Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.

Chapter 16: A Reluctant Invitation

It was late afternoon and the sky had taken on a warm golden tone before Sesshomaru returned. More demon mercenaries had entered his lands looking for a female hanyou with a white streak in her hair. Few of them knew her name, which was good, although it made no difference as they all ended up dead. Sesshomaru would not tolerate such trespassers on his land, nor would he chance Naosu falling into Naraku's hands.

He landed next to Ah-Un, who he had left behind to watch over the sleeping girl, to find her kneeling beside he beast stroking the smooth scales of the closest neck. "You are awake."

She turned at his voice, a sleepy smile in her eyes, "Only just. Kagome has started dinner and Inu Yasha is most impatient to speak with you."

"He will have to wait. There are more important matters to attend." Naosu stood and nodded in response. It was time they had a talk with the miko.

"You think I'm going to let you leave with Kagome!"

"Inu Yasha," Kagome smiled, doing her best to hide her irritation, "We're only going to be over there." She gestured to a grassy spot just out of earshot of their camp. "It's not like I'm going to be in any danger."

"Well, I'm coming with you!"

"But…" she hesitated; Naosu had asked to speak with her alone.

"It's fine." Naosu frowned. Things would be easier without him, but they weren't going to get anywhere if she didn't relent. "He can come, provided he can hold his tongue." Even she could hear the venom in her voice, as much as she tried to withhold it. There were times when she could almost understand the hatred of her great grandfather for the hanyou.

Sesshomaru rose to his feet as Naosu returned with the miko and her 'pet.' He had a few difficult moments maintaining his emotionless expression as he thought of Inu Yasha doing 'tricks' for food and being tied to a post outside a hut like a common village dog. Naosu smiled when she noticed the subtle change in his features hinting at a laugh deep in his eyes. The more time she spent with him the more she could read him, and the more beautiful he was to her. Blinking, she pulled herself back to the present and was startled by he striking amber eyes that looked questioningly at her.

"He's to remain silent." She offered as explanation.

The blanket Kagome had used to cover Naosu the night before had been folded into a cushion onto which Kagome was directed to sit. Sesshomaru sat upon the back of his steed, as if it was a living throne, across from her. Naosu seated herself to his left and before him on the flattened grass. Inu Yasha stood beside Kagome, arms crossed and glaring at the woman across from him.

"Inu Yasha." He felt a gentle tug on his sleeve and looked down into large brown eyes. "Are you going to make me say it, or are you just going to …" Before she could finish he had dropped to the ground, understanding the implied threat and not wanting to be 'sat' in front of his brother again.

Naosu locked eyes with Kagome to make it clear to whom she was speaking, "I should start by letting you know that I am not human, not completely anyway."

"I know," Kagome responded, echoing the serious tone that was being set. "You have the same spider shaped scar on your back as Naraku and Kagura."

"Yes, but unlike the wind witch I was not formed from him in the same way. I am a descendant, an offspring of his offspring. I am his great granddaughter and currently the last of his line." Naosu paused to organize her thoughts, searching for what should come next out of all the things that needed to be said. "My true goal is to keep his line from ever being started by providing you with everything I can to help you defeat him. You must win the final battle this time."

"This time?" Kagome questioned even as the answer began to come to her.

"There was a battle, about a week and a half from now, in which you were killed by him, leaving his evil unchecked and which led to the birth of a child that began Naraku's family line, my family line."

"How can I have lost a fight that hasn't even happened yet!" Inu Yasha blurted out, more than a little angry that he seemed to be the only one who didn't seem to understand.

With narrowed eyes, Naosu turned to look at him before going back to Kagome and continuing. "The Shikon no Tama must be completed which means it must be taken from Naraku so that you can combine it with the shards you possess."

"And yours." Kagome whispered allowing her gaze to drift to the faint glow from the shard within the other woman's breast. "You didn't know did you?" Naosu felt the eyes of the other two fall on her. "I wasn't sure until I saw you bind Inu Yasha that first night in the village. You moved so fast, kind of like Kouga," Kagome paused to glance at the seated hanyou, "the light from the jewel shard was brighter. You were tapping into its power similar to the way you did when you healed Miroku."

"And when she returned my arm." Sesshomaru added, lifting his left hand from his lap.

Kagome smiled, noticing he returned limb consciously for the first time, " Yes, then too."

"And when she ran off that night I caught her with Kanna." Kagome's smile slipped. She still had her doubts about Inu Yasha's version of the story.

"You were trying to kill me." Naosu felt her irritation turning to anger.

"So!" The hanyou pronounced jumping to his feet, ready to pick up the fight were they had left it off.

"So!?" she retorted, also rising to her feet, "So?! If I hadn't left when I did you would be dead now! In fact, that might have been a good idea, if I killed you Naraku could not and maybe things would have been different. I could cease to exist."

"Well, if that's what you want, let me help you. Stand still." Inu Yasha itching for a fight, for a kill, Naraku preferably but she would do.

Naosu was about to make a lunge for the dog's neck when strong fingers took hold of her wrist. "Stop." The one word was more than a simple command; it was a reminder to consider the larger plan. It was all she needed to cool her temper and remind her to remain in control. To be less like her great grandfather and more like the youkai that restrained her.

Inu Yasha took the change in her stance as an opening and prepared to take the chance until a sudden impact with the ground stopped him. "SIT!"

"One of these days…" He mumbled, his words muffled by the grass.

"Is this a bad time?" A soft female voice breached the tension. "It's just that it is getting late and we were wondering if any of you would like something to eat?' Sango had been keeping an eye on the group from their camp and had noticed as things seemed to take a turn for the worse. Strangely it had been fear of something happening to Inu Yasha that had prompted her to intervene, somehow knowing that Naosu would be more than able to take care of herself.

"That sounds like a great idea." Kagome beamed, thankful for the convenient interruption.

Sesshomaru was not in the habit of sharing meals with humans as he often instructed Rin to fend for herself when she became hungry. His intent when he followed the others back to the fire had been simply to sit and wait for the chance to continue the discussion that had been side tracked by his brother's abrasive temper. The strange miko the hanyou kept company with, however, seemed to have other plans. She proved herself most irritating until he capitulated and took the bowl noodles and meat flavoured broth she offered. He sat with the bowl of 'ramen' in his lap as the others began to eat except for Naosu who seemed to be waiting, her soup untouched. Her gaze would not mean his, something she seemed to do out of respect and not fear. It occurred to him that she may be waiting for his permission, or even allowing him to start the meal as she treated him as her superior. Eying the dish in his hand, Sesshomaru lifted some of the noodles to his mouth.

"Who made this?" The flat tone made Sango look up.

Kagome turned smiling, "Do you like it?"

"No." he replied handing the bowl back. "No self-respecting demon would eat this."

Her smile fading, she accepted the dish, "Inu Yasha never complained."

"Exactly."

Sensing he had just been insulted Inu Yasha paused mid-mouthful to look at his brother. "Yurm wrmm ter-"

"Inu Yasha don't talk with your mouth full." Kagome rolled her eyes, thinking how annoying it was when he made her feel like her mother.

Glaring at her he swallowed and began again. "I was saying, if you want to fight then bring it on!" Sesshomaru felt his eyes narrow and his muscles tense, a short fight might be just what was needed to remind his late father's pup of his place.

"Kohaku doesn't remember anything of Naraku's where a bouts and …" Sango turned to Kagome hoping the brothers wouldn't resist the change of topic.

"And," Kohaku braved the uneasy silence to continue where his sister had left off, "I know that you wish to confront him with as many fighters as possible but I just don't think that I can fight anymore." His voice trailed off as the faces of the people he had slaughtered while under Naraku's control filed through his memory. Placing a steadying hand on her brother's slumped shoulder, Sango finished for him. "I was thinking that we could take him back to the village to stay with Lady Kaede."

"NO! You mustn't!" At the mention of returning to the village Naosu felt her bold run cold. "You can't return to the village." Her sudden outburst had all eyes locked on her questioningly.

"Why the hell NOT?!" Inu Yasha raised his voice in response. Who the hell was she to think she could tell them, or him, what they could and could not do?

Her breathing became ragged as she fought back the emotions that threatened to choke her as she once again witnessed the events in her mind. "Because Naraku will be waiting for you."

"SO YOU ARE WORKING WITH HIM!"

"I AM NOT!" Naosu closed her eyes to help steady herself. Her jaw clenched as she again felt the overwhelming urge to kill the half demon.

"Think Inu Yasha. If she were working with Naraku why would she warn us of his plans?" Sango's reasoning seemed to get through. Naosu felt her breathing relax at the sound of the calm soothing voice of the exterminator, so like her lost mother's. Kagome exhaled as the tension surrounding her began to dissipate and made sure to choose her words and tone carefully. "Is that were it happened?"

Naosu let her body slump back, the leg of the youkai behind her acting as a support. "Yes. And he may know of Inu Yasha's 'weak time.'"

Sensing that Inu Yasha was about to tear into Naosu again, Sango wasted no time moving the subject forward, "Where would you have us go? Staying out in the open won't be safe that much longer." Both she and Kohaku could feel the presence of the many lesser demons that were moving into the area even as they remained hiddem.

"The woman is correct. You will no longer be able to remain here unchallenged." Sesshomaru had agreed to help Naosu save these people and there was only one place he knew that their safety could be assured. With a slow even breath he prepared to do something he had never thought to have to do. "I shall lead you to my home."