Author's note: Let's see here... Inuyasha,... Inuyasha,... Inuyasha. Nope, not mine.

Chapter 12: Unwanted Company

It was early morning when Inuyasha awoke to hear the drumming patter of footsteps charging towards the village. Newborn sun rays were leaking through entranceway to Kaede's hut. Everyone else was still asleep. The old hut smelled of wood, cobwebs, dried blood, and last night's stew.

Kagome was sleeping at his feet, curled up in her sleeping bag. She appeared truly content. Miroku and Sango had not moved from the places that Kaede had laid them. Sango's breath was labored and Kiara was wheezing, but other than that everything seemed ok. No one had disturbed them in the night. It was imperative that he made sure it stayed that way.

Inuyasha swept over to the door and scrutinized the outside. The smell of humans told Inuyasha that some had returned. The sound of feet was drawing near. They were coming from the west. He leapt out of the hut and to a place not near Kaede's hut, but still not out of sight. Inuyasha would not let anything get by him again.

Inuyasha's muscles were taught and his claws ready. A scent curled around his nose and he grimaced: wolf. Within seconds, Koga's whirlwind whipped in. Inuyasha stood in the way. The mangy wolf wasn't going to bother Kagome. Koga swirled around in his cyclone and after repeated attempts to pass Inuyasha, he stopped right in front of him.

"Out of the way, mutt face!" Koga snarled. He was angry, really angry. Inuyasha just glared back.

"You can't see Kagome now. She needs to rest. I won't let you pass." Inuyasha's voice was solid, serious, and warning. Koga's piercing azure eyes stabbed at Inuaysha.

"Don't you dare," Koga's voice was a bare, harsh, slow growl, "Kano's been here. I can smell him. You can't hide her from me. You failed her. I should never have trusted her safety to the likes of you!" Inuyasha's face was scarred with guilt, but still holding against Koga's assault.

"Inuyasha, is that you?" Shippo peaked out from Koga's back. The little fox looked windswept and worn. Inuyasha recognized the poor animal.

"Master Inuyasha!" Myoga peeped in from a tuft of Shippo's tangerine hair.

"Is everyone alright Inuyasha? Are Sango, Miroku, and Kagome ok?" Shippo's voice was shaky, tired, and saturated with worry.

"Yes," Inuyasha replied, "everyone will live."

"'Will live'?" Koga repeated. "What's that suppose to mean? Oh, I don't even care about your nonsense." He slipped past Inuyasha and rushed to Kaede's door. Koga threw the mat aside and stared in at the four slumbering humans. As he stood framed in the sunlight, Inuyasha seized him by the arms and thrust him back against the outside wall.

"Look!" Inuyasha had lost all patience, "you can't go barging in on her just because you placed a false claim her on and caught her scent. I will not allow you to upset her anymore than she already is. There's nothing you can do here anyway. She's better off without you."

"How about you," Koga seethed, "was she better off without you? Was she better off without you when you left her to Kano? You can not lecture me, you wretch! And if you don't let go of me right now, I'll rip your deceitful arms off, you cur!"

Inuyasha released him, deep hurt bleeding through his eyes. His face was contorted and Koga glowered at him as he shoved past him. Inuyasha just stood there for a minute, staring at the wall.

Koga was inside, crouched next to Kagome. Shippo was inside too, observing the devastation. Kaede got up first. She recognized the deathly silence and made small talk with Shippo as she prepared a simple breakfast for everyone.

Inuyasha resigned himself where he had been sitting with Kagome, despite the filthy glares he got from Koga. This was an ultimate low for them, maybe worse than when Koga believed Inuyasha to be responsible for the massacre of his comrades.

When Kagome awoke she saw two tired and relieved canine demons staring down at her. She hastily sunk further into her sleeping bag and curled the cover over her nose as it turned pink.

"Oh, you scared me." Kagome breathed out a sigh. She started to collect herself off the floor. Koga firmly, but gently, grabbed her by the arms and eased her up.

"Kagome," Koga sounded like he'd been dying to speak her name, "I'm so glad to see you alive. Are you alright?"

"Kagome!" Shippo cried, "I was so worried!"

"Yes, I'm fine." She soothed their anxious eyes. Koga's eyes softened from their intense icy blue hue as Shippo hopped on her lap.

"I promise to dispose of Kano personally for you, Kagome. No one attacks my woman and gets away with it. The scum will pay with his life." Kagome's rejuvenated eyes questioned him.

"Kano? Who's that?" Kagome's voice was innocent.

"Why, he's the one who tried to kill you." Koga was surprised by her question, but very patient with her. Shippo looked up at her naive face.

An image of a man clad in black with obtrusive orange eyes and cerulean hair flashed before her eyes. She gasped. Koga's grip tightened on her.

"Kagome," his concerned voice called to her, "what is it?"

"That man..." she breathed. Her eyes stared out into nothingness. "It was him, not... If he succeeds..." Inuyasha and Koga stared wide eyed as Kagome fell into a brief trance. Inuyasha raised his hand to her forehead to feel for a fever. Kagome blinked several times before focusing on him. Shippo just stared.

"Inuyasha?" She gazed at him quizically.

"You gonna be ok now?" He asked her.

"What do you mean?" Koga and Inuyasha exchanged worried looks.

"Kagome," Koga reasoned with her, "maybe you'd better rest some more."

"Well, I still am a little tired." She conceded.

"Then you might as well lay down a bit longer," Inuyasha encouraged her, "do you want

anything to eat or drink before though?"

Kagome was surprised by his thoughtfulness.

"Well actually, I am a bit thirsty."

"No problem," Koga looked earnestly into Kagome's eyes, "Dog breath, go get Kagome some water."

"What's stopping you?" Inuyasha growled indignantly.

"Obviously I have to stay here and watch after Kagome." Koga stated it as though it was the most evident thing in the world.

"She'll be just fine here with me," Inuyasha said through gritted teeth.

"That hasn't been true of late," Koga shot back.

"You wanna die, puny wolf?" Inuyasha challenged.

"Wouldn't even land a punch," Koga boasted.

"Boys!" Kagome interupted.

"Wouldn't need to!" Inuyasha raised his voice.

"Because you'd be dead!" Koga and Inuyasha stood up at the same time.

"Hey, hey, boys!" Kagome tired to attract some form of attention.

"All you've got going for you is speed, and even that is not your own!" Inuyasha lashed at Koga. Shippo's head kept swerving back and forth between the two.

"Say that after I roll you into a ball and feed you to my wolves!" The two were face to face, baring their teeth.

"Sit boy!" Inuyasha came crashing down.

"Kagome," Koga's voice returned to its charming cocky tone as he held Kagome's hands, "I'll get you your water. I'm not a lazy mutt who thinks he's above such things."

Koga dashed out leaving a trail of dust in his wake. Kagome blinked at his abruptness.

"Finally he's gone." Inuyasha was pulling splintered wood out of his hair and dusting off his cloak. Kagome reached out to help him untangle his hair when he caught her hand before she reached his silky locks. She gasped. Inuyasha's eyes were calm.

"Lie down Kagome,..." Her brows furrowed and she considering issuing another 'sit.' "You need your rest." Her eyebrows relaxed. Just then, Koga's hand disentangled Kagome's from Inuyasha's and placed a cup of water in it.

"Fresh and cold from the stream" Koga beamed. Inuyasha's golden irises slid over to Koga, indignantly perturbed. Koga returned the exact same glance. Kagome finished the glass and handed it back to Koga.

"Thanks so much Koga, my mouth was so parched." She smiled at him. The smugness returned to his visage.

"Anything for you, Kagome."

Kagome yawned, stretched, and the slid back under the covers. Shippo snuggled next to her, determined to never let her go. The room went silent. Outside, chickens, roosters, and other farm animals clucked and scratched. Villager's voices could be heard. Kaede broke the silence.

"Kano attacked ye too, Koga?" Kaede was sitting across the room. Koga looked up at the old maid.

"Ya, but I was mostly interested why he smelled of Kagome and claimed she was dying so I didn't have time to deal with him properly."

"Aye," replied Kaede.

"Sango! Ahh... ahh.." Miroku shot up off the floor into a sitting position. He clutched his bandaged arm and squeezed his eyes shut in pain.

"Miroku," Kaede called and supported him from behind, "ye must be careful. The wound ye bear will open up." Inuyasha got up and squatted next to Miroku and helped Kaede hold him.

Miroku breathed heavily, his pain evident in every breath. As his chest calmed, he looked down beside him to where the demon slayer lay. His eyes went glassy for a moment. He touched her cheek gently. It was warm.

"She'll be just fine," Kaede's voice cooed. His eyes drifted up to her, then to Inuyasha.

"Thank you, both of you," his voice trailed off a bit.

"Tis nothing," Kaede smiled at him, "would ye like something to eat?"

"Yes," Miroku brightened up a little, "please."

Miroku ate noisily as Inuyasha watched, dumbfounded. He'd never seen the monk inhale so much food. Koga even relinquished his attention from Kagome's sleeping form for a minute to discern where the slurping noises were coming from. Kaede seemed surprised at first, but gladly refilled his bowls at least twice. Miroku remained by Sango's side the entire time and did not say a word.

Miroku seemed extremely introverted. It concerned Inuyasha, but since the monk seemed to appreciate his solitude, he decided to leave him alone and return to Kagome. Miroku's eyes were focused and vigilant, but so distant.

Kiara sprang onto Miroku's shoulder and mewed. Miroku's eyes fluttered and he quickly turned to the attention hungry kitten. She rubbed his cheek affectionately with her fuzzy forehead. She was keeping watch too. He patted her thoughtfully.

Sango's eyes slowly blinked to consciousness. Her vision was as slurred as a drunkard's speech.

"Ah..." she murmured. She rubbed her eyes. Her muscles were aching and her neck hurt. Hovering above her was Miroku. His face was paler than usual and he smelled of herbs.

"I'm glad," she whispered, "you're alright."

A soft smile gilded his ragged complexion. A shuffling noise announced Kaede's arrival. She settled down beside Sango.

Sango managed to pull herself up into a sitting position. Kaede felt her forhead and offered her some breakfast.

Sango ate sparingly, a huge contrast to Miroku's ravenous appetite. Her throat still hurt. Miroku sunk his head down and meditated while Sango ate. It had been long since he last prayed and the shaky peace in the hut was a lucrative atmosphere. Miroku let his anxieties drown in the stillness and wash out with the calm. His spiritual being was intact but greatly shaken.

Miroku opened his eyes and, without shifting his head, spied on Kagome. He let his eyes drop to his wind tunnel. He should have sucked the demon up with his wind tunnel the second he saw him. But Miroku wasn't like that. He never jumped to hasty conclusions like Inuyasha did. However, he did sometimes envy his friend's zeal. It was a side of vitality that he didn't have. As a monk, he was too reserved.

Miroku rose to his feet and paced to the door, his staff jingling with each step.

"Where are you going Miroku?" Sango's voice was weak and almost broke. Miroku stole a glance behind him to see every face except Kagome's staring at him.

"Just outside," Miroku responded, "I'll only be gone a minute." He stepped outside the premises, melting into a stream of sunshine. It was the evening. The sun baked streets glowed a soft orange. Villagers had started repair on their homes and cleaned up the streets.

Miroku only took a few steps when he stopped and stooped down to the ground. He inspected it and even poked it with his staff.

"And you guys accuse me of being an animal?" a gruff voice cynically interrogated him from behind. Miroku did not get up.

"Inuyasha," Miroku's voice was thoughtful, "has Kagome awoken yet?"

"Ya," Inuyasha automatically replied.

"Does she seem different in anyway?"

"Well, now that you mention it, she was acting a bit weird earlier and she did have a really rough night." Inuyasha painfully recalled the last 24 hours.

"I'm sure she did, it's just I've never heard of anyone surviving when their spiritual powers are taken. They cease to be the person they once were. It's like when they lose their spiritual being, they lose their morals. Some go crazy. I've seen it myself. They hear voices, revert to a child-like state, or turn into insatiable beasts. It's not a pretty sight."

Inuyasha's eyes were glazed as he listened to the monk crush his hopes of Kagome's recovery.

"You're saying that after all she's suffered through, she's beyond all hope?" Inuyasha's voice was apathetic. He wore a look of disbelief.

"I'm saying that this is no time drop our guard. If Kagome is not already corrupted by the evil influence of the demon, she is very vulnerable to attack right now. She can't fire a sacred arrow, can't purify things like she used to, she may not even be able to sense the jewel shards."

Inuyasha's yellow eyes widened considerably. If Kagome couldn't sense the sacred jewel, how would they hope to find Kano, and ultimately Naraku?

Inuyasha's brows furrowed. This was worse than he thought. Miroku stood before him now, staff in hand. Inuyasha bit his lip and searched the ground.

"Is there a way to get her powers back?" Inuyasha was pensive.

"We must find where the demon has stored her spiritual energy and drain it back into her. That is the only way I can think of." Miroku answered stoically.

"So be it," Inuyasha growled.

"You're talking about Kagome, aren't you?" Sango's voice seemed stronger as she stepped out on the street with them.

"Yes, we're worried about her." Miroku responded solemnly.

"I see," Sango acknowledged, "I am too."

"How should we approach this?" Miroku pondered aloud.

"Koga..." Inuyasha breathed.

"What about Koga?" Sango was confused.

"He said he met Kano, that demon, before coming here. He should at least know what direction he's headed."

"Good thinking" Miroku agreed.

"What about Kagome?" Sango quarried.

"She should stay somewhere safe for a while, until we have figured things out." Miroku said with a sense of finality.

"Oh no!" Kagome's voice rang out from within the hut. Inuyasha reacted instantaneously and leapt into the action. Kagome had one hand pressed against her chest. Her eyes were wide with shock an dread. They crept up to Inuyasha as he entered.

"What is it?" Inuayasha held his hand on Tessaiga's hilt. However, he could find no assailant. Koga didn't even count for anything at this point.

"My jewel shards! They're missing!" She was frantic and started digging in her big yellow bag. Inuyasha hauled the thing in earlier and now Kagome was near burrowing in it.

"What?" Inuyasha was going from surprise to surprise today.

"They're gone. I'm sure of it. They were around my neck the last time I saw them and now they're gone!" Kagome was really distressed.

"Kano must have taken them." Inuyasha grit his teeth.

"I'm sorry—" Kagome began.

"Don't apologize," Inuyasha cut her off.

"Ya," Koga piped in, "dog face is right. It's his fault he let Kano run off with the shards."

"When are you going to leave, you mangy wolf?" Inuyasha sent Koga a scathing look.

Koga folded his arms and stuck his nose up at the ceiling.

"Never," he stated simply, "I won't ever leave Kagome in your incapable hands again."

"I'll show you incapable!" Inuyasha exploded. He lunged at Koga and brought him to the ground when Koga only had time to gape at him. Inuyasha pinned him to the ground, but neither was making headway attacking the other. They struggled in a vain fist-locked battle. Koga reached up with a back leg under one of Inuyasha's shoulders and proceeded to lift him off his stomach and flip him onto his back. Inuyasha met the ground with a large thunk, Koga's foot still firmly imbedded between his arm and torso. Both got up at the same time. They seized each other. Koga grasped a fist full of Inuyasha's fire rat cloak at the collar and prepared the other fist, while Inuyasha yanked Koga's pony tail and threatened to punch Koga the same way.

Kagome was digging in her bag again when she emerged to find the rivals ready to blacken each others eyes. She released an exasperated sigh.

"You know, one of these days you two are going to finally listen to me and get over your differences." Kagome marveled at how they had stopped fighting at her words, but they didn't seem to be paying the least bit of attention to her. "There, now isn't that much better..." she let her voice trail off as she turned to see what they were both gawking at beyond the door. The problem was she couldn't see anything. It didn't look like Miroku or Sango knew what was going on either. "What is it?" Kagome asked innocently.

"That scent.." Inuyasha's eyes were wide and looking far out into the distance. Capitalizing on Inuyasha's absorbed state, Koga smacked him in the face with his ready fist.

"He's mine!" Koga claimed. "I'll be right back Kagome!" he called as he swept through the only exit into the dying rays of sunlight. Inuyasha was still guarding his nose when Koga disappeared.

"HEY!" Inuyasha cried nasally. He dropped his hands to reveal a tomato nose. "Get back here you low life coward!" Inuyasha shook his fist. He began to take off after the rustling dust of Koga when Kagome latched on to his arm.

"Inuyasha," Her eyes watered a little, "is it him? Is it... Kano?" Inuyasha was overcome by the pain in her eyes.

"No..." he breathed. He could see his own eyes reflecting in her glistening lenses. It scared him. His posture relaxed. "Kagome—" Inuyasha's concerned utterance evaporated when she spoke.

"Then who is it?" Kagome was blinking back the salty reservoirs.

"It's..." Inuyasha paused. Should he tell her? He'd never let his own battered state of being get in the way of a fight before and wasn't keen on letting the others get away with it either, but Kagome was always the exception. Still, this was a very important opportunity.

"Inuyasha?" Miroku's voice was tinged with worry.

"Naraku..." Inuyasha eyes left Kagome to plead with the monk and demon slayer. Both reacted at the same time. They're eyes bugged a bit. Sango picked up her weapon and Miroku walked forward with his staff. Inuyasha stepped in front of them.

"No," he said, "only I can go. You all are still healing, especially you Kagome." The hanyou pivoted to face her. "You need to stay here, out of danger."

"But—" she countered.

"Please," Inuyasha's voice was uncompromising, "wait for me." Kagome's grip on him loosened. Her eyes fell to the floor sadly before ascending to say goodbye.

"Be careful," she whispered. With a confident nod he smiled at her reassuringly and ran out into the encroaching night.

Inuyasha's feet drummed against the earth as he hurried after Koga's trail. The scent was no longer fresh. Sunset had long past and the stars were slowly eating away the hazy orange daylight.

Naraku's scent was faint too. It wasn't looking good. If they had gone any serious distance, he may be unable to track them. The night wouldn't allow it. He'd have to get back to Kagome. As badly as Inuyasha wanted to slay Naraku, he knew that Naraku probably attacked them now because they were weak. That's why it was so imperative for Inuyasha to be strong and hold him off as best he could until the others were better. It wasn't that he wouldn't kill him if he could, but even Inuyasha realized that it wasn't that simple.

Inuyasha slid to a halt in a clearing. It was dead quiet. A breeze teased his face and he listened for hints very closely. He could only hear the rustling of the breeze and the trickling of a nearby stream.

A twig snapped behind him and Inuyasha spun around. The scent of fresh blood invaded his nostrils as a slick black-coated hand crunched into his cheek bone and sent him sailing to the ground below. Inuyasha's body hit the ground and bounced back up a few feet, due to the force of the blow. He gasped, winded.

"YOU HATEFUL BASTARD!"

Inuyasha knew the blood smell. It was wolf... more than one. The thing with murderous black eyes, bloody fists, and a howling death cry was definitely Koga, but why? Inuyasha tried to get up out of the small crater he had created.

Suddenly Koga's bristling sinewy body straddled him to the ground and started pummeling him. He landed bone-breaking punches from his ribs to his face. Inuyasha tried to defend himself, but only caught half the rage-driven stabs. Koga's breaths were heaving in and out of his chest. He was on major overdrive.

Inuyasha felt his lip crack, ribs break, shoulder dislocate, and teeth fall out. His body was searing all over. He felt his own warm blood coating his lips and staining his cloak. If he didn't get Koga off of him, the rabid wolf might actually kill him. Inuyasha sent a strong kick into Koga's upper stomach. The wolf toppled off of him. Inuyasha clutched his chest.

"Koga... you jackass! What the hell... are you doing?" Inuyasha slurred and panted. He looked up at the wolf prince through blurred vision and saw the demon was soaked in his own blood too. He had a deep gash ripping across his chest and back. His thighs were opened and streaming small waterfalls of oily blood. His forhead, just below his bangs, was cut and some of his armor was broken, revealing his chest. His bangs were plastered to his face in a disheveled matting of blood.

"Not again," Koga's eyes were bright against his bloodied face, "never again will you fool me, you monster." Koga seemed to have uttered it to himself, but his voice was remarkably steady for his physical condition and previous rampage.

"Kog...ga, I'm Inuyasha." Inuyasha tried to educate the savage before him. Koga's purely malevolent eyes only seemed to fester with hate.

"Don't you dare lie to me," Koga screamed, "I'll kill you! Prepare to die, Naraku!"

"I'm not Naraku! I'm Inuyasha!"

"Inuyasha," Koga's voice laughed evilly, "Inuyasha wouldn't attack an innocent girl, trick me three times, and keep coming back. You can't fool me this time with the same lie because you're hurt. I don't believe you."

"Do I smell like Naraku? Are you stupid? Ask me something only I would know." Inuyasha's breathing was labored.

"Why aren't you dead yet?" Koga's aqua eye pierced through his last hopes of avoiding the particularly dangerous beast.

"You leave me no other choice, Koga" Inuyasha's voice was threatening. He grabbed the hilt of his sword.

"This is for all my comrades..." Koga glared at him.

"You'll fight the same person twice for the wrong crime." Inuyasha scowled at him over the pain pulsing through his entire body.

"You'll die twice as hard for your heinous treachery!" Koga snarled.

At that, he charged. Inuyasha grimaced at having to kill him, but he had no choice. There was no way he could run away, his lungs wouldn't allow him. Inuyasha unsheathed Tessaiga and hurled it down at Koga. Koga's eyes widened at the blade, and he desperately flung a foot into Inuyasha's sword-clasping hand. They rolled onto the leafy floor and down a hill. Tessaiga sprang free from Inuyasha. It slid into a neighboring tree and transformed back.

Inuyasha and Koga tumbled down the hill. Inuyasha tried to grasp hold of something. His claws sank into the dirt. He ripped out lots of grass, but never caught a sturdy support. Sticks and rocks scraped and stabbed him. Tessaiga's sheath jutted into his diaphragm before ripping loose of his body. His back slammed into a thick tree with an awful crack and he ricocheted off so that he fell to the bottom of the steep decline. His body crumpled grotesquely and he laid motionless.

Blood seeped from the side of his mouth as Inuyasha laid there helpless. Koga was missing. Good riddens. Inuyasha grimaced. The pain was etching through his whole body. He didn't think it was so bad, but he'd need to just stay still for awhile. Traveling anywhere right now would mean certain death. He'd lose too much blood. He just hoped no demons would bother him now. Naraku... If Naraku found him now, it would be all over. Inuyasha's eyes popped open and looked around warily for the predator. He wasn't in sight.

The bastard. He'd manipulated Koga somehow and then let him do the dirty work. Naraku must have really messed with him to put Koga in such a frenzy. Naraku was probably after the jewel shards. He probably just wanted to lure Koga out into the open so he could get them easily. The cunning bastard always had something planned. Naraku left Koga to kill him as a bonus. How did he always come out ahead? It infuriated Inuyasha to no end.

Inuyasha tried to prop himself up. His arms gave out and he plunked back down. Damn that fool Koga. It was too much. Inuyasha's eyes fluttered, exhausted. If Naraku found him now, so be it... He just... Inuyasha's thoughts became more and more fragmented. Kagome...