looking neither impressed, nor unimpressed.

"Well you could show some enthusiasm for my offer!" Inuyasha gripes at her, his ego obviously slightly bruised. "We know a heck of a lot more about Naraku than you do." He points out correctly. I glance towards Sango to see her reaction, but she hardly looks moved by his argument. "Plus, you're alone now, you've got nothing to lose by tagging along with us." I wince, glaring at the tactless half-demon as Sango's gaze narrows. Reaching over I smack him hard on the back of the head. "HEY!" He shouts indignantly, rubbing at the back of his head as he turns his annoyed glare towards me. "What the hell was that for?!"

"For being insensitive." I mutter lowly to him, frowning.

"Insensitive?!" Inuyasha questions angrily, looking confused. "What did I say?!" I huff, my head dropping in clear disappointment. Inuyasha might have come a long way since I met him, but he clearly had a longer way to go.

Then again, I fell in love with him, tactlessness and all.

"He's right." Miroku speaks up, moving to kneel in front of Sango. He gazes up at her tenderly. "Let's take it one step at a time and focus on gathering the jewel shards. We won't have to chase Naraku. If we keep collecting the shards he'll eventually come to us." Miroku explains, his gaze intensifying as he continues on, Sango watching him with cold interest. "I know you are hungry for revenge, but you must be patient." He coaches her, and I'm slightly surprised by how serious he was being. "You see, I understand exactly how you feel."

It was then that I saw his hand slithering up to rest on her leg.

"I see." Sango replies coldly. "Thank you." She then grabs onto the skin of the back of his left hand, pinching it hard and twisting it. "But is it necessary for you to be stroking my leg while you talk?" Her stoic facade drops for one of annoyance as Miroku laughs nervously, the hand being pinched twitching in pain.

'You go, girl.' I smirk to myself as I watch the scene unfolding. Clearly Sango would be able to handle herself when it came to our lecherous friend.

"I suppose he at least was a gentleman enough to not actually touch her until she was feeling better." I sigh softly in exasperation, Inuyasha looking at the monk with annoyed disbelief. Unlike when Miroku would hit on me, however, he didn't jump up to pull the perverted monk away.

"Miroku, try to control yourself, will ya?" Inuyasha grumbles at him irritably. Sango finally lets his hand go, and Miroku stands, moving to where he had been before with a defeated sigh. Inuyasha turns to Shippo. "Hey, do you think you could scout out the area for us?" Shippo looks to Inuyasha in surprise, before nodding. "Alright, get to it then."

"Inuyasha, I don't know if that's a good-" I begin to protest, worry gripping at my stomach. What if something happened to him. I was cut off by my own shock as Shippo jumps into Inuyasha's lap and tilts his head to the side to show his throat in a familiar gesture I hadn't seen in a while. Inuyasha combs his fingers through the boy's hair once, before Shippo jumps from his lap and races to the edge of the hill we were on. He transforms into the large pink bubble-like creature, before floating off into the distance.

"He's only going to scout out in the area, Yua. I wouldn't have sent him out if I had smelt or sensed anything dangerous." Inuyasha states then as he comes to stand beside me on the ridge. He crosses his arms, folding them into his kimono. "Trust me. Shippo needs to feel useful too after everything that happened a few days ago." I swallow thickly, reluctantly admitting that Inuyasha was probably right.

We both wait for the boy's return, me more anxiously than Inuyasha as he takes his seat back on the bolder. I only find myself relaxing when I see his familiar balloon-like form floating back towards us in the light breeze. He transforms with a soft 'pop', landing in front of me and smiling, before darting around to stand in front of Inuyasha.

"Well, what did you see?" Inuyasha frowns a the boy as he points towards the north.

"There is a large lake, just over that hill to the north. A huge shrine is right in the middle of it!" He exclaims, excitement clear in his voice. He was hoping he had found something useful.

"You sure it's a shrine?" I ask as I kneel down behind him, Inuyasha leaning forward.

"Is it Naraku's castle?" Inuyasha asks sharply, gaze intense.

"Well there is only one way we're going to find out." Sango states, standing and lifting her Hiraikotsu so the strap rested across her body, her weapon leaning on her back. I nod in agreement, glancing towards Inuyasha as he stands as well.

"Alright, twerp, lead the way."


A few hours later we come to an area that looked like it had been washed out, men all working in the mud to clear away debris and pick up the pieces they could save of buildings from their village.

"There must have been a flash flood." Miroku states what I had already silently concluded, nodding in agreement with the monk.

"How awful." I frown deeply, hoping that nobody had been lost during it. Shippo grips onto my pant leg then, his eyes looking down sorrowfully at the path of destruction left by the raging waters. Suddenly a gong can be heard across the ravine, a party of men carrying what looked to be some sort of palanquin. I frown deeply, the men below starting to murmur.

"Behold, the human sacrifice." I finally was able to clearly hear from the mumbled whispers, a chill rushing down my spine as my eyes widen in shock.

Say what now?

"It had been a devastating flood this year. The Water God must be angry."

"Aye, I wonder who's child it is."

My heart shutters to a stop at this. There was a child in that procession?! Looking towards the others, I'm stunned to see that the only one looking as shocked as me is Shippo. "What, this is supposed to be normal?!" I cry out, Miroku looking away sadly from me.

"It is not something new, no. Though I agree that it is utterly barbaric." He states with clear disgust as he looks down at the men below pointedly. A few of them that had heard him look away in shame, using their current tasks to avoid his stare. Our group moves through the ravine quickly, Inuyasha ahead of all of us as he leaps up behind the procession.

"It is only natural that we give up our first born children to protect our village." The man that looks like he is in charge states as we come into range to be able to hear. Inuyasha jumps once more up to sit on the edge of the palanquin, the men unaware before him.

"What's so natural about that?" Inuyasha speaks up coldly once he's settled, arms crossed as the men gasp in shock and look up to him wide eyed. "This sacrifice is for your Water God? I bet he's just some hyped up demon."

'Who knew he had a thing for dramatics?' I can't help quipping sarcastically to myself, watching the men before him panic. Inuyasha smirks cockily as he rests easily on the palanquin before them.

"A demon is taking advantage of you with his new-found strength from a jewel shard." Inuyasha states confidently, before standing slowly and jumping down from the palanquin, landing directly in front of the guy that he had responded to. "Don't even try hiding anything from us."

"W-who are you?" The man in the front of the group stutters, obviously nervous.

"Never seen the likes before."

"Look at his ears! Are you a demon?"

"Listen, and listen well." The leader cuts off the other men's ramblings. "This is a peaceful village protected by a great Water God." He raises his fist in clear threat. "Demons are not welcome here!"

"Are you talking to me, old man?" Inuyasha glares at him, gritting his teeth in clear annoyance. Miroku steps in before I have a chance to.

"Stop it." He commands, knocking Inuyasha over the head with his staff. Inuyasha looks over at him in disbelief, before snarling in frustration.

"What are you doing, Miroku?!"

"Our company is not hostile." Miroku goes on, pushing Inuyasha back and ignoring him. I lift an eyebrow, glancing towards Sango as she looks at me with the same expression before we both move our eyes to her Hiraikotsu, and then to my bow and arrows.

No…we didn't look hostile at all.

"Our mission is to travel around the country to give assistance to those in need." Miroku goes on seamlessly, finally dropping his arm from in front of Inuyasha. "We've heard of your misfortune. If you allow me I will exorcise your village." He adds, Inuyasha opening his mouth with a look of disbelief at Miroku's lying tactics. Before he can utter a single word to him however, the monk jabs the end of his staff hard onto Inuyasha's bare foot. Inuyasha jumps back, clearly from the sting, glaring all the more at the monk as he does. The other men begin to mutter around us.

"Are you really that powerful?"

"I think an exorcism is an excellent idea."

"Do not be so easily deceived!" The leader cuts on once more, glaring at the men. "They are conniving imposters!" He insists stubbornly, and I can't help rolling my eyes.

We could hardly be consider conniving with Inuyasha's virtuous attitude.

"But I beg of you, headman, please at least listen to what they have to say!" A man to the headman's right pleads. My brows furrow together in understanding.

'The men, they don't want to sacrifice this child. He does for some reason. He's so set against trying something else.' I think to myself with a frown.

"If we indulge in the whims of shady characters and rely on their trickery, only to raise the ire of the Water God, who knows what else might befall our village?" The headman argues passionately. "How can I justify an exorcism now, when it's my son's turn to be sacrificed?" My mouth drops in shock hearing him, eyes widening.

His own son? He was about to sacrifice his own little boy? Just to save face with the rest of the village?!

"How can I risk undoing all the sacrifices of the children who went before him?!" He goes on, sounding genuinely tortured. Wouldn't the others understand? Besides, if this really was a demon, and we were able to defeat it, they wouldn't have to worry about sacrificing another child ever again.

I hear the rustling of fabric behind me, turning to look over my shoulder towards the palanquin. Freezing, I see a boy in a mask peeking outside. Both of us seem to be stuck in that moment, until he breaks it by turning away and dropping the curtain back into place.

"We must deliver the sacrifice before the sun sets! Continue to procession!" The headman orders urgently, despite Inuyasha and Miroku's suggestions. I frown deeply in disgust, eyes narrowing at him as he walks by.

"They guy with the mustache is weird. I don't trust him." Shippo speaks up, his words childish but true.

"I agree." Inuyasha states angrily beside Shippo. "It's like he wants to have his son sacrificed!" He exclaims in disgust. Miroku nods.

"He was strangely upset with our interference." The monk agrees, watching the procession continue on with a suspicious gaze.

"Well, I guess we move on and let him dump the kid." Inuyasha states callously, truly shocking me.

'This was the guy that said he wanted kids?!' I think to myself wide eyed, mouth dropping in horror. "Not a chance! We have to do something, that's just an innocent little boy in there." I frown at him.

"I agree with Yua. We can't leave that boy to die." Sango supports me, and I look to her gratefully. Even with the short amount of time we had known each other, Sango had really started to grow on me. It was actually fantastic to finally not be so outbalanced by testosterone in this group.

"Are you serious?!" A voice shouts up at us from the ravine, and looking down there appeared to be a child using a bamboo mat as a cover over their head. "Then follow me." It most definitely sounds like a boy, and as he turns away to follow the elevated trail over the ravine we all hesitate for a moment to look at one and other. "Hey, you wanna be left behind?!" The boy demands as he turns towards us with narrowed eyes, still hanging tight to the mat draped over him.

"What's with him?" Inuyasha asks lightly, his eyes gazing after the kid with curiosity. "Bossy kid." He mutters.

"Won't know unless we follow him." I comment easily, before moving quickly to follow him.

"Yua! Wait!" Inuyasha groans loudly when I don't turn back, and I'm sure his muttering obscenities about me under his breath as he and the others quickly fall into step with me. When we finally catch up to the boy he's lost his covering, and is instead holding a blanket stuffed with items. We gather around as he rolls it out for us to see what was inside.

"There, you can have your pick!" The boy states, looking up towards us all expectantly.

"What is this garbage?" Inuyasha asks disdainfully, and I shoot him a look of frustration as I see the boy's shoulders deflate slightly. Clearly he had went to great lengths to gather these things, and he was trying to use it as an exchange.

'But for what?' I frown as I kneel down beside Sango, Miroku picking up an item from the ground with interest.

"There are some valuable articles here." Miroku states honestly, holding what looked to be some sort of incense holder. Sango reaches forward for a bolt of blue and white colored silk.

"I've never seen such fine silk before." She compliments genuinely as well. I look to the boy, watching him re-inflate slightly from their praise with a confident grin.

"You done choosing? Good. Consider yourself hired!" He proclaims. I tilt my head, honestly having expected something to the like when he had offered us these things.

"Hired for what, bud?" I ask gently from beside Sango, Shippo coming to stand close to me on my other side.

"I heard you bragging to the villagers. Coming to people's aid is your mission. So I want you to live up to your reputation. You're working for me now to destroy the Water God." Determination was clear on the boy's smudged face as he speaks, staring us all down.

Inuyasha in particular.

Inuyasha surprisingly approaches the boy, leaning his head down so he could stare him in the eyes.

Before hitting him over the head. Lightly.

"What did you do that for?!" The kid demands, before Inuyasha grabs on to him and continues to punch him over the head. My mouth falls open in horrified disbelief. I mean, I knew he wasn't hurting him too badly, but seriously, what was his problem?! I frown, raising my hand to create a barrier around the boy that sent Inuyasha flying back a couple feet onto his back. He tilts his head to look at me with annoyance.

"He's just a boy, Inuyasha!" I glare at him, and the half-demon glares back at me from his position on his back.

"He needs to be taught who the boss is around here!" Inuyasha argues as I let the barrier down around the boy, not wanting to scare him any further. Shippo runs over to the boy, standing in front of him as he rubs at the top of his head with tears in his eyes.

"Just apologize, even if you don't mean it." Shippo whispers the advice to the boy, though we can all hear it. Inuyasha throws a glare the fox-demon's way. "Inuyasha can be really childish sometimes."

"Childish? I'll show you childish!" Inuyasha shouts angrily, before rolling over onto all fours and launching himself towards both of the boys.

"DOWN BOY!" I shout angrily, watching as for the first time in a long time his necklace glows before plowing him face first into the ground. The yet named boy blinks in surprise as he stares at Inuyasha's prone form, looking much less intimidating with his ass in the air and face in the dirt.

"He doesn't seem so bad now."


Hours later, and well after nightfall, finds us following the boy through a forest as he leads us towards the lake where this supposed Water God resided. We had learned along the way that his name is Tarōmaru, and I couldn't help but notice it felt like he was taking stopping the sacrifice as his own personal mission. That, and something about him look oddly familiar, even though I couldn't put my finger on it.

"The human sacrifice is taken to the shrine in a boat." Tarōmaru explains. "So, we'll follow the boat and attack it when the Water God surfaces and is about to devour the sacrifice. Got that?" He orders us all, turning to look back at our group. Inuyasha, ever virtuous, was more concerned with something else.

"These are stolen goods, I just know it!" He frowns, looking at the bounty in Miroku's hands.

"That's none of our concern." Miroku argues easily, obviously wishing to keep everything.

"If they're stolen, we shouldn't take them!" Inuyasha argues angrily.

"Are you paying attention?!" Tarōmaru suddenly bursts, all of us turning to look at him slowly. I frown, tilting my head. Something once again caught me as oddly familiar about the boy.

"Who's kid are you? Won't your parents be worried your out so late at night?" I ask, unable to help myself. Tarōmaru suddenly looks extremely nervous, before quickly covering it as he looks down at to the side.

"My family is none of your business." He responds snobbishly, placing his hands on his hips. I tilt my head once more, looking at the kid's face with the new angle. My eyes widen then as understanding hits me.

"You're the headman's real son." The boy's reaction was all it took to confirm my thought as he turns to me with wide eyed shock. Inuyasha steps up to my other side as Miroku closes in next to him.

"Now that you mention it, they've got the same eyebrows and forehead." Miroku observes, clearly agreeing with me. Inuyasha looks wholly unimpressed.

"And the same attitude." He adds dryly.

"So the boy in the procession was a stand in?" Sango asks in clear disbelief as she comes to stand with us, now geared up in her Demon Slayer uniform.

"Yes, I'm the headman's heir." Tarōmaru admits, coming clean to us all. He frowns, guilt clear on his face.

"Why are you so eager to do this?" Inuyasha asks suspiciously as he stares down at the boy intently. Tarōmaru glances towards him, before bowing his head to stare at the ground once more.

"The Water God started to demand human sacrifices from our village about half a year ago. We had heavy rains and flooding. The Water God said that in order to lift the curse a human sacrifice was necessary. A child was selected when a white arrow landed on the roof of his home. Father would always say 'please bear the loss for the sake of the village'. When the arrow landed on our roof, he told me to go and hide." Tarōmaru admits lowly, his shoulder slumping.

"So he found another child to take your place, and meanwhile you're in hiding?" Inuyasha accuses the boy. I give Inuyasha a sharp look.

"He's just a kid, what else was he supposed to do? It's his Father you should be angry with." I point out, Miroku agreeing.

"What a selfish parent."

"I agree with you there." Inuyasha mutters to Miroku, gazing down at the boy.

"It's a brave thing you're doing, trying to save that other boy." I speak up, moving forward to rest my hand on his shoulder, giving it a gently squeeze. Tarōmaru looks up to me in shock.

"I'm hardly brave. If I had really been brave I would have disobeyed Father." Tarōmaru states, guilt clear in his voice. I shake my head at him, smiling softly.

"All that would have happened is you would have died. At least now we stand a chance of figuring out what is really going on, and we can hopefully stop the sacrifices once and for all." I argue gently. "Who is the boy that took your place?"

"He's one of my best friends. We grew up together." Tarōmaru answered. "There is no way I'm going to let him take my place."

"Nobody is going to die tonight, Tarōmaru, I promise you." I state firmly, giving his shoulder one last squeeze before allowing my hand to drop from it.

"Well, I hope you have a boat." Sango speaks up, Kirara on her shoulder. "That demon has to be exterminated. I have a reputation to uphold. I'll take care of the Water God by myself." I frown, turning to face Sango fully.

"You don't have to work by yourself. We can help." I insist, worried about the injuries she was still recovering from.

"You're still recovering, so stop trying to act so tough, showoff." Inuyasha, true to his nature, doesn't beat around the bush about it. "I bet you can't even lift that heavy weapon over your head yet." He adds, and I let my head fall forward in exasperation. That last bit was a jab to add insult to injury, and it had been completely unnecessary.

"Is that a challenge?" Sango asks, voice hard as I look up to find her glaring directly at the loud mouth.

'Teach that asshole a lesson, Sango.' I inwardly cheer, Mayumi seconding that thought.

"Bring it on any time!" Inuyasha steps forward, cockily pulling one of his sleeves up as he does.

To hell with it, let him get his ass whooped. Maybe it would make him a little more humble.

"Listen, we all received payment for our services." Miroku speaks up, once again trying to diffuse the tension."So, let's band together and finish the job." He finishes simply, ever the peacemaker.

"You're picking fights left and right like a toddler." I grumble at him, Inuyasha shooting me an annoyed glance, before sticking his nose in the air.

"Tell that to her, not me." He replies, and I'm once again hit by how childish this guy could still act. I sigh, before reaching up and flicking his nose hard. He gives an unmanly squeal, cupping his nose with wide eyed surprise, before turning towards me and glaring.

"What was that for?!" His voice is slightly muffled behind his hand. I just give him a frosty look and he wisely shuts up.

We finally make it to the lake's edge, where true to his word Tarōmaru had a boat waiting for us. Sango took the lead, attaching one of the ropes from the boat to Kirara to pull it through the water. While Sango rode on the swimming feline demon, the rest of us took a seat in the boat with Miroku helping to steer. As we got out onto the lake an ominous fog started to creep around us, sending a shiver down my spine. Next to me Inuyasha shifts, sliding a little closer to me. If anyone notices his move, they say nothing in the tense moments before we finally come to Shrine.

"That's the Water God's Shrine Gate." Tarōmaru informs us as the traditional gate appears out of the fog.

"That's the Shrine I saw earlier!" Shippo informs us excitedly. As we drift through the gate the rest of the Shrine becomes visible in all it's glory.

"This place is huge." I murmur in wonder, looking around as Kirara pulls our boat to the stone stairway leading from the water into the main building.

"The human sacrifice has entered." Sango states quietly from in front of us. Suddenly we all see movement at the door. There were some sort of creatures in armor grunting as they shuffled back and forth past one and other in front of the door.

"Gate Keepers! Hide!" Tarōmaru hisses out, ducking down behind the edge of the boat.

"Why should we hide?" Inuyasha asks, not waiting for an answer as he jumps from the boat and up to the doorway. Just as the two Gate Keepers come together once more, he kicks the one in the front in the face, causing it to fall back into it's buddy behind. "You're in the way!" Inuyasha declares as both the creatures fall into a pile at his feet, so he simply kicks both of their bodies out of the way. As if the door was made of toothpicks, he slams his fist into it, breaking the boards apart into pieces before turning back towards us impatiently. "Don't just stand there! We're going in!"

"Is he ever strong." Tarōmaru states, shock and admiration clear in his voice. As I look back towards Inuyasha, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he stood a little straighter at that.

'He'll be prancing around like a cocky rooster now.' I can't help thinking dryly as we all quickly catch up to him. I take my bow from over my shoulder, notching an arrow at the ready in case we ran into any more guards. We come to a heavily guarded building, the sound of struggling come from inside. Without hesitating Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku rush forward towards the guards standing between us and the throne room. I draw back my own arrow and stand protectively in front of Tarōmaru and Shippo, letting it fly as my aura burns brightly and clears a path through the guards for them. I'm just as shocked as Shippo and Tarōmaru when the guards bodies disintegrate upon contact with my aura and revert back to various sea creatures around us.

"All the guards are just a bunch of fishes and crabs put under a spell!" Shippo exclaims, before the three of us follow Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku through the bamboo divider. There at the head of the room was the demon, his arm extended unnaturally long as he holds the boy by his face in the air. He looked relatively human, if truth be told, other than his pointed ears, pin point pupils, and the two black dots an inch apart from one and other on the center of his forehead. He was dressed in regal clothing, his eyes outlined with blue, and he honestly looked the part of a God.

"Did I interrupt dinner?" Inuyasha asks sarcastically, hand hovering over the hilt of Tessaiga. Thankfully he had the mind to be aware of the boy in the demon's grasp, not wanting him to get hurt in the cross-fire.

"Master Tarōmaru?" The boy in the supposed Water God's grasp mumbles against the hand holding him, clearly relieved to know his friend was here.

"Suekichi!" Tarōmaru exclaims in worry as he looks up at his friend from behind me. He moves to run around, but I throw my arm out to stop him.

"We've got this, but you need to stay here so I can protect you." I tell the boy firmly, only retracting my arm when he reluctantly nods and stays put. The demon, however, had missed Tarōmaru arrival.

"You're dressed like a dirty urchin, but you're the headman's son, aren't you?" The demon correctly observes.

"That's right!" He yells from behind me. "Now that you've got me, release Suekichi! I'm the real human sacrifice!" He demands bravely. I grab another one of my arrows, notching it and drawing it back in clear warning to the demon.

"Why did you hire us if you're just going to throw yourself at him?!" Inuyasha complains as he looks over his shoulder at the boy with irritation.

Well…he wasn't wrong.

Inuyasha turns back towards the demon with a cocky smirk. "The only things strong about you Water God is your scent!" He shouts, before leaping towards it. "You reek of demon!" He exclaims as he draws Tessaiga up over his head, ready to slice the demon in half from head to toe. The demon reaches back, grabbing what looks to be a trident of some sort to block the attack. My eyes widen in surprise as it sends Inuyasha flying back, and Tessaiga reverses in it's transformation. Inuyasha, equally as shocked, looks wide eyed from his sword to the demon. "The Tessaiga has been transformed back!"

"A petty demon sword like yours is no match for the power of the Trident of Amakoi." The demon proudly proclaims. "You have committed a grave crime in defacing my Shrine! You will pay for this with your lives!" He promises, before shifting the trident to the side and striking the base down against the floor. Ripples of power exuded from it, the once golden spikes now glowing blue in color. I feel the hair on my arms stand on end, before I let my arrow fly. My mouth drops open in shock as my aura hits the energy coming from the staff, a bright light sparking before my arrow drops uselessly to the floor.

Then the wave suddenly hits.

We're all knocked off of our feet as I managed to grab onto Tarōmaru and Shippo just in time before they were swept away. Unable to get a breath in, we're all sucked under water. Holding both Shippo and Tarōmaru to my chest I look around, seeing Inuyasha not too far from me with a concerned expression on my face as he clearly shouts my name, even though I can hardly hear it over the rushing of the water. His hand is reaching for us, but I don't dare reach for it for fear of losing one of the boys I'm holding.

Then I see it.

Looming darkly behind him were some massive boulders, hurling towards him with the current. I focus, using my aura to blast the boulders into pieces. He hardly notices, still obviously trying to swim for me and the boys.

Until suddenly the three of us are pulled upwards, Inuyasha quickly falling into the darkness below as we're ripped apart.

"Inuyasha!" I can't help shouting under water, taking in a lung full of water as a consequence. Suddenly gravity seems to reappear, and three of us are landing on the dry wood of the temple once more. Coughing, I spit out the burning salt water, taking in much needed breaths. I look to Shippo and Tarōmaru, both unconscious but thankful breathing. 'Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, please be okay!' I think to myself with worry, before looking up as the sound of feet thudding closer can be heard. Frowning I glare at the glowing demon, gathering both Shippo and Tarōmaru protectively behind me.

There was no doubt in my mind this demon still intended to eat Tarōmaru if given the chance.

Luckily I had my bow, even if my arrows had all been lost in the water. Reaching forward with my right hand I press my index and middle fingers together, slowly drawing my arm back as my aura creates the familiar shape of an arrow against my physical bow. 'My arrow didn't work last time, but maybe an arrow made purely of my energy will.' I think to myself.

'All you can do is try, Yua. We can't let that boy, or any more children, die!' Mayumi agrees with me. As the demon reaches for me I let the arrow loose. He catches it, clearly thinking he'd be able to overpower me once again.

Evidently he was wrong.

The skin of his hand and forearm disintegrate on contact with my pure aura, and he stumbles back to land on his ass, stunned.

"I-impossible! How can this body succumb to the powers of someone as insignificant as you?" The demon gasps in clear shock, and I can't help a dark smirk at his expense.

"There have been plenty of demons that have underestimated me in the past." I inform him creating another arrow. "You want to know what they all have in common?" I draw the arrow back. "They're all dead." I let the next arrow fly, the demon screaming in pain as I turn to the three boys, Shippo having just brought around Tarōmaru, his friend now standing nearby. "RUN!" I order, and without hesitation all three boys sprint from the room, closely followed by me.

'He's powerful, but you've done significant damage.' Mayumi states, worry still clear in her voice. 'However, I think you've also made him angry.' My eyes widen as I feel an explosion of power coming from behind us in the throne room.

'You think?' I reply dryly, looking out over the lake as we run along the dock towards one of the many sheds on the outskirts of the Shrine. Once inside I crouch low with my bow by the doorway, Shippo next to me as he looks through a small hole in the wall. My brows furrow as ice flows through my veins when I hear the footsteps of the demon echoing around us.

I can feel his increased strength, and he's getting closer.

Suddenly the sound of footsteps stopped, Shippo whispering such as he stood next to me. Hardly at ease, it's then that I hear the shed around us creaking under pressure along with the sound of something slithering against the walls. My eyes widen in realization, but it's too late. The shed around us implodes, and I quickly use my aura to protect the three boys from the debris, allowing it to settle gently over them to hide them.

"I will destroy you first, wench." The demon's voice hisses through the fog, and looking to the side I see him slowly emerging, his body fully rejuvenated. I stand quickly, energy flowing into my hands to build orbs of my aura, sending one flying quickly after the first. He dodges both with ease, before suddenly I feel something tight around my ankle. I don't have time to berate myself for my negligence as my feet are pulled from under me and I land hard on my side. The clang of metal on metal directly afterwards has me snapping my eyes open, shock and relief flooding through me as I see Inuyasha standing over me protectively with Tessaiga in hand. Once again, however, the power of the Trident causes the sword to reverse in transformation, becoming the dull blade once more in his hands. I push myself up, ignoring the pain in my side as I do.

"Dammit." Inuyasha frowns as he looks down at his sword, before shifting his gaze towards me. "Are you alright? Is everybody safe?" Inuyasha demands, and I nod, the boys easily crawling out from the hiding space I had created for them.

"Hey! The Water God is escaping!" Shippo exclaims, pointing out beyond me over the lake. I turn sharply, frowning as I see the now half man, half serpent drifting off into the fog. Inuyasha reaches down for my hand, taking it and helping me up before we both race towards the edge of the dock.

"Where are you Water God?!" Inuyasha shouts out, before suddenly the boards beneath us break apart, causing us both to stumble back. Before I can react, the demon's tale wraps around Inuyasha's ankle, much like it had mine, lifting him off of the dock and pulling him down into the water. I'm frozen as seconds pass before he breaks the surface once more, the demon's body wrapped around him multiple times as the human portion hovers high above. Inuyasha glares up at him from where he is held captive. "You're showing your true colors now! You're no the Water God, you're a fake!" He accuses him. "Without that Trident thing you're back to the bottom of the food chain!" He growls before forcing himself free and launching towards the head of the demon.

"How dare you?!" The demon shouts angrily, Inuyasha just barely dodging the Trident as he speeds past him in his own attack. I notice with horror that the tale is still wrapped around his ankle, unable to act before it drags him back down into the depths of the lake once more. Tossing my bow down along with my now empty quiver, I dive head first into the water. Swimming with everything I had I finally get in arms reach of him, stretching my hand out as he looks up in shock to see me. Taking my hand I allow my aura to create a barrier around us, the water leaking out and leaving us in what I could only describe as an air bubble. My aura cuts away at the end of the demon's tail, Inuyasha reaching down and unwrapping it from his ankle and throwing it viciously to the side. Breathing heavily he turns to me, his gaze angry.

"What the hell did you think you were doing?!" He shouts, and I take a step back, wide eyed for a moment. I frown then, glaring at him as I lean back forwards with my arms at my side, hands clenched tightly into fists.

"I thought I was, am, saving your life! Do you want me to let you drown, because that can still be arranged?!" I shout back at him angrily. He stutters, before crossing his arms and grumbling as he looks around us at the barrier curiously.

"Now what?" He mutters, looking back to me in clear confusion. Stubborn half demon. I sigh heavily extending my arms outwards, palms up, before slowly lifting them upwards. As I do the bubble carries us back to the surface and to the dry dock, landing gracefully with the boys. Looking down at the water I see a whirlpool has appeared, the water rushing dangerously just beyond the dock.

'So where was that trick before?' Mayumi pokes at me, and I inwardly groan.

'I was a little distracted by the massive boulder that would have taken Inuyasha out.'

"Kagome! Inuyasha! Shippo!" Miroku's voice is heard suddenly from behind us. Turning sharply we look to see both he and Sango running towards the group, Miroku holding something protectively in his hands.

"Where is the imposter?" Sango asks sharply, and I point down towards the whirlpool.

"He's down there." I reply easily, another voice soon joining theirs.

"Let me down." A commanding female voice is heard coming from Miroku's hand. "I shall deal with him myself."

"Yes, Goddess." Miroku replies almost reverently, kneeling down to place what looked to be a very, very small woman down on the dock.

'That is the Water God?' I think to myself with disbelief, the woman only standing a few inches in height. 'Or should I say, Water Goddess?' She looks down at the whirlpool with a stormy expression, clearly not pleased as she grabs her right earring and tosses it into the water.

"I command the waters to part!" Her voice is regal and powerful as the waters miraculously do exactly as she bit. As if by magic the whirlpool seemingly expands, revealing the bottom of the lake where the demon looked as if he had been readying for another attack.

"The waters are parting!" Miroku exclaims in shock as we all look down, the demon imposter looking back up to us with shock as well.

Shock, and fear, as he took in the real Water Goddess standing on the edge of the dock.

Suddenly he thrusts the Trident up, and I move, turning and shoving the boys back with me, protecting them with my body. Frowning I twist back around to see the demon rise up once more from the lakebed with Trident in hand.

"I don't know how you freed the Water Goddess, but it doesn't matter! I am now the real Water God!" The demon proclaims, brandishing the Trident at us in threat.

"Even though she's the real Water Goddess she is powerless without her sacred Trident." Miroku explains, looking up towards the demon imposter nervously.

"Prepare to die!" The demon exclaims, heading straight for us. Inuyasha grows, lifting his right hand to the read as he cracks the knuckles in the hand.

"Not so fast bottom-feeder!" He shouts, launching himself at the demon once more. He digs his claws right into the serpent portion of the demon's body, going for a ride as the demon lifts up further in the air.

"Kirara!" Sango exclaims, her companion transforming into her larger form as Sango jumps onto her back. I frown, looking to Miroku, knowing he'd look after the boy as I rush over towards Sango.

"Take me with you!" I exclaim, and without hesitation she offers me her hand, helping me up behind her on Kirara. I sit back far enough to give her room to be able to use her weapon as we fly, frowning as when she does it hits the demon with no effect.

"You fool!" The demon hisses as she catches the large boomerang upon it's return. "Now you shall feel the awesome and power wrath of the Trident of Amakoi!" He lifts the Trident towards the sky, clouds starting to swirl above us filled with lightening. He was calling forth a storm!

"Catch this water snake!" Sango shouts angrily, whirling her weapon once more towards the demon. This time I concentrate on her weapon, allowing my aura to surround it. When it hits the demon, it manages to slice into him. Not all the way, but enough to take a good sized chunk in it's wake. Sango looks over her shoulder towards me wide eyed for a moment, before a confident smirk settles on her features as she catches her Hiraikotsu. Turning her attention back to the demon, she shouts over her shoulder at me.

"Ready?!" I nod, before my eyes widen as I see what looked to be a funnel of water spiraling towards us. I reach around her, palm open, as I create a barrier that the water deflects off, saving us from being knocked off of Kirara. With the demon's attention on us, Inuyasha was able to use the distraction to his advantage, grabbing onto the wrist of the hand that held the Trident.

"I'm tired of looking at your scaly hide you big faker!" Inuyasha shouts angrily as he moves to be face to face with the demon, the Trident held between them. With that he rips the demon's arm straight from his body, before being caught off guard and sent flying by the demon's writhing body. Now, without the Trident, the demon's true form comes to light. The human portion of his body reverts back into that of a demonic water snake, taking off towards Inuyasha. It bites down onto his arm, causing the half demon to shout in pain before he punches the demon in the head in frustration.

"That's it you fucking inch worm!" Inuyasha shouts, both the demons slamming down into the water.

"Inuyasha!" Sango's worried voice shouts out, my own chest squeezing tightly with worry. I look up then at the multiple twisters currently spinning over the lake, stomach dropping as I saw one straying away in the direction of the village. Suddenly Inuyasha and the snake demon resurface, his arm still in the demon's mouth even as he held the Trident tightly in his trapped hand.

"Don't worry, it's going to take more than a sleazy demon like this to take me down!" Inuyasha boasts, having obviously heard Sango's panicked cry from under the water. I can't help groaning and rolling my eyes and his antics.

"You know, Yua, you could show a little concern for me too! That would be nice!" He gripes at me, obviously put off I didn't seem too worried in that moment. Well, like he said, this demon was nothing compared to him.

So why would I act otherwise to feed his sensitive ego?

Before I can respond to his jab, he's under the water once again, finally able to break free from the mouth of the snake demon long enough to throw the Trident towards the Water Goddess. His throw misses, by a long shot too.

'Typical.' I groan softly, frowning as I pat Sango on the back. Already knowing what I intended to do she swoops low, allow me to jump off of Kirara's back straight into the lake. Swimming as fast as I can, I finally see the Trident sinking below and reach out to grab a hold of it tightly.

However, I failed to notice the body of the snake demon as it collides hard into me, knocking me into a daze with the unexpected hit. No sooner had it happened, than I felt the power of Tessaiga near me. Looking over in the water I see the yellow aura of it's energy as Inuyasha slices through the snake's head, cutting it down the middle. His amber eyes are locked on me with determination, and when he reaches me he wraps his arm around my waist firmly, using the snake's now dead body as a brace to jump with me out of the water. We land together, Inuyasha kneeling with me protectively at his side. I look up, shaking some sense into myself as I hold the Trident towards the Water Goddess that stood calmly before us. She gladly steps forward, pressing her hands to the staff. Both the Water Goddess and the staff glows with white light as her figure grows, Shippo stepping back slightly in shock.

"She got bigger!" He exclaims nervously, clearly unsure of what to make of it. Grabbing onto her Trident, she points it to the sky.

"Clouds disperse!" She commands, the Trident glowing and pulsing with energy. This energy, however, wasn't evil in nature. This time it felt much more pure. Her command works, the dark clouds parting to reveal the glow of the early morning, the sun just starting to rise over the horizon on the lake. I relax fully against Inuyasha's side, his warmth still inviting even through our damp clothes. His arm tightens securely around me as he looks on as well, a look of genuine wonder on his handsome face as he does.

"So," Tarōmaru speaks up nervously then, "does anyone want to come and explain all this to my Dad?"

He's met with silence.


"Man, we spent all our time fighting an overgrown snake, and no jewel shard to be had." Inuyasha complains later that day as we continue on our way. I was exhausted to the point of nearly tripping over my own two feet.

I had never done well with sleep deprivation.

"It wasn't all a waste." Miroku comments slyly from his seat on top of the horse drawn wagon. Glancing over towards it, I frown, wondering what exactly he had managed to convince the headman to give him and how.

'But hey, I'm not going to complain. I got some new clothes out of the deal.' I think as I look down at myself, the white top new to replace my shredded one, but the purple bottoms from were still from my old outfit. It felt nice to be back in these clothes again, along with being dry. I think I've seen enough water to last me a week! Maybe two.

"We helped out the needy." Miroku adds, drawing the wagon to a stop as Inuyasha stops and looks at him suspiciously.

"Hey, what do you have in the cart, monk?" He asks, glancing up towards Shippo as he sat on top of a large trunk on the wagon.

"Well," Miroku began to explain, "I mentioned to the headman that I wouldn't be opposed to telling the villagers that his son acted with tremendous bravery, and for some reason…he gave me these gifts." He finishes smoothly, though now that Inuyasha was onto the monk's ways, he was hardly tricked.

"You blackmailed him into it, didn't you?!" Inuyasha angrily accuses him, and judging by the sheepish expression on Miroku's face, he hit it spot on. I sigh heavily, slumping by shoulder in defeat. Even I had to admit that was kind of low.

"Does he always pull stunts like this?" Sango whispers to me curiously.

"More often than not, yes." I admit with a tired sigh as we start moving again.

"I say we sell some of these things off at the next village and have a big party to celebrate." Miroku suggests lightly, Inuyasha's only response was a groan of irritation.

"That's the last time I do any acts of human kindness with you."


Thank you so much you guys for your patience on this later-than-usual update! I did have a fantastic holiday weekend (it was the Civic Holiday here in Canada) visiting with my friend (and old roommate) from University! I only see her once a year so I really wanted to spend as much time with her as possible. I promise that from here on out updates will be back to normal (unless I give warning otherwise-but I don't see that happening in the foreseeable future).

Until next time!

T.O.T.