Updated March 2017 - Big BIG change on the end of this chapter...

Rumiko Takahashi...you're awesome ;)

Specter

Inunomaru's disappearances stopped. After Inuyasha found him a few days before, he had only 'taken his leave' from the group once, a sign to the hanyou that his brother was hopefully recovered from the purifying attack he performed on the strange kugutsu. It was about time as well, because as their travels to the northeast continued, everyone began to pick up a strange, dark aura. Not Naraku or youkai, but sinister nonetheless.

Their pace quickened once the aura had caught their senses. With Kagome riding on Inuyasha's back, Inunomaru running alongside them with Shippo holding tight onto his shoulders, and Sango and Miroku flying up above them on Kirara, they were making good time. A youkai's stamina was always nice to have when one was in a hurry.

Inuyasha sniffed the air as they ran. "It smells of wolves here," he said with a growl.

"It does?" Kagome asked.

"This scent belongs to the wolf, Kouga-sama, if I am not mistaken," Inunomaru said.

"Yeah," Inuyasha agreed with a sneer, "There's only one wolf around with this distinct smell. It has to be him."

Miroku nodded in accord, "If both of your senses are correct and it is, in fact, Kouga-san, then he must be heading to the northeast in search of Naraku, just as we are."

"I wonder if he's found something that could help us," Sango replied, "We haven't had any luck finding clues as to where Naraku is or even why he came in this direction."

"Did someone mention Kouga?" The words came from a soft female voice out ahead of them.

"Hey, I recognize that voice," Kagome exclaimed.

A burst of wind rushed out in front of them and dissipated, revealing a tired looking Ayame. Inuyasha barely had time to slide to a stop before running into the young wolf youkai. The others came up beside him.

"Ayame-chan?" Kagome jumped off of Inuyasha's back, still surprised that they would run into her in this part of the countryside. From what she remembered, Ayame and her pack lived high in the mountains.

Ayame walked up slowly to them, taking caution when she saw Inunomaru standing behind Inuyasha. Kagome noticed her hesitation and tried to reassure her, "Don't worry about him, Ayame-chan. This is Inunomaru-sama, Inuyasha's older brother…well…oldest brother actually. He joined up with us not too long ago."

Ayame wasn't totally convinced but she relaxed slightly under Kagome's words.

It was basically commonplace now for them to have people be a little overly cautious around Inunomaru, so Ayame's hesitation didn't surprise Kagome in the slightest. However, since that caution would most likely not be changing anytime soon, all she could do was go with it…or change the subject. "I thought you went back to the Northern Mountains after we met the last time? Why are you so far down here?"

Her strategy worked, "I did, but…" she sighed and lowered her head.

"But what?"

"…but…we fled after a monster came after us."

"Monster?"

She looked back up at them, the sorrow bleeding through her eyes, and nodded. "Yes, it…devours youkai." Even saying those few words seemed to cause her pain.

Inuyasha growled, "I don't like the sound of that."

"What kind of beast could this be that drives out such a powerful pack from their land?" Sango asked.

"I will give all of you more information later," Ayame said as she turned to leave, "But first, we need to get out of the open. My grandpa, one of the elders of my pack, has been badly injured and needs help. I don't want to stay away from him too long."

"We'll help any way we can," Kagome insured. She glanced over at Inunomaru who hadn't moved from his place at Inuyasha's side. She knew exactly what he was thinking when he glanced back at her, automatically making her regret her previous comment.

Ayame's eyes narrowed at their quick communication but didn't seem to pay it much heed. "This way," she said as she took off up the hill.

They soon reached a small cave near a group of waterfalls. Two, human-form wolf youkai greeted them as they came into sight. Not surprisingly, they both exchanged shifty glances at Inunomaru. He didn't react in the slightest.

Ayame led them inside the cave where a large grey wolf lay. The many wounds on his body were superficial, but injuries of this kind on a wolf his age were quite dangerous. She knelt down next to him and placed a soft hand on his thick fur.

"Ojiisan, this is Inuyasha-san and his friends," she said softly, motioning to their new cave companions, "They have come to get information on this specter that is terrorizing our lands."

The old wolf cracked his eyes and looked over at the group, taking a longer time looking over Inuyasha and Inunomaru, "Mm, so this is the hanyou, Inuyasha-san, my Ayame has mentioned. Who is this other inu-youkai with him?"

Ayame was about to answer her grandfather when Kagome did it for her, "This is Inunomaru-sama, Inuyasha's oldest brother."

Inunomaru bowed low, "If you would allow, ookami-sama, I will repair your injuries for you."

All of the wolves gasped and started to murmur between themselves. None in the group were surprised he had offered, though one in particular wasn't happy with him at all.

Kagome voiced her personal opinion with small glare. So much for keeping him in one piece, she thought.

Ayame was on the side of caution as well. Her body tensed, "Explain."

Inunomaru bowed a nod, "I have the ability to heal your grandfather's wounds. He will likely not survive if I do not."

Way to sugarcoat it there buddy, Kagome bit the inside of her lip. He didn't have to give all the little details about the situation.

Inunomaru's explanation surprised Ayame rather than scared her. Apparently she never expected aid like this coming from someone like him. It had caught her completely off guard, but any kind of help for her family was obviously taken.

She turned down to the old wolf at her feet. "Ojiisan?" she begged.

"Ayame…"

Tears rimmed her eyes, "Please?"

The elder looked up at the girl and sighed in a small agreement. Kagome could tell that the old wolf was thinking that the aid was unnecessary, however the way his granddaughter begged him was hard to say no to.

Inunomaru bowed again, walked up without a word, and knelt beside the old wolf, raising both of his hands over his body.

Knowing first hand at what was about to happen to Inunomaru, Kagome felt it was the best time to try and keep attention away from him by returning to the youkai eating monster Ayame had mentioned earlier. "Ayame-chan, you said this thing was a specter, right?" she asked, placing an assuring hand on her shoulder.

Her question pulled Ayame's awed attention from Inunomaru's glowing hands back to Kagome, "Y-yes, and it doesn't seem to be a youkai or a human."

"It…came from the northeast," the elder said, pulling the others attentions back to him and Inunomaru.

"What the…?" Inuyasha gasped.

"What's happening to them?" Ayame asked as patches of blood stains began to grow from underneath Inunomaru's kimono, each mark corresponding with a disappearing cut on the elder.

As the blood stains kept growing through the cloth, their unease only strengthened. Kagome had forgotten that the daiyoukai wasn't one to take his own health into account and if the wolf's injuries were as bad as Inunomaru had claimed, then he was putting himself at risk.

"Make him stop," Inuyasha growled through his teeth.

Kagome eased a hand forward, "Inu…nomaru?"

Inunomaru ignored them and kept going. He didn't seem too hindered by the pain from the wounds, yet his scarlet-clad brother seemed to wince harder with every mark that tore through his skin. Kagome could sense that Inuyasha was about to pull him off of the wolf with the way he leaned up on his toes, but before he took off, Inunomaru stopped, unfinished.

Kagome instantly knelt next to him and pulled out her first-aid kit from her backpack.

"There is no need, Kagome-san," Inunomaru said as she grabbed one of his arms.

She started wrapping one of the deeper wounds regardless, "Since you didn't let me use this earlier, I'm going to have insist, thank you."

He stayed silent.

"Why did you…?" Miroku started.

"Ookami-sama requested me to stop," he said, "And I will respect his wishes to do so."

Ayame began to protest, but her eyes fell to Kagome's ministrations on the many fresh wounds that covered Inunomaru and she stopped without a word.

Inunomaru turned his gaze toward her, "You said that the specter came from the northeast, correct?"

She nodded, "Yes."

"Anything else?"

She stroked her hand through her grandfather's fur and sighed. "In no time at all, the specter devoured all of the youkai that lived in the mountains. Then…it came down to the boarders of our own territory. So many…" she bit her lip hard, not able to continue.

"So many of us were devoured, we…we could not stay any longer," the elder finished. The fur on his back ruffled as he shared in his granddaughter's pain for their comrades.

"The wolf youkai tribe isn't a weak tribe though," Sango said, "This specter must be quite powerful to drive them out so quickly."

"It easily towered over the trees. I've never seen anything like it before," Ayame exclaimed.

Shippo spoke worriedly from Miroku's shoulder, "It sounds like something out of a horror story."

"Keh, after what we've run into lately, nothing surprises me anymore," Inuyasha growled.

"Still, something like this is strange," Sango said.

Miroku nodded. "Strange, but not unheard-of. It's been said since ancient times that men who died with unfinished business can turn into such creatures. They never let go of their hatred and end up feeding on that hatred after their death."

Sango gripped tighter onto the strap of her hirakotsu, "There's not many who could resurrect a creature like this."

Inuyasha sneered deep in his chest, "I can give ya one guess at who could!"

"I'm sorry we couldn't give you more information, but I have to leave now. I need to get my grandfather and the rest of my pack to safety," Ayame turned to Inunomaru and bowed respectfully, "I cannot thank you enough Inunomaru-sama for saving my grandfather's life. I am forever in your debt."

"I have done what can."

Kagome saw a glint of hesitation go through Inunomaru's eyes as he bowed in response. It couldn't help but give her the feeling that Ayame's thanks were in vain.

She gave him a small smile and turned back to Kagome, "If you see Kouga…"

"No worries, Ayame-chan. If we run into Kouga-san, we'll make sure and tell him that you and the rest of your pack were able to escape," Kagome said with a reassuring smile.

Ayame beamed back at her, "Thank you."

Kagome waved farewell to Ayame and her comrades as they walked off. "Bye Ayame-chan. Hope to see you soon! Be careful, okay?"

Ayame turned and waved back at them, "You too! Oh, one more thing. The specter smelled like corpses and graveyard soil. Hope that helps some!"

Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged quick glances as Ayame finally disappeared over the hill, then returned back to the cave where the rest of their group waited with Inunomaru.

"Are you doing okay?" Kagome asked him when the pair walked inside.

He didn't open his eyes. "I am well. The wounds were not dire and will heal quickly. Your medicinal equipment was unnecessary."

Kagome couldn't help but internally protest at this continuous illusion he had in his indestructibility. Apparently he hadn't seen himself lately. He looked like he had been in a paint fight and had a bit of a run-in with a mummy with all the bandages she wrapped him up in.

"Don't they hurt?" Shippo asked, hopping beside his leg.

His eyes fell on the kitsune's worried face and placed a gentle hand on his head, "Pain goes away in time, Shippo-kun." He didn't notice Kagome roll her eyes.

Miroku was the first to speak again, "Inunomaru-sama, you said that the elder told you to stop healing him. Why?"

"I have promised to not disclose that information," he answered curtly.

"Am I deaf or somethin', cuz I didn't hear anything," Inuyasha grumbled.

Inunomaru looked at him stoically, "Some words do not need to be said to be understood."

"Keh, whatever."

Kagome sighed, "He's…not going to make it…is he?"

Inunomaru dropped his eyes.

"You mean you tore yourself to pieces and that old wolf is still gonna die?!" Inuyasha was suddenly on the brink of fury.

"Inuyasha," Miroku reprimanded him.

"NO! It's bad enough that you…and now you…GAH!" he stormed out.

Kagome made a movement to follow but Inunomaru grabbed her wrist. He gave her a firm shake of his head. She looked back to where Inuyasha disappeared then bit her lip, nodded, and took her seat again. "When…when do you think you'll be ready to travel?" she finally asked.

"I am able now. The earlier we continue, the earlier we will get to our destination."

She rolled her eyes, of course you are.

"Can we eat first?" Shippo asked, "I'm hungry!"

THANK YOU SHIPPO! Kagome cheered in her head. She could have hugged the little kitsune for saving her the trouble of keeping Inunomaru still. There was no way he would argue with Shippo's grumbling stomach.

The others agreed and Inunomaru nodded. Score for Kagome.

After their meal, it was determined between the girls and Miroku that they would stay the night. Inunomaru was well enough to move, but Shippo was tired from all the travelling they had done that day and Inuyasha still hadn't returned from his walkout. Kagome had stayed up with Inunomaru, waiting for the hanyou to return.

Her nerves were slowly building up as time ticked by. Why isn't he back yet? She thought. Could he have run in to that specter Ayame spoke of? Her brain mulled over a plethora of things before she heard her name in that oh-so-distinct baritone.

"Kagome-san," Inunomaru said quietly, trying to not wake the tiny kitsune curled in his lap.

"Huh?" She turned from her lookout at the mouth of the cave.

"You must get your rest"

She hugged herself, "I know…it's just that…"

The daiyoukai sighed, "Go to him."

"What?"

"He is just down below us, next to the falls," he motioned with his eyes, "I picked up his scent only a few minutes ago."

Kagome evaluated him with her eyes before he used his hand to offer his request again, gesturing to the cave entrance. She sighed and nodded.

"Kagome-san," she paused and caught his eyes again. "His pain is my doing. Forgive me," there was no sorrow on his face, but the subtleties in his voice wrenched her heart.

As Inunomaru had said, Inuyasha sat down by the bottom of the falls, knees up under his chin and arms wrapped tightly around them. He had been there for a while, for the mist from the waterfalls had soaked into his hair, making it sag as much as his body.

She hadn't even sat down before he spoke, "You knew…"

"Hm?"

He dug his claws into the fabric of his kimono, "You knew what his power did, didn't you?"

Her eyes dropped, "Y…yes…I did."

"Why didn't you tell me?" his voice didn't sound angry, but broken, a harsher reflection of the voice she had heard from his brother only moments before.

She sat down next to him and tried to keep her composure, "To be honest…I didn't want you to worry. I never thought that he would offer to heal someone that injured…and…I guess I was afraid about what you'd do if you found out."

"Well I found out. You happy?"

"No"

"Good"

She pulled her knees up to, wrapping her arms around them for some kind of comfort. "Inuyasha?"

He scowled, "What?"

"Does…does this have anything to do with what happened to him a few days ago…when both of you disappeared? I noticed how af…how worried you were when you caught his scent."

He turned his head away from her, "I don't wanna talk about it."

"Same as I didn't want to tell you about his healing ability?" She could've been annoyed at his unwillingness to confide in her, but she had done the same in retrospect.

There was silence. Then Inuyasha let it out, his emotional brick wall crumbling beneath his emotions.

"He…he just doesn't care!" he growled through his teeth, "Ever since we met him, he's been so freaking protective over everybody. That's okay, I guess, but he's got it down so strong in his head that he doesn't even realize he could kill himself!" his hands were animating around him now, "I mean if I had known what would happen after he…if that elder hadn't told him to stop…it's like he doesn't even realize he's doing it!"

"Then we're just going to have to make him realize it," Kagome said, earning his eyes.

His eyebrow rose, "What does that mean?"

"Well, I think he's been alone for so long that he doesn't really know what companionship means. He's seen it, but he doesn't know it. We have to show him that there are alternatives to his…extremes, and that his life isn't just something he can give up so easily," her hand had made its way to his shoulder, "He's our friend and your brother, Inuyasha. That means we protect each other. From everything."

Inuyasha's sideways smirk was a welcome sight.

"Promise?" she held out her pinky.

"Really?"

"Yes"

He rolled his eyes then grabbed her pinky with his, "I promise."

Though Kagome knew he thought her 'custom' for promises was strange, she also knew that he meant what he said.

As you can see (if you've read this chapter before) I've completely changed the ending. I felt that it's original ending was really good in light of the original, but felt like it didn't quite work with what I was trying to do with my story.

I really like this version a lot better. Hope you guys do to.

Till next time ;)