Hey guys I'm not dead I have just been overloaded with work to do, anyways just a disclaimer I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters or plots just my own twists and characters, my OC's are; Yuzuki (main character, half-wolf demon/water sorceress), Raven (wolf demon 'bad guy'), Ryuu (water dragon), Kamiko (fire/earth dragon, Ryuu's mate), Taro and Kenji (Ryuu and Kamiko's children), Hayami (Yuzuki's mother), Tsuyoshi (Tiger demon/elemental sorcerer, Yuzuki's teacher), Narumi (Tiger demon, Tsuyoshi's mate), Kazuhiko (leader of the southern tribe, Sayuri's mate), Sayuri (leader of the western tribe, Kazuhiko's mate), Michiko and Satoru (wolf demons, children of Kazuhiko and Sayuri), Zurui (mixed-breed, fire sorcerer 'bad guy') Kiriko (Naraku's new incarnation) and Yukiko (Snow/Ice sorcerer). Enjoy oh and if you wish to see avatar pictures of the characters I have a facebook page for my stories now which you can find on my Profile.

Chapter 22: Zurui strikes

After we all had dinner and we sat around the fire, Inuyasha took a piece of meat that was meant to be Shippo's, Shippo was about to play a trick on him that I'd seen Kenji play on Taro a couple times before. Kagome was about to say the word when I covered her mouth Shippo had a shell, Kenji called it a sea horn, Shippo went behind Inuyasha and blew it making a loud noise, Inuyasha jumped away in fright dropping the food and standing on guard. I burst out laughing as did everyone else though Miroku only had a smile on his face and was only just awake "That ain't funny" Inuyasha growled as I sat back down and tried to recompose himself. Shippo came over to me with his re-claimed food "Kenji taught me that and gave me my own sea horn" Shippo said I smiled "You know what else a sea horn is good for?" I asked Shippo shook his head. "What?" Shippo asked in curiosity "Communication" I said "A shell can do that?" Kagome asked I gave a nod "May I have your sea horn for a moment please Shippo?" I asked he gave a nod and passed it to me.

I placed the shell to my ear to hear Kenji "Hey Shippo next time you come back we can have a camp out near the waterfall, come back soon ok? Bye be careful out there and say hi to Yuzuki for us" Kenji said I smiled "Shippo put this to your ear and listen" I said. I passed him the shell and he held it to his ear then smiled brightly "Wow that's so cool, can I give him a message?" Shippo asked "In the morning before we head off" I said "Ok thanks Yuzuki hey Kagome listen to this" Shippo said and basically took the shell to everyone. An hour passed and we'd all got some sleep though I couldn't help but feel that the sorcerers were right that this was the beginning but something didn't feel right that something was going to happen to someone I loved that I cared for. I just hoped I was wrong about my feeling, that we'd all get through this with thoughts running through my mind I drifted to sleep smelling the ashes from the fire that had burned out.

"Yuzuki… Yuzuki wake up its morning we have to go…" Shippo said as he shook me I yawned and sat up "Alright, I'm up…" I said he went around to everyone else Koga's leg was better than it was though Miroku had his share of injures still. Kirara turned big and Inuyasha placed Miroku on Kirara, we packed up camp and started walking back to the place it was a peaceful walk without Inuyasha arguing with anyone for a change, I'm sure he was still fussed about my family and I though. A certain smell appeared one that I knew it was the scent of Zurui we stopped walking "What's that?" Shippo asked "It's Zurui's scent" I replied "Looks like he's saving us the trouble of finding him" Inuyasha said in triumph. I shook my head "Inuyasha he's dangerous" I said "So you've finally realised my true power then" Zurui's voice came from up in the sky we looked up to see him hovering in front of us in the air above us not far away. "What power? You're nothing if you think forest fires are tough" Inuyasha puffed "I wasn't talking to you dog, Yuzuki I'm giving you another chance to reconsider now that I've found out what you have to do with my dear half-brother" Zurui said I frowned "I want nothing to do with you or your brother" I said sternly.

Zurui raised a brow then sighed "I see well I guess I have no choice then…" Zurui said I looked at him in curiosity not knowing what he had planned Zurui smiled the sort that could send chills down your spine, I frowned as I tensed up slightly. "You will realise when it's too late that you should have sided with me and when that day comes it will be too late, you will be begging for death" Zurui said "I would never side with you and nothing will change my mind" I said. "We shall see just keep in mind not all demons are kind to half-breeds, makes me wonder if you have the guts to kill your own kind just to live" Zurui said I looked at him in awe as slight fear crept over me remembering what I had done Zurui laughed. "I thought you may never have the guts to kill your own but maybe you can be turned in time" Zurui said "Yeah right, get out of here you're a disgrace to all wolf demons" Koga growled "Not just that but your annoying me with your stench and voice" Inuyasha snapped. "Just keep what I said in mind that and your promise to your kind" Zurui said then took off leaving a gush of wind flying our way creating dirt fly about, I can't and won't kill again "Yuzuki are you ok?" Ginta asked "Don't listen to that mixed breed scum" Koga said.

"Yuzuki what did he mean by your promise?" Miroku asked I looked at him "I promised to protect the wolf tribes" I said just then it clicked wait my promise, I quickly formed a ball of water in my hands and focused on the western tribe. It seemed normal I went to look at the Place next but there was smoke everywhere I couldn't see anything "Yuzuki what happened?" Shippo asked as he looked at the water in awe "I-I don't know… Somethings wrong, I have to get to Tsuyoshi and the others" I said. "Then let's go" Kagome said grabbing my hand and ran off, I picked up my speed, the sky started turning colours as water build up and the wind picked up also "Yuzuki what's going on with the weather?" Miroku asked a crack of thunder rang out as it struck near us. I stopped as did everyone else. I looked up as the rain came down heavier, I used a skill that Tsuyoshi taught me better then summoning water to see what's going on elsewhere, my eyes went from violet to a sky blue as I let the rain be my sight I could see everything where the rain was Kiriko and Zurui were at the place and each of them tried to get Tsuyoshi.

Though it looked like they weren't working as a team I closed my eyes snapping out of my sight and frowned "Damn them to hell" I growled as I took off "Yuzuki!" they yelled "Wait up Yuzuki!" Kagome called Koga and Inuyasha caught up to me in no time. "Yuzuki what's wrong?" Koga asked "The mixed breed or Naraku?" Inuyasha asked "Zurui and Kiriko are trying to capture Tsuyoshi" I said "What?" Koga said surprised "Why are you surprised at that?" Inuyasha puffed. "They want to capture Tsuyoshi? Kiriko said Naraku wants the elemental powers not the person who has them" Koga said "Tsuyoshi is the most powerful he controls all elements, if Naraku or Zurui gets Tsuyoshi it's all over" I said "Damn it we need to get back there and save your friend" Inuyasha growled. "I'm with you there" Koga said we got there first Koga didn't run off ahead like usual we got to there to see Kiriko was just leaving thanks to Ryuu though Zurui was fighting with Zurui still "Fangs of Vengeance!" I yelled sending waves of fangs his way. "Inferno!" Zurui shouted as he turned around sending a wire wall my way I placed a wave of water up dimming out the fire when it was down Zurui had Tsuyoshi by the throat "No!" I screamed Zurui had a smirk plastered on his face.

"Did I not say it would be too late to change your mind? I'll kill off everyone you love one by one but Tsuyoshi I'll let him live well as long as he survives getting his powers stripped" Zurui said Narumi had run up behind him he turned back and hit her sending her flying back skidding across the ground. "Narumi!" Tsuyoshi shouted "Tch I would be more concerned about yourself at the moment my old friend" Zurui said I took the chance and ran at him he caught me by my neck as he turned around "Yuzuki!" Koga and Inuyasha yelled "Do you really think I'm an idiot?" Zurui puffed. I frowned as I clawed at his hand around my throat trying to catch my breath he then smiled and laughed and loosened his grip on me "You have a secret and it seems to be your weakness…" Zurui said "I-I don't know what your… Talking about" I puffed. He narrowed his eyes "Oh yes you do, I'll find out what you fear, what you are hiding from your friends" Zurui said in a hushed tone only for Tsuyoshi and I to hear then threw me back to be caught by Koga. "Yuzuki are you ok?" Koga asked "Hey! You bastard get back here!" Inuyasha shouted I looked over to Narumi "Narumi… Koga Narumi's hurt" I said Koga placed me down and we ran over to her, I knelt by her side.

"Narumi" I said she looked at me with tears streaming down her face "Tsuyoshi… He's gone… My mate…" Narumi sobbed I clenched my teeth "I'll get him back I promise" I said Narumi latched onto me as she cried, all I could do was comfort her the best I could. I looked over to the cave to see Ryuu with Kamiko and his sons I closed my eyes as I frowned, Zurui did this because I didn't join him, he took Tsuyoshi and plans to find out my weakness my secret about killing wolf demons. "Yuzuki" Narumi said I opened my eyes as I separated slightly she placed her hands on either side of my face "You need to go to your mother's hut, Tsuyoshi thought this might happen so he made arrangements left you things that would help…" Narumi said. I knitted my brows together "He knew?" I questioned "He didn't want us to tell you, he knew you would have stayed here to protect us" Ryuu said I looked at Ryuu he and his family had come over. I helped Narumi stand up and looked at Ryuu "It's time for you to go home kid, you are so much like your parents but you have to find out who you are, you're meaning" Ryuu said "But he or Naraku could come back then what?" I said.

Kamiko came over to me "We'll be fine there's a place we can go not even you know of that we'll be safe, we shall stay there until we hear news that Naraku and Zurui are both gone" Kamiko said "So I won't see you again until this is over then" I said Ryuu came over to me. "We'll be in touch besides I promised your mother I would take care of you, I'll look out from a far and if you need me call" Ryuu said I gave a nod Taro and Kenji engulfed me in a hug "Be careful Yuzuki" Kenji said "Kick their butts and please get Tsuyoshi back" Taro said. I smiled trying to hold back tears "I'll do my best after all I had a great teacher" I said they separated from me I looked at Narumi "Kid go with your friends, I'll take care of everyone here" Ryuu said I looked at him and gave a nod. I turned around and walked away Kagome came over "Yuzuki…" Kagome started "Don't, just leave me be" I said and walked ahead Inuyasha caught up "I'm sorry Yuzuki but we'll get him back, Tsuyoshi seems stronger than those pests so…" Inuyasha started. "Don't please just leave me be" I said "Don't you start being moody now, I'm the only one that gets to be an idiot and known for it" Inuyasha said I looked at him in awe he knitted his brows together as his ears went back slightly and cheeks went a slight rosy colour.

"Just don't tell the others I said that I got to keep up a reputation you know, I can't be seen as soft or stupid for admitting I'm an idiot" Inuyasha said and looked away as we kept walking "I won't tell" I said softly as I looked ahead I just hope we can defeat Naraku and Zurui before my secret gets out. "Are you ok?" Inuyasha asked after a few minutes of silence "Yeah I'm fine" I replied with a weak smile "Yeah right, I'm a hanyo too and I can tell somethings bugging you" Inuyasha said "It doesn't matter" I said. "Like I'm gonna believe that you've been acting weird for a while now" Inuyasha puffed I puffed a sigh "You wouldn't understand there's rules in wolf tribes you dogs get to live freely" I said Inuyasha chuckled "Is that what you think?" Inuyasha asked. I looked at him "You mean there are dog clans?" I asked with a raised eyebrow "Yeah but they don't live on the ground most the pure breeds like my father and half-brother can change forms they can live in castles in the sky" Inuyasha said. "And the normal breed of dog demon?" I asked "They have a hide out, and live in clans like wolf tribes, the Kuro-Inu clan and Shiro-Inu Clan are the most popular known clans but there are others smaller" Inuyasha said I smiled "Did you ever try to help or maybe get them to let you be a part of the clan?" I asked.

I hoped you liked the chapter, let me know your thoughts/ideas/comments either as a review or a PM (Private Message).

The vote is still going I'll let you all know when the votes stop so if you haven't voted PM or put it just in the review, that's if you want to of course. Koga is now in the lead for votes so if you do want it to be Ginta, Koga or Hakkaku put your votes in.

Will Yuzuki's mate be: Ginta? Hakkaku? or Koga?

Special thanks to those who comment and express their feeling for this story;

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Thank you very much, if I've left out your name above let me know please.

Also I would like to offer if you would like a certain type of story or set couple matched or a certain plot written I will be happy to do my best in writing it up, so anyone who wants to put a recommendation in for a story please message. Thanks for every ones support I shall try to upload every weekend also I am writing a couple stories that will base Hakkaku and Ginta getting mates so don't stress out if they don't get picked for being Yuzuki's mate.

Thanks to all my lovely readers have a fantastic week :)