A/N I know it's been forever since I updated but I thought that this could use a new chapter or two… I'm hoping that I can oblige one request and end this on a happy note but as we all know that is not how the real story ends and these moments are suppose to take place before Kagome ever shows up so I'm not sure how this will end. Hope you like!

Chapter Three: Possessive Pursuers

He wasn't sure how he got into this position. How he allowed himself to fall into this predicament was still a bit hazy in his drugged induced state. His feet and wrists bound, his mouth gagged with Saruka's belt, the man's scent strong. A net that was desperately trying to keep him contained was doing a damn good job at the moment. He had finally been captured and strangely enough he was more surprised than angry, because it wasn't by her.

Kikyo's scent was nowhere to be found. Instead the forest reeked with the stench of Trakai, a heavy herb that caused drowsiness and heavy slumber if potent enough.

It had been boiled and then bagged and laid throughout the forest waiting for him to fall upon it. Needless to say he had and before he had realized what was happening it was too late. Men had fallen upon him using force needed for ten maybe even twenty Anuyi demons. But even in his rapidly subdued state he had put up a good fight. The man with the gash from temple to cheek was proof of that. He would have smirked but the material in his mouth prevented him. Instead he settled on a sneer that came out pitiful even to him.

"Is the dog angry?" Came the taunt from a smooth albeit menacing voice.

With difficulty Inuyasha twisted his head to get a better view of the speaker and felt something inside his stomach lurch with hatred. Saruka's eyes, black and unforgiving stared back at him. There had never been any pretense of cordiality between the two and both knew why.

Kikyo.

Her interest and instant connection with the half demon had sparked a deep jealousy in the man. His feelings for Kikyo had always been contained but evident nevertheless at least to Inuyasha. He had been able to smell Saruka's attraction to the Miko from the very beginning and although Inuyasha had never given much thought to it at first, with each passing day he too found himself becoming more protective and even somewhat demanding of Kikyo's time and attention. It had come to the point where she was no longer just a Miko, but His Miko; as though her very being belonged to him. Her arrows were meant for him. Her abilities and training were all for him. As twisted and dark as that may have sounded it had become no less true to him. No other would kill him, not in this life. That right had been appointed to her… or at least so he thought. This current situation suggested otherwise.

"Saruka… I should have known. I thought I smelled a rat in the forest!" The sentence came out muffled but he had been understood…the gleam in his captor's eyes told him so.

Saruka sneered but quickly composed himself. "There is only one animal to be smelled tonight… as we burn your flesh." He commented.

"Does Karou know about this?" Somehow he couldn't see the Appointer condoning this… he had always seemed tolerant and somewhat passive not corrupted by his immense power.

"It is not Karou's concern how we villagers choose to rid ourselves of just another demon. Protection of our children demand that we kill you!"

"Feh! This has nothing to do with protecting the village!" He grunted through the gag in his mouth.

"Oh but it does!" He insisted with a smile that seemed maniacal in the glowing firelight held in his hand. Moving the torch in front of the demon's face he reached out and yanked the gag from his throat. "You are a pest Inuyasha that must be eradicated! You emit a sign, welcoming other demons inside our midst. It begins with you and ends in our death!" He stated angrily coming nose to nose with his enemy. They held a stare neither male wanting to back down.

"This won't change her look for you." Inuyasha stated softly.

The redness in Saruka's cheeks deepened until he thought the man would explode.

"Pin him up and burn him down!" He screamed angrily turning his back on the half-demon.

Inuyasha's golden eyes flashed in the gleam of the flames as he was bound to the tree. Heat from the torches created a thin film of sweat on his brow causing the salty droplets to run down his skin into his eyes slightly burning his wide pupils but he didn't care. He stared down at Saruka, hatred like he had never felt before coursing through his veins creating a haze of red that engulfed his vision while his muscles pumped and screamed with fury.

"Tonight… tonight the stench of your burning flesh shall cover this forest." Saruka mocked walking towards him, torch in hand.

His hand hovering in Inuyasha's face, he growled. "Once you're gone, Kikyou will look to me… and only me."

Before his fingers could release the flame an arrow cut through the night piercing his palm straight through the middle.

The torch fell from his grip dying out in the midst of its fall.

For a moment no one dared to move as light steps echoed in the clearing and then there she was. Her bow and arrow drawn, her eyes laced with determination and purpose. Emerging from the blackness of the night into the glowing flames she seemed to be the High Minko herself.

It was the sound of Saruka's scream that broke the ethereal moment. Grasping his crippled blood soaked hand he staggered back and fell to the ground in agony. A gaping hole in his palm stared back at him.

Without a word she walked to Inuyasha, her eyes looked him over and for a moment however brief it was he could have sworn he saw her mouth the word, 'mine'. But then she cut him down, his body landing on the ground hard.

"Damn it Kikyo!" He yelled rubbing his bottom sorely.

Turning to the men behind her she slowly placed her arrow back in its holder.

"What are you doing?" Saruka moaned, the blood from his hand creating a puddle beneath him. "You are betraying your Minko duties! He is a demon; you are supposed to kill him! It's your duty!" Saruka screamed his voice sounding more and more like that of a madman.

"I'll show you duty, you fucking bastard!" Inuyasha growled bounding for Saruka ready to tear him to pieces. It was Kikyo who intervened.

"No!"

Inuyasha stared at her in bewilderment. "You… you're protecting him? After he tried to kill me." He asked angrily.

"I protect… I protect this village." Her words faltered if only for a moment. "No more blood shall be shed tonight. Go home Inuyasha."

He stared at her challengingly. "I want his head!" He demanded.

Never missing a beat, in the time he could finish his sentence before he could take another inhale of breath her arrow was drawn and pointed at his heart. Her shot wouldn't miss at this close range… they never missed. "Don't make me ask again." Her voice was expressionless but her eyes… deep and soulful pleaded with him.

Please Inuyasha… Please…

He growled. "You are just like them!" He snarled before leaping into a nearby tree and bounding off.

Once out of sight she exhaled deeply lowering her bow. She gave a silent thank you to the heavens above before turning back to Saruka. His eyes gleamed angrily in the fading moonlight.

"You are not fit to be Minko! You disgrace the name and put this village in danger. You have forgotten who you are. That demon has poisoned you. You have lost sight of your duties…."

"My duty is to protect the Shinon No Tama and this village from evil… be it whatever form it comes in! I know my duties very well!"

"You protect a demon!"

"Half demon and he is no harm to this village!"

"He exists! That is reason enough to demand his life!" He shot back. "Why do you stay your hand? From the start you have allowed him to exist… to come and go as he pleases… to talk with our people… play with our children! Where are your boundaries Minko; or is it that you have none when it comes to him?"

"I owe you no answers Saruka. I am a Minko, like it or not and I answer to no one. My reasons are my own. I alone decide Inuyasha's fate. My hand and no other shall strike him down. Is that understood? Come near my demon again and your hand shall be the last thing you lose!" Turning away from the scene she began to disappear into the woods when Saruka's voice called out to her.

"I curse you Kikyo! I curse you!"

"You are not the first Saruka." She smiled as she continued on her way. "… And I doubt you will be the last." She finished softly not noticing the golden eyes from above that watched the scene with a mixture of emotions.