Part 5: Clashes

Disclaimer: No matter how much I wish for it, I unfortunately own nothing except my plot, and a few OC's here and there.

A/N: Thank you for checking out this fic once again. This chapter will see quite some action, and I SO look forward to your thoughts and comments!

A big thank you for reviewing goes out to:

Little25victor

Maria-Reynne

I gently twirled by red and white fan between my fingers. Oh how I had missed it! Reunited, and it felt so good! I was also glad for my precious sketches, which I had hidden at the bottom of my now fully stocked new underwear drawer in my room upstairs.

"Speak, now."

I slid my gaze away from my beloved fan to look at the man I was sitting across from. As soon as I had gotten what I needed from Naraku's house, I rushed back to Sesshoumaru's. I had taken the time to take a shower, slip on my favorite jumpsuit, and apply my trademark red lipstick before meeting the Lord of the West in his office. It felt good to be back in my own skin when facing the Ice King. Plus the red and white of my outfit really brought out my eyes. Not that I was trying to make the grumpy dog demon notice me. I was sooooo over my crush. Who wanted to date an ice block?! I forced myself away from my thoughts, and gave Sesshoumaru my full attention once again.

"Your shipment is at Naraku's dock office. If you want to do something about it, do it fast. He's planning on having it moved tonight."

So I found out Naraku was a thief, surprise, surprise… not. I knew him to be a human trafficker and drug dealer, and suspected he was a murderer, so being a thief seemed pretty mild in comparison. When Sesshoumaru had asked for me to prove my loyalty by helping him locate some shipment of his that had been intercepted, and to do so before nightfall, I have to admit I was worried. I wondered what he would do if I failed. Even if I could not shake the gnawing feeling that things were going too easily, I was happy I had found Sesshoumaru's freaking shipment; the contents of which, for some reason he had not decided to share with little old me.

Sesshoumaru had suspected Naraku to be responsible for the theft; however, there was nothing he could do. I knew there were rules between the Lords of the underworld, and Sesshoumaru couldn't just waltz into my father's territory to take back what was taken from him. Well he could, but he would surely start a war. Instead he sent me out to get information, and if I managed to help him get back what was his, he would trust me. Then and only then would I be able to ask him for help fulfilling my wishes. Of course I had no hesitations, I had jumped in, and my bargain had paid off. It was therefore with a bright confident smile that I sat across from Sesshoumaru, and delivered my news.

I did not expect the icy dog demon to jump for joy at the fact that I had found his stolen property, but I did expect some kind of reaction. Instead he just leaned further back in his chair, his hooded golden eyes looking away from me. Maybe this conversation was boring him…rude infuriating man. The man could be a bit more grateful. If Naraku had caught me while snooping around, I would've been in serious trouble. I knew that I had been flying solo on that mission. If I had been caught, Sesshoumaru would have denied everything. I was in his eyes not worth starting a war for. After all the excuse of 'he started it first' would probably not hold in front of the other Lords. Still showing some appreciation would be nice.

"We have kept our eyes on your father's waterfront operations, and have not seen any activity." He looked away, a bored look on his face. "It seems your little excursion was useless."

Damn. I doubted my intel for a second, I was in serious trouble. If I proved myself 'useless' would he just return me to Naraku wrapped in a bow? I don't know what my father had planned with his ridiculous marriage scheme, but it had to be something big. If I was shipped back before even having the chance to find out what he wanted me to do, I knew he would hurt me, bad. Suddenly I remembered something. It was like happy fireworks going off in my head. Maybe things were not a dire as I had imagined.

"Have you ever heard about the Factory?"

His eyes shifted back to me, and he leaned forward. Clearly, now, that question caught Sesshoumaru's attention.

"So you mean to tell me that based on her words we're going to go traipsing in the dark? How do we know we can trust her? This could be a trap."

That statement was from a pissed off Inuyasha. I was willing to bet that the real reason for his upset was that he was away from his pregnant wife. Not that I myself was happy about our little midnight stroll by the water. Despite having my favorite coat on, I was cold. Nothing that a little wind couldn't fix of course. Usually as soon as the thought formed, I would have had my fan in my hand, and summoned some warm air towards me, but we were trying to stay hidden, at least for now, and making use of my youki would be the perfect way to get Naraku's men to feel my presence nearby.

"Why Inuyasha? Did you just say 'traipsing'? So you have been reading that word a day calendar I got you, I'm so touched!" That idiotic statement came from Miroku. I did wonder why the hell Sesshoumaru's creepy human legal counsel or advisor or whatever was tagging along.

The last member of our search party was none other than the one person who seemed to want to stab me in the back: Sango. She had insisted on coming along the moment Sesshoumaru had told his core team he was planning on getting his shipment back. I guess that Rin being safely tucked in her bed in her father's reinforced mansion reassured the girl's bodyguard enough to allow Sango the night off. When it comes to me, I was still trying to figure out why the hell I was there. I had given my information already…

"If this is a trap of some kind, I will put a bullet through your heart." A voice whispered behind me. Yep, made a mental note to stay as far from Sango as possible. In fact as the thought struck, I scooted a bit away from the angry woman. It got me closer to Sesshoumaru, which I did not mind. He and Miroku seemed to be the only ones to trust me… well at least to some extent. After what Sesshoumaru had told me about Sango's heritage, I knew she could be deadly.

"My love, you shouldn't talk to our boss's wife this way; she's family now. Besides it seems as Kagura was telling the truth." The purpled eyed human pointed a finger towards the waterfront building across from the one we were currently spying from.

We were on a rooftop, which gave us a clear view of the proceedings below.

"I still don't…" Sango never got to finish her sentence.

"Enough." The quietly spoken word by Sesshoumaru was enough to make everyone get back to business. He had barely spoken in a whisper, but his presence had been enough to catch all of our attention. The silent threat in his voice made me hope that I was right. Kami only knew what he would do to me if I was wrong. I decided not to dwell on that thought. Better to focus on the positive. Clearly he had not known about the Factory, nor its location, so that was already a win for me. Even if his shipment was not here, knowing where one of Naraku's hideouts was located had to be considered an already major positive.

"Go" Sesshoumaru uttered then.

Sango and Miroku got in motion. They knew exactly what they had to do.

As the humans carried out their mission, we stayed put, our mouths shut, and our eyes stuck on what was happening just a few yards away. Our vantage point kept us hidden but we could see all that was taking place down below. Even though I had informed my Lord husband that Naraku had no dog or wolf demon that could pick up our scent from our hiding spot, he still insisted I use my wind to cloak us. Good thing I had picked up my fan!

Sesshoumaru was one careful bastard. He had also made Inuyasha and I promise not to use our youki so we wouldn't be spotted. Something told me he was used to carrying out these kinds of stealth operations. As an added precaution he had even asked for my phone from the moment he had told me about his plan. I guess he still was not convinced I would not run to Naraku the moment I found out what he had planned. In truth I couldn't blame him for being careful. If he and his closest advisors were caught so deep in Naraku's territory it could be seen as a declaration of war. That explained why Sesshoumaru had decided to use humans as a precaution as well. I have to admit that our pride as youkai would make us underestimate any human that would dare come poking into our affairs. So, Sesshoumaru sending these two in to carry out his plan was smart.

I got my mind away from my thoughts, and focused on the operation taking place below. As I had expected, Naraku was nowhere near here. Probably too busy at his club sampling the girls. However his men were. In fact they seemed in a hurry to move the contents of the warehouse to another location. They were throwing the crates and boxes in the back of a huge container on a moving truck. I said a silent prayer of thanks that I had been able to get the location out of Sasaki before my Naraku moved it again. Gotta admit it felt pretty good to thwart my father's plan, and hurt him in the only place he cared about: his wallet. All I hoped was that he wouldn't be able to trace back the information to me. I knew he had ways to make me hurt, he had used them often. Thankfully, as far as he knew, I had never heard about that shipment, nor did I know about the Factory. Considering that even Sesshoumaru had not known about it, it seemed the information was very well guarded. Maybe I should give Sasaki a thank you basket or something.

The unsuspecting men had finished loading the contents of the warehouse into the truck. I knew Sango and Miroku were down there, waiting to strike, but my eyesight was not good enough to see them from their waiting place in the shadows. The plan called for them to wait while the truck would be about to head out, take out all the goons, and take the vehicle and its contents back to Sesshoumaru's territory. I was still unclear on how exactly Sesshoumaru expected Miroku and Sango to take out a bunch of trained and armed youkai, but since he did not seem too worried, I guess they were able to do so. I guessed time would tell.

"Keh! I should be down there with them… I hate that we have the same freaking coloring." The pissed off hanyou commented, twirling a strand of silver hair in his clawed fingers. "The second they see me they'll know we're related."

In my humble opinion, Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha may have a similar color of hair and eyes, but it just was not the same shade. Sesshoumaru's hair was so shiny, especially right now in the moonlight, and his eyes, they were such deep golden pools. I could just drown in them. I forced myself out of that train of thought. It would only lead to trouble.

"Of course we look alike you stupid hanyou. We look like father, baka." Ah so even the Tashio brothers could bicker like normal siblings. Something Hakudoushi and I had never done. His vision of bickering always left me bloody, battered and sometimes on the brink of death. He had never digested the fact that Naraku had re-married and adopted me as his own. If only Hakudoushi knew how much I wish that had never been the case.

"I know that. What I meant is I wish today was the night of the…" Inuyasha suddenly interrupted himself to send me a suspicious look. I realized then that hothead had been on the verge of telling me about his vulnerable night. As a hanyou I knew that once a month, every month, his youki would be suppressed, and he would turn human. That was not a piece of information anyone outside of his family should ever find out. Well then again maybe he was considering me as his sister in-law after all.

The brothers did not get to keep on bickering. Things were happening on the dock. Hakudoushi got in his pricy car and left. I had been surprised to see him there to begin with. Lifting boxes was not an activity I could have ever imagined him doing. Sure enough his role so far had been to supervise and yell at people to do things. No surprise the little shit left first, he was as lazy as he was cruel.

I should know, the last time our dad gave me to his tender care for punishment Hakudoushi had grown tired of beating me, so had asked one of the goons, an evil hedgehog demon to finish the job. That bastard of Zankokou had left me bloody, battered and thankfully unconscious for almost two days, so I did not have to go through feeling the pain of my body putting itself back together. Good thing I was youkai. No human could've survived that kind of beating. I looked back up, trying to suppress my negative thoughts. I caught none other than Sesshoumaru looking at me from the corner of his eye. I wondered why he was staring. Did he still think I would defect and sell him out any minute? He caught me looking at him looking at me, and turned his golden gaze back to the proceedings. I did the same.

Most of my father's men had left with Hakudoushi. Only two rookies whose names I forgot were left. One was some sort of plant-based youkai, and the other I could not quite remember. They were closing up the massive gates of the Factory, getting ready to move the shipment. This was when according to Sesshoumaru's plan things were about to get interesting. I had been informed of the plan at the last minute and from then Sesshoumaru had not left me out of his sight. Hopefully the operation being a success would be all he needed to finally trust me so we could move forward.

Just on cue the two humans sprang out of the shadows, weapons in hands. I expected them to have guns, like normal human goons, but from what I could see Sango was carrying some sort of huge white boomerang, and Miroku had what looked like ofudas and prayer beads. These two were getting stranger by the minute. I had to admit I was most surprised by Miroku. A perverted monk? Now that was something one did not see every day. Considering Sango was working for a youkai, and living in a house surrounded by demons it was nor far fetched to see her wield a weapon forged from a youkai. Even from the distance I could feel the boomerang vibrating with echoes of the energy of the youkai from whose body it had been carved. Whatever kind of demon it was, it had to have been huge, because the carved bone boomerang was almost the same size as Sango.

Before either of them could do anything, we heard a loud shout coming from behind them. Being a non-canine youkai, my hearing did not allow me to make up the words, but I guessed it could mean nothing good.

Something was wrong.

Miroku and Sango had been noticed. The plan called for them to stealthy knock out the guards, take the truck, and drive away. We would then meet up at the rendezvous point. Only problem was that Sesshoumaru's team had not counted on an unexpected third man to come out of the warehouse just as they were about to take down Naraku's men. Unfortunately that man was none other than my good old friend Zankokou.

"Fuck it, I'm going in." Inuyasha snarled, his hand on the hilt of his sword I could tell he was thinking to hell with his brother's plan. The safety of his friends came first.

"Inuyasha." His brother's voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Keh! I'd be in and out before they even notice me." The half demon persisted, on the verge of taking out his sword.

"Do you want to start a war?"

I could tell that Inuyasha wanted to argue with his brother, but knew better. He didn't move another muscle, but clearly this acceptance was costing him. We had one pissed off hanyou on our hands.

Good thing Sesshoumaru's people were well trained. They immediately sprung into action. In one flick of her boomerang Sango had the two rookies down. Sesshoumaru had ordered not to kill anyone as it would bring too much attention, but even from our hidden spot, I heard the sound of their heads being cracked. They were youkai, they'd have a nasty headache, but they would not die. It took a lot more to kill a youkai; I had first hand knowledge of that fact. In a blink of an eye the two men were sacks of potatoes on the ground. Miroku then threw binding ofudas on them, making the youkai truly immobile. Gotta admit I never would have guessed the pervert to be a monk with actual spiritual energy.

Two down, one to go. Not that the task at hand would be easily fulfilled. I knew from personal experience that Zankokou would not go down without a fight.

The hedgehog started forming poisoned spikes on his back. I knew once they grew long enough, he would throw them at Sango and Miroku. I also knew they were poisoned because I had had the pleasure of getting one of them in the stomach a few years ago. It had been punishment for trying to run away. I knew that the poison wouldn't kill me. Naraku in his benevolence had made sure we were all immune to most poisons and venoms, but I knew the shit was potent enough to kill any human if it so much as grazed them. I immediately sprung into action. I may find Miroku annoying and Sango might be a bitch, but they did not deserve to die, not like this. Before I realized what I was doing, I was summoning my winds. I clutched my fan in my hand, and a wind blade was sent towards the hedgehog demon. For so long I had wanted to hurt him for all the pain he had put me through, so that was an added bonus to getting to help Sesshoumaru's people. Seeing his cheek opened with blood trailing down his face was one of my happiest moments in a long while.

Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha's hands might be tied, but not mine. I could act as I wished.

"What are you doing?" Sesshoumaru grabbed my arm and angrily spun me around to face him.

"I saved your friends. Zankokou is one mean bastard. His spikes are poisonous and deadly to them. They have no way of knowing what he is capable of. Don't worry he has no way idea these came from me. They've never seen me use my wind in an offensive manner. Naraku would never have allowed it." I guess what he saw convinced him because he let me go, and turned his gaze back towards his team. I knew he had forbidden Inuyasha and I to intervene no matter what, but I would not let his people get skewered while I could prevent it. Besides if they got killed during this operation I would somehow be blamed, and that would only lead me in deep trouble.

Inuyasha looked my way, and sent me a thankful nod. I knew he was struggling against his brother's order, and was dying to intervene.

The pissed of hedgehog wiped his cheek, and licked the blood off his fingers. Without missing a beat, Zankoku sent spikes towards Sango and Miroku, but thanks to my distraction they had had time to dodge and take cover. That seemed to piss off their attacker. He let out a loud roar, and shifted his attention towards us. He could probably feel our presence, but could not actually see us… or so I hoped.

Zankoku sent a barrage of spikes in our general direction. My winds were still hiding us, so he could not sense us, but his aim was still good enough. Based on my wind attack, he must have figured out that we were hiding up there. I was struggling to summon more wind blades to swat the damn spikes, but never had the chance.

Sesshoumaru took out his whip, and slashed in half the spikes as they came our way. He moved even faster than the day he destroyed the door of the room Naraku had locked us in at this club. Neither Inuyasha nor I were able to move a muscle before it was all over; the spikes were useless bits and pieces at Sesshoumaru's feet. Good, then I could focus my attention on helping Sesshoumaru's humans staying alive. Zankokou was throwing at them spikes as fast as he could make them, and they were having a hard time keeping up. I did my best to deflect the attacks, but I could only do so much from that distance. To be honest I was also starting to tire. I was not a fighter, and had had only limited training with my fan as a weapon. Naraku had never allowed it.

Sweat beaded on my forehead, my fan holding arm started to cramp in pain, and I was breathing deeply. I did not think I would be able to hold this for much longer. Sadly we were too far for Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha to be able to help them too without being noticed.

"Alright that's it, I'm going in before that idiot Miroku gets killed." Inuyasha growled.

I had to admit that it was clear Sango was the better fighter. She used her boomerang as a shield to protect both Miroku and herself. Only problem was she then could not use it to carry out an attack. I tried my best to give her support, but Zankoku was forming and throwing spikes as light speed. I guessed he had been holding back on me when he had been tasked with punishing me. I had grossly underestimated him.

The words had barely left Inuyasha's mouth that the hanyou ran away to join his friends. He headed for the ledge, and jumped down the building. That was quite a height. Good thing he was hanyou, no human would have survived this. I could tell Sesshoumaru was not pleased, but he as I knew it looked like the two humans would need some serious help to make it our alive.

"Stupid hanyou." Even if Sesshoumaru muttered the angry words under his breath, he had his hand on his own sword at his hip. I could tell he himself was dying to intervene. Hum, I knew he had a caring side deep down.

I suddenly felt a disturbance in the wind behind me. It felt as if the wind was whispering to me, warning me. A bead of sweat trailed down my spine, causing shivers on my clammy skin. I had a very very bad feeling. That's when my brain decided to remind me about an almost-forgotten important fact. Zankokou's spikes could reform and go after a target even after being split in two. I had after all experienced it firsthand during my punishment when I had tried to fight back.

Sure enough, as I whipped my head back, I could see shards of destroyed spikes shift in the air and fuse into a massive barb, which was now heading straight towards Sesshoumaru's back.

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind. If something happened to Sesshoumaru, all my hopes of freedom would be dashed. I needed him to get away from my father. Even worse, Naraku would surely kill me as he would know I was the one to sell him out. I tried to focus a wind blade to cut the spike in two, but my winds were already stretched in all directions; protecting Sango and Miroku from the onslaught of attacks from Zankokou, hiding Sesshoumaru and I... I was exhausted. Never had I ever had to use so much of my youki in so many different ways all at the same time. My energy had been drained. I was just not able to summon any more winds.

I tried to warn Sesshoumaru. I tried to speak, but my tongue felt tied and my mouth was suddenly unable to form words, so I did the only thing I could think of in that split second...

I jumped forward, and tackled Sesshoumaru out of the path of the attack... what I did not intend was for the spike to hit me right in the chest. While I had managed to push Sesshoumaru out of the way, the momentum of running into the solid wall that is him turned me around, and pushed me backwards right on the target of Zankoku's attack.

I felt the spike tear through my skin and lodge itself deep into my flesh. The shock and pain brought me to my knees, blood welled out of the gaping wound left by the foreign object still lodged inside my chest. My lungs felt like they were on fire. It hurt to breathe. I could smell and taste the sick metallic scent of my own blood. My arms felt like cotton. I fruitlessly tried to reach my injury, but was unable to raise my hands to staunch the blood flow or take the spike out of me. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my head. I felt the painful burn of the poison at it hit my bloodstream and was disseminated throughout my body. I could not hold myself up anymore. I fell to my side. The last thing I saw was a pair of shocked golden eyes looking down on me. Then everything went black.

To be continued…

A/N: Action, drama, will everyone make it out alive? We shall see! The next one will be named Unexpected.