A/N: Thank you for the comments and welcome those who're new to it. I hope you'll all enjoy the next chapter (on schedule if I may add).

InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi.

o.O.o

Chapter Thirteen, Kaze no Kizu

'Obstacles are put in your way to see if what you want is really worth fighting for.'

They met again a few days later. The day had been unusually quiet. They had just set camp and Chiharu had just left her friends sitting around the fire, Kagome cooking dinner, Miroku mumbling about all of his conquests and Inuyasha about not moving fast enough for his taste. She followed the river down a slope and smiled when she noticed the several hot springs in between a few dark, sharp rocks. It wasn't that far away and if she screamed, her friends would be there in seconds. She might have been able to handle herself decently enough, she had no desire to fight while naked and wet.

Placing her bathing supplies neatly onto the forest floor, she kicked off her sandals. Slightly lost in thought she came to stop at the bank of the river and dipped her toes into toes ice cold water. Bathing in the water this temperature didn't have her fancy, but at least she got clean thanks to them. Undressing quickly, she entered the cold water quickly. Her arms and legs trembled and she puffed her cheeks up as she rinsed her hair out. Her fingers grew numb from the cold and she wasn't even ready scrubbing her stomach. To warm herself slightly she did a few laps swimming from one end to the other. Her limbs are shaking and her arms are pale in the in the evening sun and the highlands were crowned with drifting clouds. It looked like it was going to snow. Of course, it wasn't yet that cold, but the dark masses of clouds and the chilly wind all gave the impression it was going to snow.

Chiharu dipped her head underwater and held her breath. It had been snowing that night, nine years ago as well. The windscreen wipers had been busily cleaning the extensive snow from the windshield and the car's heating system made a buzzing sound. Christmas carols echoed dauntingly through the car and her father smiled down at her when she hummed along with the familiar tune, too young to understand the unfamiliar words, yet familiar enough to know the tune. The road had been slippery and suddenly a woman and her young boy had crossed the street. The screeching sound their car had made when her father evaded the two people still made the hairs on her arms and legs stand on edge. So did the crash and the loud sirens that followed. The radio kept playing the Christmas carol as two medical workers lifted her bleeding from out of the wreck and set up fluids before applying a small air mask to get her enough oxygen. She still remembered her father's still face and the dead glassy eyes…

She came up for air coughing. Gasping she scrubbed her arms, pale skin eventually turning red until the small scars were unnoticeable. She slid through the water and massaged her scalp roughly until she could rinse out all the dirt and dust she'd collected from sleeping on the forest floor. She had just started to clean her feet when a horrible dark aura passed over her. Fast and unstoppable, as thunder shooting through the sky, the sky darkened with dark grey clouds. She shot up to her feet, water cascading down her body and clambered out onto the riverbank. Sesshōmaru's dark youki was suddenly pressing down onto her and she inhaled sharply.

Quickly dressing, ignoring the heavy feeling that had settled into the pit of her stomach, she started down the path back towards the campsite. Even from where she was now, she heard Inuyasha snarl as his brother made an entrance. Effectively cutting the strings of his remarks short, she heard a fist connect with Inuyasha and the Hanyō slammed into the forest-floor.

"Chikushō," she whispered, quickening her pace. Their voices, Miroku's and Kagome's, were getting clearer. His youki was getting clearer as well.

"An acquaintance of yours?" Miroku asked. Chiharu finally reached the clearing of their campsite.

"That's Inuyasha's onii-san and unlike Inuyasha, who is Hanyō, he is full yōkai." Kagome explained softly. "He's the one who did this to Chiharu-chan."

Chiharu stiffened at the tree line, looking up at Sesshōmaru's face. He wore his usual disdainful expression and cracked his knuckles. She watched his eyes briefly flit over her form before turning towards the red-clad Hanyō. "Inuyasha, you aid Tōtōsai? Fine, then you'll die."

Inuyasha's snorted rudely and Chiharu wondered what the hell a Tōtōsai was.

Inuyasha charged at his older brother, face pinched with determination, swinging his sword at the full-blooded Yōkai. As Sesshōmaru sidestepped his opponent, horrible scathing comments aimed at his careless way of fighting, Chiharu wondered if Sesshōmaru had ever tried teaching his brother. The way he sneered, actually sort of explaining how to use his sword, she supposed he might have taught Inuyasha before. Even if that made no sense, whatsoever.

He noticed her again, his eyes momentarily landing on her petite frame and she carefully inched to where her friends stood. A cranky, balding, old man with huge eyes and small pupils and irises stood huddled behind Miroku and Sango. His remaining hair was tied together in a topknot and his goatee at the end of his chin was slightly scorched as if he had tried to look a bit too deep in the embers of a crackling fire and his moustache was unkempt. His robes consisted out of a green haori with black horizontal stripes on it and a matching hakama. Like so many of the people they met, he was barefoot.

"What's going on?" Chiharu asked slowly, winching as Sesshōmaru caught Inuyasha's wrist and started to dissolve it under his poisonous claws.

"Tōtōsai-san came her for help," Kagome whispered and Chiharu nodded.

The large round eyes of the man — Tōtōsai apparently — narrowed and she gave him an annoyed stare. Myouga the flea-yōkai yelped seeing her, jumping up and down on Kagome's shoulder. "Chiharu-sama, you look all right."

"Yes, I'm still alive," she sarcastically mumbled.

Tōtōsai gazed at her. "Not for long."

She didn't have time to react on that because Inuyasha was punched in his stomach, the wind knocked out of him and slammed into the forest-floor.

"He's a complete incompetent!" Tōtōsai cried. "Myōga, you said Inuyasha had mastered the Tetsusaiga!"

"I—"

Propping himself up on his arms and knees he wiped the rug of his hand over his bleeding lower lip. "I did you old codger!" he bellowed.

"Hiraikōtsu!"

Sango hurled her large boomerangbone at the Daiyōkai, who almost stoically returned it, carelessly flicking his wrist, to the fragile Yōkai taijiya. The girl still slowed down by her injuries, jumped out of the way and Inuyasha streaked past his companions in a red blur before slamming into the ground. The older Yōkai had backhanded him rather painfully.

Sango wanted to swing her boomerang again, but Inuyasha snarled. "Don't, he's mine."

Chiharu winced again when Sesshōmaru suddenly used his fist to punch Inuyasha in his stomach and the other to swipe razor sharp claws at his cheekbone. Blood, dark and red, ran down his face and Inuyasha swore loudly before jumping up in one of the trees.

"Well, Tōtōsai," Sesshōmaru started, a green hissing whip extending from his fingers and he cut the tree in two, "All Inuyasha can do is wave about a sword with all his so-called strength. It's the same whether it's a famous sword or a log."

The old man nodded carefully and Kagome's face reddened. "What are you nodding fore?"

"He's got a point," the old man whispered.

"You fucking bastard," Inuyasha cried, "I'm not incompetent! I'm handling it, am I not?"

"Heh," Sesshōmaru smirked — Chiharu felt his elation as clear as day — "It seems you don't even know of the wind scar…"

"The wind scar?" Chiharu asked softly, crossing her arms over her chest as she watched the two brothers as they swiped at each other from the periphery of her vision. Sesshōmaru, on the contrary of his younger brother, fought with calm deliberate moves. He wasn't fast enough and, even with Tetsusaiga, as long as Sesshōmaru fought calculatedly, Inuyasha couldn't match him.

"The scar of the wind is the correct movement which brings out the swords true explosive power. It is the Tetsusaiga's secret principle, so to speak…" Tōtōsai explained, stroking his goatee. "Slaying a hundred Yōkai is impossible unless one can see the Wind Scar. Sesshōmaru must be able to."

"Of course he can," Chiharu muttered, "It's not like he wasn't already dangerous enough…"

And then, something changed. She could sense it, even if she had no idea what was happening. Shippō jumped on her shoulder, hugging himself close to her neck and cheek and she shivered. The air around the two brothers changed, getting thicker, Sesshōmaru's eyes turned red, youki whirling around his form. Inuyasha tried, once again to cut his brother down, but the older one stepped aside.

Inuyasha grumbled, swung the sword and jumped forward. Sneer firm on his face, he drew the sword back, Sesshōmaru suddenly appeared in front of him and with a trademark Dokkasou to his face, sent the younger boy flailing to the forest floor.

The Hanyou impacted against the ground, debris flying around him and Kagome shrieked when he opened his eyes. The irises of his eyes had glassed over and even from the distance, Chiharu could see the beginnings of panic settle on his features.

The beginnings of pure anger settled on Sesshōmaru's face and the stripes on his cheeks became more jagged while red seeped into his eyes. "You and I, Inuyasha, are simply not in the same class."

He charged again. "You dirty little Hanyō!"

Inuyasha slowly got to his feet. Chiharu noticed his nose wrinkling and suddenly he took a step forward and sliced at the very air before him. Pure energy flickered and suddenly the vibrated when Tetsusaiga's true power was released. A powerful energy wave cut through the air and Chiharu was vaguely aware of someone wrapping an arm around her waist and dragging her behind an ox yōkai for safety. She knew when the attack hit its intended target. Her breath hitched and she felt winded, almost felt blood seeping past her chest and numbed her fingers.

"Chiharu-sama," It was Miroku, his face peering at hers. "Are you all right?"

"She'll be fine," Myoga-jijii whispered and he was right. When the initial shock of the sudden pain — pain that she hadn't been familiar with — lessened she slowly sat up. Her nerves remained unsettled even when the little group moved towards the shore of a soft cackling river.

Inuyasha slugged down near the jettisoned water and washed his face. Chiharu slowly, hands trembling, sat down next to him and held both of her hands deep into the cool water. It felt like an explosion had taken place in her left shoulder. As the water numbed her shaking fingers she slowly came to her senses. There was a great deal of pain waiting to spring on her senses.

"You okay?"

She looked up surprised at Inuyasha's gruff voice. He was staring intently at her and she draped her arms over her raised knees. "I'm okay, I think."

"You feel it…"

It wasn't a question, yet, it wasn't an observation either. Her eyebrows rose in surprise and a rustle of excited murmurs broke out over the other members of the little group.

Tōtōsai, the elderly yōkai wordsmith who forged both the Tetsusaiga and the Tenseiga, cleared his throat. His back was straight and his eyes bulbous as he sat against the three-eyed ox yōkai on which he'd flown to them. When Sesshōmaru had commissioned Tōtōsai to create a sword that rivalled Tetsusaiga, the older man had fled with Myouga-Jijii-chan.

"I didn't know he'd chosen anyone as a prospect?" the old sword-smith said. He acted and sounded a bit senile.

"She's more of a bargaining chip." Myoga-jijii-chan whispered and Chiharu glared at him, even though what he'd said was true. Tōtōsai scratched his head and stared at her with a vacant expression.

"Let me hone the sword for you," he suddenly announced. Inuyasha gave him a hostile glare but did pull the Tetsusaiga out from his waistband.

"You better not do anything iffy with it, you slow-assed old fart!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome snapped as he unceremoniously dropped the sword in the old man's lap.

"Feh!" Inuyasha dropped back cross-legged to the floor, Shippō trying to scamper on top of Inuyasha's head so that he could lean down and peer into his face. "Are you really all right?"

"I'm fine, leave me alone!" The Hanyou snored annoyed and batted the boy away and Chiharu felt a muscle in her back twitch. She dipped her hands back into the river and shivered again. Tōtōsai blew his cheeks up and unleashed a controlled stream of flame-breath to ignite the sword until it was glowing. The sound of a sharp rasp echoed through the clearing as the sword-smith struck the blade with his large hammer. The shuddery, tight noise made her over-sensitive nerves tingle.

"You and your elder brother don't get on." Tōtōsai decided, stating the understatement of the year.

"Everything about me he finds offensive. He just does." Inuyasha snorted and Chiharu trembled. He was hurt. Hurt enough that she could tell. She felt it burn through her bloodstream, singing out to the bond they shared. She had no idea it would do that. She exhaled softly trying to calm the raging nerves. What was she supposed to do?

"You probably should," Myoga-jijii whispered and she gasped when he nuzzled her neck.

"You better not try to bite me." She mumbled softly and the flea-yōkai grumbled. She brushed her wet hands off on her hakama and Myoga-jijii landed on her knee. "What should I probably do?"

"Follow after him," Myoga answered, the others didn't seem to pay much attention to her as Tōtōsai explained about the Tetsusaiga and the Tensaiga. "It might be your only hope."

"Myoga-jijii, what will happen if I don't you know get rid of the mark?"

"You can't get rid of it. Not unless he finds someone else." Myoga whispered. "And even then it won't change your biology back."

"Fine, what will happen if this mark stays incomplete?"

Myoga stared long and hard at her but it was Tōtōsai who answered. "It will corrupt your mind, seeking to be complete."

"I don't understand…"

"The Youki will take over," Tōtōsai explained slowly, softly. "It's only a matter of time and when it completely does it will kill you."

The trees stood mournfully around them, dry leaves rattling in the chilly wind. The sun was slowly sinking behind the long Western horizon and the mountains stood in dark contrast against the soft orange hue. Her friends and her sister stood like statues at the other end of the clearing, openly staring at her and she shifted awkwardly on her spot.

"Has it ever tried to take over."

"No," she answered quickly. Perhaps too quickly.

"Have you ever done something you felt like you didn't have any control over?" Tōtōsai asked, his bulbous eyes trained on her. She fidgeted again. She had almost blasted a tree away when she shot an arrow at two human monks. She had taken down half a palace shrine when she got angry with the Sennin, but was that something she had no control over, or was it something she'd done when hormones had been running rampant through her body.

"I—" Chiharu started slowly, unsure how to proceed. The wind pulled at a lock of her hair, and she tucked the wayward strand of hair behind her ear. The night was gathering over the shapeless lands before her, the green of the foliage swallowed by a grey-darkness. "—Perhaps I've lost control a few times."

Tōtōsai nodded slowly. He didn't comment but the slight daze that passed over his eyes and she pulled at the strap of her quiver.

"How long?" Kagome asked. "How long does she have?"

The old sword-smith. "What's that?"

"How long before an incomplete mark becomes a problem?" Kagome asked slowly.

"What?"

"You just said it would become a problem!" Inuyasha snapped, smacking the man upside the head.

"Did I?"

"Just a second ago, you old codger!" Inuyasha bellowed.

"It's fine," Chiharu whispered. "I figure it out myself."

She jumped to her feet, tensing her hands as she felt her jangled nerves flutter. Kagome hurried towards her, hands reaching for her as if she hoped to help her stand. "I'm fine, Onee-chan…" she softly whispered, raking fingers through her long dark hair nervously. "I don't think I'll suddenly start losing my mind right now."

Even though she couldn't ignore the call that laced through her blood. She wondered if he was even aware of it. "I'm going to find it out myself."

"We're coming with you."

It surprised her that it was Inuyasha who told her this. She peered up at him, craning her neck to gaze up at him, upon a boulder swinging Tetsusaiga around, to test the honed sword. She swallowed, finding her rucksack, still filled with bowls and a pounce of gold — she didn't have to use because Miroku talked himself inside of villagers homes to stay the night — and swung it over her shoulder.

"No," she shook her head, "I need him to be willing to speak to me."

"Your point?"

"That if you all were to come with me a bloodbath ensues." She answered slowly. He glared at her, golden eyes narrowed and ears fluttering. "I don't think he would be in the shape to be his usual massive arsehole to me. And perhaps I could use that to my advantage to get him to get rid of his stupid mark."

She smiled to herself. The idea that the tables might be reversed entertained her more than it should. Kagome stared at her, obviously not pleased with her younger sister's idea, and rubbed her hands together. Chiharu smiled at her, wrapping her sister in her arms and squeezed her to her chest.

"I'll be fine."

"Are you sure, Chiharu-sama?" Miroku asked and she smiled, the action straining her cheek muscles almost painfully.

"I am,"

She thought as long as that mark remained a problem, she would constantly be tempted to take the Tetsusaiga from Inuyasha. Being loyal to her friends only went that far and although she had thought she could live with the aches and prickles, she wasn't sure if she could with the idea that she would eventually go insane. Inuyasha was still staring at her and she winced slightly when her blood tingled in her veins. If she had to describe it she couldn't, but instinctively she recognised the call their bond made on her. She very much doubted he was doing it on purpose. For once, he was probably too hurt to do it purposely.

"Where do we meet up?"

Inuyasha offered her bow and she slung it thankfully over her shoulder. Kagome almost dropped her heavy yellow pack and Shippō's lower lip wobbled.

"You can't be serious?"

"Kagome, I can't fix this. You, no your doctors can't either." The Hanyō snapped. "And if Sesshōmaru senses me, no matter how injured he might be we will take off where we left it."

"I can go with you!" Shippō suddenly piped up, climbing on her shoulder.

"Shippō-chan," Chiharu started slowly but Kagome was nodding.

"I think that's a good idea," she nodded. Chiharu stared at her. Kagome was practically his surrogate mother and yet she let him go off with her, to find a dangerous yōkai who might likely get angry the moment she tried to bargain her freedom. Yet, as he rubbed his cheek affectionally against hers, she couldn't find it in her to refuse him.

"All right," she nodded, "do we meet up at Kaede's?"

"Seven days!" Inuyasha warned. "If you're not there by then, I'll hunt the sucker down."

Chiharu smiled, fingers carefully trading through Shippō's sandy hair. She was slightly warmed by his words. As tough as he acted, he was obviously a good person and she nodded. Readjusting the knot on her obi she hugged her pouting sister again. Sango, her face scrunched up in disapproval pressed a phial with a red liquid inside of it.

"What—"

"If you need to get out throw this down on the ground." She told the younger girl. "Don't linger, but get out as fast as you can. If won't stop him, but it will delay him."

"Thank you!" Chiharu whispered and the Taijiya nodded. Before anyone could say anything else — or grope her in Miroku's case — she jumped through the foliage and, sniffing the air, followed the call of her blood. By the time she could no longer here or sense her friends the moon was out, a sliver in the sky and the forest path was dark. While Shippō feel asleep in her arms, she followed the path until her legs almost gave out. She had only one chance for this…

To be continued…

A/N: Sesshōmaru deserved this one, if you ask me^^ Next update will be on Thursday^^

Let me know what you all think!:)