A/N: I know, it's been a while please don't be too mad. My dad was put in the hospital again (just got out) and it's been pretty hectic here. This chapter is a bit longer than the others, so I hope you enjoy it! ^-^
Disclaimer: I do not own Inu Yasha or any of the other amazingly, amazing characters.
Koga raised an eyebrow at the new dog demon before him.
"Who are you?" he asked with a sniff. His nose wrinkled slightly, but he couldn't help but pause. This demon's scent was so familiar.
"That mutt's father," Inu Taisho growled. Koga's eyes widened slightly.
"Lord Inu Taisho," he whispered as his eyes widened. Kagome cleared her throat and stepped forward before a fight could occur.
"Koga….I need your jewel shards," she said simply. He slowly looked away from Inu Taisho and then to Kagome.
"My shards? No way," he said with a small laugh. Inu Taisho smirked slightly.
"I suggest that you give her what she asks for wolf," he growled. Koga glanced over at him again before looking back at Kagome.
"Why? You've never asked for them before," he pointed out. Kagome swallowed hard before answering.
"Inu Yasha's dead Koga," she whispered. His eyes widened as she continued, "He died fighting Naraku, just today."
"Naraku," he whispered confusedly, "is he dead?" Kagome nodded.
"Inu Taisho killed him," she said quietly. Koga glanced back over at him before Kagome.
"I'm sorry Kagome…," he paused, "you should come with me. Now that Inu Yasha is gone, you need someone to protect you. I will do it in his stead." Kagome sighed as Inu Taisho growled.
"All we need is your jewels," he said almost angrily, "we have no need of your…services." Koga narrowed his eyes.
"Kagome is my woman," he declared. Inu Taisho's eyes widened slightly as he looked over at Kagome.
"Koga," she groaned, "I am not your woman. I've told you, you're only my friend. Please, just give me your jewel shards." Koga frowned slightly and crossed his arms over his chest.
"No." Inu Taisho smiled as he held up a hand, making his claws glow red.
"Please, don't give them to her. See what happens," he taunted. Kagome looked between them worriedly before taking a step towards Koga.
"Koga…I'm asking you as a friend," she begged, "please." He looked into her eyes, and he couldn't help but feel his resolve soften. Her eyes were still shimmering with unshed tears, begging, pleading with him.
"Fine…but it's not because I'm afraid of you," he said pointing to the dog general. Inu Taisho smirked as he lowered his hand.
"Wolves," he muttered. At least now he wouldn't have to dirty his claws. Koga glared at him one more time before removing the two shards in his legs.
"Here Kagome," he whispered as he placed them in her hands. She smiled.
"Thank you Koga." He gave a small nod before sighing.
"I have to go…," he said suddenly. Kagome nodded.
"Thanks again Koga," she said quietly. He gave a cocky smile and a nod as he readied to run.
"Can't keep Ayame waiting forever!" He laughed once and ran off in the direction he came. Sango raised an eyebrow.
"Ayame," she whispered with a shake of her head, "I wonder if she's still waiting…" Kagome nodded.
"If she loves him enough," she whispered. Inu Taisho glanced over at her before clearing his throat.
"Is that all of them?" he asked. Kagome merged the two shards with her own large piece of the jewel before frowning.
"No…I….I don't get it…I thought that was it…but, besides the one Sango's holding…one is still missing," she said confusedly. Miroku's eyes widened.
"But, do you sense any others, anywhere?" Kagome shook her head.
"I don't," she whispered. Inu Taisho frowned.
"Perhaps, with more traveling, it will come to you," he mumbled. She glanced over at him, and nodded slowly.
"Maybe…but…I haven't heard any other rumors of shards." Sango nodded.
"It's true. The only one we thought we had left was Naraku's."
"I may know of a way to find it," Inu Taisho said slowly. Everyone looked over at him, waiting for him to continue, "perhaps…if I reassert myself as the alpha of the House of Moon, I can reconnect with all of my old spies, and advisors, and perhaps, someone there may know something." Kagome frowned slightly.
"House of Moon?" He nodded to her.
"Correct. It is the place where the ruler of the West resides," he explained. Miroku nodded.
"Excellent. Where better to look for a shard then a place full of demons?" he said almost sarcastically. Kagome frowned slightly.
"I'm not sure about this. What if one of the demons there wants power badly enough? The shards could drive them crazy." Sango sighed.
"I agree with Kagome, it's a bad idea."
"I think it will help, trust me," he beseeched them. Kagome looked over at him, and her eyes widened. His eyes were a deeper gold then Inu Yasha's, deeper still then Sesshomaru's, and swimming with emotion. He wanted her to trust him, he needed her to trust him. She nodded slowly and then broke the gaze.
"I guess it couldn't hurt," she said quietly. Sango's eyes widened as she adjusted her boomerang slightly.
"Kagome! Think about what you're saying! The only demon that jewel has never effected is Sesshomaru himself! That castle will be full of demons!" she argued. Inu Taisho frowned.
"You think I can't control my own men?" he questioned as he raised an eyebrow "You think I can't control myself?" Sango narrowed her eyes.
"I'm saying that you're not lord of the West, and everything you are saying are complete guesses," she paused before continuing, "you don't even know if you can defeat the current Lord of the West." Inu Taisho frowned.
"You are human, I expect, and accept that you know nothing of this matter," he said with a sniff of his nose. She frowned and looked over at Kagome.
"Please, don't bring it to the demons," she begged. Inu Taisho sighed.
"I promised my son I would watch over you, why would I bring you to a dangerous place if I wanted to keep my promise?" he reasoned. Miroku smirked slightly.
"I agree with Lord Inu Taisho," he said seriously. Sango's eyes widened.
"Miroku!"
"No Sango…we should go," he said with a small shrug. Sango cast her eyes down, and merely followed behind everyone as they began to walk. Miroku sighed as he slowed to walk next to her.
"Don't be mad, I-"
"No. You don't understand. Think about who this demon is," she whispered. Kagome and Inu Taisho were walking ahead of them, next came Kirara, whom was carrying a (falling asleep) Shippo, and finally they brought up the rear. "He was brought back to life by Naraku." Miroku nodded.
"I do understand. You expect, that even though Naraku is dead, he is controlling the lord in front of us," he said thoughtfully. Sango's eyes widened.
"If you know why I was disagreeing, why did you agree?" she questioned. He smirked slightly as he flexed the hand that had had the wind tunnel on it.
"What better way to keep an eye on Naraku's doings, then by traveling with one?" he said quietly. He glanced up at the lord again and then back at Sango.
"I believe I was correct in agreeing with him," he said again. Sango nodded slightly and sighed.
"Perhaps."
"I think perhaps here for the night should be fine," Inu Taisho said suddenly. Everyone stopped and glanced at each other.
"Are you sure?" Kagome questioned quietly. He glanced over at her and nodded his head once before sitting in front of a tree, one leg bent under himself, and the other bent up so his arm could rest over it.
"Wow," Shippo whispered. Whenever Inu Yasha had lead them, they had always traveled deep into the night, to the point of them not being able to see anything. Sango sighed as she hefted her boomerang to the ground and sat down, leaning against the still full size Kirara. Miroku nodded once before he too sat against a tree. Kagome walked through some of the trees, before jogging back and placing a bunch of wood in a small pile in front of everyone.
"Shippo," she called. He smiled as he bounded over to her, "could you?" He nodded energetically. He'd expressed the need to practice his magic more awhile ago, and since then, had been using his powers whenever he could.
"Fox Fire!" he called as blue flames shot from his paws and hit the wood, instantly lighting it aflame.
"Thank you Shippo," she whispered before grabbing her almost forgotten bag and grabbing out a sleeping bag and a blanket. "Here you go." She laid out the bag and watched amusedly as he burrowed into it. She then took the blanket and huddled in front of the fire, trying to warm her tired and cold limbs. Nothing had truly felt warm that day. Her body felt frozen, as though it wouldn't be able to move ever again. When she had been walking, it felt as though someone was walking for her, like she was just going through the motions.
"You should sleep," came a deep voice. Kagome glanced over at Inu Taisho and then around to everyone else. Sango's breathing had evened out, signaling that she was fast asleep already, and the same with Shippo. She glanced over at Miroku and raised an eyebrow. He was breathing evenly too, but she knew that if he was sleeping, it was very lightly, to make sure everyone was okay, and that nothing snuck up on them in the night.
"So should you," she countered. He smirked slightly before standing and then sitting down next to her, sharing some of his body heat; she automatically leaned into the extra warmth, he seemed to warm her up faster than the fire did.
"I do not sleep when I patrol," he whispered, "I never shall either." She sighed as she brought her knees up to her chest and leaned her head on them.
"I can't sleep," she whispered, she closed her eyes and then reopened them just as quickly, "every time I close my eyes, I see him." Inu Taisho winced slightly, but nodded.
"It is hard to lose someone you care deeply about," he admitted softly. Kagome's eyes widened slightly before she looked up at him.
"I'm sorry I-" He held up a hand.
"It is of no consequence. I barely knew my son," he whispered. Kagome nodded and then paused.
"You've lost more than Inu Yasha," she reminded him. His face remained neutral as he nodded.
"Too many," he whispered again. She nodded and then glanced up at him again.
"I want you to have this," she said suddenly. She held up the Tetsusaiga, which she had not let go of all day. Inu Taisho's eyes widened.
"I can't. It's yours," he whispered. Kagome smiled sadly as she looked at it and then placed it in his lap.
"Inu Yasha would want you to have it. I can't use it, and it would be sad to see it waste to nothing but a pile of rust." Inu Taisho smiled slightly as he slid the sword out a bit before letting it slide back in with a snap.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. She nodded as she closed her eyes once more, this time, letting tears escape. He looked over at her quickly, placing the sword beside him.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled as she tried to wipe the never ending tears away, "I miss him," she said so quietly that she almost had said nothing. Her body shook as she tried desperately to hold in a sob. Inu Taisho's eyes softened as he brought an arm around her, and let her lean her head into his haori.
"I know." She nodded once before the sobs started, muffled slightly by him. He winced as the smell of tears hit his nose, and rubbed a circle on her back for each sob that tore from her small frame.
***
Inu Taisho sighed as he lifted Kagome carefully, and laid her beneath a tree, and then replacing her blanket over her. He walked back over to the Tetsusaiga and tied it into place, at his hip.
"Sleep Kagome," he whispered as he stood straight and began to walk from camp.
"Lord Inu Taisho," came a quiet voice. He stopped and glanced over his shoulder.
"Monk."
"Where are you going?" Miroku asked as his eyes popped open. As soon as the lord had stood, he had awoken.
"I will be back," he whispered, "I sense one of my advisors." He nodded once before walking off into the forest.
Miroku frowned as he sent his powers, deep into the forest, trying to sense any other demons.
'Nothing,' he thought confusedly before his eyes narrowed slightly, 'Naraku?'
***
Inu Taisho sighed as soon as he was out of the monk's sensing range. His powers were strong, and he knew that he was suspicious of him.
"Bokusenou," he called. There was silence amongst the trees as he took one more step before stopping at a certain one. "Bokusenou." The tree seemed to shake slightly, before a face rolled to the front of it.
"Who dares-" the trees eyes widened as he broke off and took in the sight before him. "Lord Inu Taisho. So it is true. You are alive." He smirked slightly.
"I see the trees have been telling their tales," he whispered. Bokusenou merely blinked.
"I heard it from more than just the trees Inu Taisho," he whispered. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Oh? Could it have been from my son perhaps?" he asked amusedly. Bokusenou's eyes widened.
"How-"
"I know everything," Inu Taisho said simply, "although, I must say I am shocked Sesshomaru comes to you." Bokusenou snorted at that.
"As was I milord. However, I believe he…," he paused searching for the right word. Inu Taisho smirked.
"Tolerates you?" he suggested. The tree smiled dryly.
"Perhaps."
"I must speak to you," the old dog demon said simply. Bokusenou nodded.
"Of course milord."
Sesshomaru frowned as he tilted his head to the East slightly.
"Jaken." The little toad demon froze and bowed deeply.
"Yes Lord Sesshomaru?" he said quickly. Rin glanced down at the toad from atop AhUn and then over to her lord.
"Take Rin back to the river," he said quietly. Jaken's eyes widened as he straightened himself.
"Yes milord!" he squawked as he ran off, tugging on AhUn's reins. Rin turned to look back at him.
"Be careful milord! Please come back for us!" she yelled. Jaken rolled his eyes at the human girl before finally leading them away.
Sesshomaru nearly sighed as he turned himself to the East.
"What a powerful aura you now possess Sesshomaru," came a slightly amused voice. Sesshomaru turned fully to face his new opponent. "What? No hello for your father?" His eyes narrowed slightly as his father, and Inu Yasha's pack came into view. "I must say, I am proud of you now. I didn't believe that you could care for a human girl, but mine own eyes have seen it." Inu Taisho laughed once before looking at his stoic son. "You haven't changed at all." Sesshomaru looked his father up and down, his eyes resting at the sword on his hip.
"Neither have you, father," he whispered. "What do you want?" Inu Taisho smirked slightly as he stepped forward, letting the humans stay behind slightly.
"My lands," he said simply. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.
"My lands," he corrected. Inu Taisho shrugged.
"You spoke with Bokusenou?" he questioned. His son frowned slightly before nodding.
"Then you know that I am meant to be here. You also know that as such, the West belongs to me," he said with a small smirk.
"I do not care what a tree says. I will not give up my birthright willingly," Sesshomaru growled. Inu Taisho smirked as he drew the Tetsusaiga.
"I was hoping you would say that," he laughed. Sesshomaru stoically drew Tokijin and smirked slightly as the aura on it popped menacingly. Inu Taisho's eyes widened.
"What an evil sword Sesshomaru," he whispered, he paused slightly, "It suits you."
A/N: So, what did you think? I know, another cliffy, but I don't think the wait between this chapter and the next should be quite so long. So please, review, they make me happy!