Hello everyone. My power went out earlier today for a very long time (not really sure why) and I was a little afraid I wouldn't be able to post anything tonight, but alas . . . we have electricity once more! As always, thank you all for the reviews. Most of you are liking the Inu brother's lovin' moments. I had a reviewer ask me how many chapters are left (if you don't want to know, skip this part). If they stay the same through the process of editing, including this one, there are four left to the main story plus a fairly lengthy epilogue.

Enough chit-chat on my end. Disclaimers are as before.

Now, on with Chapter 26 . . .

Gods above, how could a few weeks change his life this drastically, Inuyasha thought as the car he was riding in sped down the road. Once again, Sang-di was at the helm, literally steering them towards the forest holding his savior, Bakusen'O. Face turning a blush shade of red, Inuyasha thought back to that morning and how he'd fallen apart once again underneath his brother. Moaning, panting, fucking himself on the now three fingers Sesshomaru pumped into his eager ass . . . and oh, how sinfully good it felt. Of course the whole thing still made him uncomfortable, but only when he thought too long or too deeply on the subject. But the simple fact was that his protests had become fewer and fewer and most of them had now turned into pleas for more.

In those few, precious weeks, Inuyasha had come to learn the true meaning of feeling safe and valued above all others. The bastard had made him needy in ways he'd never thought possible. Sesshomaru had been his typical arrogant self, and yet at the same time, he'd been methodically slow and attentive. He'd pushed but only as far as Inuyasha could take and then the next time, he'd pushed just that much further, all of it leading up to the time when they'd officially become mates – when he'd take the Lord of all Asia's cock into his body while at the same time receiving the bite that would mark him as Sesshomaru's for all eternity. That idea should scare the hell out of him, and at one time, it had, but now all Inuyasha felt was a sense of urgency mixed with heady desire. He wanted that mark, wanted that cock, and more than anything, he wanted to be with Sesshomaru in that way until the sun fell from the sky.

Tapping his claws along Tessaiga's sheath, Inuyasha's amber eyes stared out the window, only now noticing how close they were to Bakusen'Os forest. This morning he'd known; known that tonight was the night. If Sesshomaru wanted, he'd let the bastard take him and mark him as his own. At first, he'd been holding out until after the next new moon, but that was still a few days off and Inuyasha simply couldn't wait. Day and night he heard the unmitigated pleas of his Youkai as it pined to be claimed and unlike before, his human side could no longer offer up any true resistance. His humanity felt safer than it had ever felt before and had no further objections to becoming such a creature's mate. Thinking this, Inuyasha wondered if that was what his mother had felt like when she'd taken his father to their bed. Did Izayoi feel safe? Did she know Inu no Taisho would be willing to go so far to save both she and her offspring? Shaking his head, the Hanyou wished he could ask his mother such questions, but that was a moot point. Izayoi had left this plane of existence long ago and although he'd love to hear her advice, he knew in his heart his mother would approve. She'd only wanted him happy and for the first time in his long life, Inuyasha felt that and more.

Still, there was someone he wanted to tell his decision to, and that's why he was in the car now. Sesshomaru hadn't really been overjoyed that he wanted to make this little excursion, what with Kaplow on the loose and that scorpion Youkai causing havoc, but Inuyasha refused to live his life hiding from what could happen. It had taken a lot of cajoling, but he'd finally been able to convince his brother that he didn't need an escort and that he was just going to go into the forest for a few minutes to speak with the old demon tree and head straight back to their home. Their home. Inuyasha could finally say it.

Feeling the car come to a stop, Inuyasha popped out. "I won't be too long, 'kay."

Nodding, Sang-di still didn't know what was so important in that woods. When Lord Sesshomaru had first carried the Hanyou out, he'd thought that would be the end of these little trips, but he'd been sorely mistaken. "I will wait for your return."

With a distracted wave of his hand, Inuyasha made for the trail leading to his friend. Once he'd broken through the tree-line, he dropped his human façade and began bounding through the trees, relishing the wind as it blew through his silky silvery-white mane of hair. "Fuck, this feels good."

Dropping from a nearby canopy of leaves, Inuyasha stood before Bakusen'O, Tessaiga's non-transformed blade casually swung over a shoulder. "Hey, Bakusen'O, you awake in there?"

Still amazed, Inuyasha watched a grin spread across the trunk of the tree, soon followed by eyes crinkled with pleasure. "Youngest son of Inu no Taisho, it is good to see you again."

Walking forwards, Inuyasha laid the palm of his hand against the tree's bark. "Yeah, you too, ya old tree."

The happiness the Hanyou was exuding was easy to see and Bakusen'O felt light with joy. "And what has brought you to my roots this day, young InuHanyou?"

"-Keh, you act like I need an excuse."

"You never need such to visit me, but I sense an excitement to the air."

Pulling his hand back, Inuyasha fiddled with the hilt of his sword, his eyes cast down as a blush colored his cheeks. "So, ah . . . I just wanted to let you know I've come to a decision."

If bark could soften, Bakusen'Os did as his smile turned warm. "And what might that be?"

Scratching the back of a twitching ear, Inuyasha's blush turned violently crimson. "Well, as you know, Sesshomaru's not been quite the asshole he used to be. Mind you, he's still an arrogant bastard, but it seems like he's got some good points too."

"Ah, then am I to assume the courtship has been successful?"

With his clawed toes digging into the earth, Inuyasha nodded, "You could say that." Taking a deep breath, the Hanyou looked up, staring straight into the eyes upon the tree as he stated, "I'm gonna let the bastard mark me – tonight . . . if he wants."

"I have little doubt that if offered the opportunity, Lord Sesshomaru would do anything less."

Nodding once, Inuyasha couldn't help but agree. "He's been unusually patient." Looking off to the side, he began fidgeting once more as he asked, "You don't think it's too soon, do ya? I mean, it's only been a few weeks and . . . "

"May I ask, does it feel wrong?"

"No. Nothin's ever felt more right. Just seems like maybe it ought to take longer or somethin'."

"Time is a curious thing, young one. Centuries roll by with little to nothing to mark their passing, and yet there are moments such as this which make such passages worth the waiting. Time can be friend or foe or it can be anything in between. For your brother, time has healed many wounds, both real and self-inflicted. For you, time has been a precarious instrument. Twice you have evaded its heady march forwards. Perhaps time is simply making up what it has lost with you and doing it in the most expedient way possible."

"I think time has made you bonker's, Bakusen'O," Inuyasha answered, a happy grin upon his face.

"Perhaps, but I would not change a moment of my time upon this earth, nor would I change a moment of it spent within the company of my friend Inu no Taisho, nor his pups."

Starting forwards, Inuyasha wanted to give Bakusen'O another pat on the bark when he noticed something odd – the birds had stopped singing. In fact, as he stood there, still with ears swiveling too and fro, Inuyasha found that the woods had turned unusually silent. Reaching forwards, the Hanyou placed his fingers upon Bakusen'Os bark. "Somethin's not right."

Around him, all was quiet, only the voice of the demon tree in his head could be heard. "There is fear in the air, young InuHanyou."

"Can you sense anything?"

"Only that the creatures of this forest know there is a predator amongst them."

"Predator, huh?" Growling low in his throat, the power of several spider Youkai hit Inuyasha's senses. "I fuckin' hate those eight legged freaks. I can't use Tessaiga to its fullest or I'll cut down the entire forest. Plus, I think somethin' like that would be picked up on by the human population."

With little more thought, Inuyasha leapt into Bakusen'Os canopy. Whoever those jackass's were, they were after him and he didn't want Bakusen'O getting caught in the crossfire. Forgetting that the tree could hear his thoughts when he was touching it, Inuyasha was startled to hear, "Do not concern yourself with my safety. This Bakusen'O is not without defenses."

No more had that thought passed through his mind than Inuyasha saw the first enemy come into view. Sniffing the air, it was impossible to tell just how many of them there were, plus there was always the chance some of them had the ability to conceal their own Youkai and scents. "Well, there ain't nothin' for it. Don't you get involved unless necessary, you got it. I heard ya the first time, but I don't want you hurt, not when it's me they want."

"As you say, but do not hold back on my account."

"Noted."

Pulling Tessaiga from its sheath, Inuyasha growled before leaping from his perch, catching the first enemy by surprise and gutting the unlucky spider in the process. Within moments, others came crawling out of the nearby woods. In no time, the forest floor was littered with blood, most of it from the attacking spider Youkai, but there was a bit of centipede blood in the mix just for good measure. Between his blades of blood and Tessaiga, Inuyasha was more than holding his own. "Is that all you bastards got? No wonder you won't attack Sesshomaru outright, you're not even worth wastin' his time on."

"Do you think so?"

Whipping his head around, Inuyasha's body froze. Not ten feet away stood a fox Youkai, fiery red hair blazing in the sun as no less than eight tails danced in the background. Swallowing down his fear, the Hanyou squared his stance. "Guess even you didn't trust these idiots to bring me down, otherwise you wouldn't of bothered showin' up, Kaplow." Maybe he'd never met the fox before, but there was little doubt as to who this jackass was.

Inuyasha watched as a disturbing grin spread across the fox's face. "I suppose you are right. I was unsure of your strength. Of course, your exploits of old are well known, but you have been, shall we say, out of commission for the past few centuries, and while my time of reflection allowed my strength to grow, yours did not. Still, you do not disappoint. For a half-breed, your abilities are admirable."

"-Keh, you're about to see just how damn admirable they are, asshole."

"Again I ask, do you think so?"

Shifting his eyes, Inuyasha could see those he'd merely injured and not outright killed gathering their wounded bodies around the fox Youkai before him, all with the same nasty sneers on their faces. It pissed him off. "Yeah, cause you're about to get your ass kicked, just like the rest of your lackeys."

Sighing dramatically, Kaplow placed a clawed hand to his forehead. "Are all you dogs the same? Are violence and bloodshed the only ways you know to solve a conflict?"

"Better than schemin' and trickery. It ain't my fault you're too damn weak to face off one on one."

The thinning of Kaplow's mouth was a hollow victory for the Hanyou. "It would be a grave mistake to assume me weak, half-breed." Personality turning on a dime, Kaplow suddenly smiled brightly. "Now, I had hoped my comrades would be able to bring you in without this, but . . . since you seem determined to make things more difficult than need be, perhaps another tact would better suite the situation."

Quickly deciding that this jackass switched moods quicker than Sesshomaru, Inuyasha simply stared. "What the fuck's that supposed to mean?"

With a gentle wave of his hand, Kaplow uttered a few short words and soon the glowing green ball of fire in his palm expanded into a thin, oval shape. And, in that oval, Kagome's great grandchildren played outside the shrine. Staring in shock, the next visions were no better, for one was of Shippo lying unmoving in a dark cave somewhere and the other was of Ayame scolding what Inuyasha assumed to be one of her pups.

"What the – "

"Have you seen enough, half-breed?"

Crouching low, Inuyasha's Youkai roared within his soul. Kaplow was clever and he'd obviously done his research well. "What have you done with them?"

Raising his eyebrows, Kaplow looked innocent of all crimes. "As of this point, nothing. And, as long as you come along willingly, I see no reason for that to change."

Easing himself back just a few precious steps, Inuyasha's hand came into contact with the base of Bakusen'Os trunk. "Fuck, I don't know what to do."

"I can keep you from harm, you have but to ask."

"No, if I do that, he might hurt Kagome's grandkids, or Shippo, or Kouga's pups, or gods know who else. I gotta go with him, but . . ." Frustrated beyond all measure, Inuyasha felt a deep cold settle within his gut. If he went with Kaplow, there was probably a pretty damn good chance he wasn't going to come out the other end alive. Sesshomaru would go mad with worry, then again, maybe the DaiYoukai would move on. No, Sesshomaru wanted him. He wouldn't just give up, he . . . "Bakusen'O, if they haven't hurt him, there's a Youkai just outside these woods named Sang-di. Can you get a message to him tellin' him what happened?"

"My roots span a great distance, if he is within that radius, I will be able to do such."

"Good. Now I just gotta hope they didn't think he was enough of a threat to take out." Sang-di was hardly powerful and hopefully someone as arrogant as Kaplow would overlook him as nothing more than a nuisance. "Thanks for everything, I . . . you gave me a chance to know what it felt like to be wanted. Tell . . . tell Sesshomaru . . . tell the bastard I'm sorry." Head bent low, Inuyasha's final thoughts to Bakusen'O were, "Take care of yourself, ya old tree," before pushing away and sheathing Tessaiga. "Fine, I'll go with ya."

"Somehow, I thought you might." Creepy smile back in place, Kaplow moved forwards. "Not that I don't trust you, but – " without another word, the fox's hand came up and with a few words and an odd glowing light, Inuyasha felt his vision dim as his body slumped forwards, landing in an unceremonious pile upon the forest floor.

With the Hanyou taken care of, Kaplow's calculating green eyes narrowed in on the tree before him. He could sense something odd about it, a hum that spoke of more than just plant, but what it was, he could not ascertain. As old and powerful as Kaplow was, Bakusen'O had already been ancient by the time of the fox's birth and was more than capable of suppressing both his own Youkai and scent. Still, it was not enough to completely fool the tricky fox.

"Shinjo."

Limping forwards, the spider Youkai bowed. "Yes, my Lord."

"Carry the half-breed." Turning from the spider he'd called forwards, Kaplow looked to his remaining Youkai, more than a little irritated by the damage the half-breed had been able to inflict. Over half the Youkai he'd brought with him were dead and of the half remaining, all were wounded. Had he not come himself to entice the Hanyou, Inuyasha would have decimated the full-blooded Youkai before him. It was embarrassing. Narrowing his eyes, Kaplow let his disappoint show. "To think a mere half-breed could defeat you, it is a disgrace." Attention narrowing in on two Youkai in particular, he ordered, "Do not return until the tree is destroyed."

Bowing low, both Youkai nodded as they watched from veiled eyes as Kaplow left with the Hanyou in tow. Once gone, they drew themselves up, ready to take care of what seemed a relatively easy task.

Transforming into their full Youkai form, the spider's leapt at the tree, only to find their bodies pierced through by over a dozen tree limbs each. Willowy legs thrashing, the spiders spit their poisonous venom at the tree. "What is the meaning of this?"

Not bothering to show his face, Bakusen'O spoke to the Youkai within his grasp. "Foolish Youkai, you would dare attack not only the treasured son of Inu no Taisho, but the intended mate of Lord Sesshomaru."

"Who the fuck are you?"

"The bringer of your destruction."

Laughing, both Youkai ignored the blood oozing from their wounds. "I don't know who you are, but if you think these paltry wounds are going to bring us down, then you are the fool here."

Without pause, both Youkai heard Bakusen'Os final words as the tree stated, "Lord Sesshomaru sends his regards," before the branches within their bodies exploded, flooding their blood with the poison so carefully removed from Inuyasha's body over the centuries he'd been kept within Bakusen'Os care. Screaming and writhing, both Youkai flailed like skewered fish, their bodies disintegrating painfully slow as the poison took hold.

Finally, with nothing more than the taint of miasma on the wind, Bakusen'O turned his attention to what lay beyond his forest. Pushing his roots up and closer to the surface, the tree searched for the hint of Youkai Inuyasha had spoken of. Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime, he found him. Putting all his energy into this one root, Bakusen'O extended it as far as he could, pushing through the soil and quickly wrapping the dirt caked root around the remains of Sang-di's leg. Inching its way forwards, the root encountered only cooling blood. It seemed as if the driver had not been spared.

Knowing there was nothing further he could do for the unfortunate Youkai, Sang-di pulled his root back below the earth as he contemplated what to do next. Somehow, he needed to get a message to Lord Sesshomaru. But, being a tree Youkai, he was unable to physically move. Despite his limitations, Bakusen'O was determined. Communicating with one of the birds nesting within his canopy, he convinced the small creature to take one of his leaves and find the Lord of all Asia. Choosing a leaf tinged with Inuyasha's blood, Bakusen'O allowed the bird to pluck it from his body, hoping that Sesshomaru would come as quickly as possible.

::::::::::

Looking down at his watch, Sesshomaru hurried his pace just a little bit more. He'd been called downtown while Inuyasha was visiting with Bakusen'O. Evidently there had been a breakthrough with one of the new drugs his company had been developing. In fact, it was Shippo's kit, Ioni who had called him. Ioni had embraced human technology and was clever enough to figure out that she could accomplish new and amazing things by combining human science with her own fox magics. Walking towards his car, the Lord of all Asia thought the decision to promote the fox had been a good one.

Almost to his car, Sesshomaru was eager to return home. By now, Inuyasha should also be on his way back from Bakusen'Os woods. He'd hated watching his Hanyou leave, but no matter how protective he felt towards Inuyasha, Sesshomaru knew he had to allow his brother freedom to live. Without a doubt, the Hanyou was both resilient and strong. He'd asked his little brother to trust him, but that trust went both ways. Sesshomaru was determined to show Inuyasha that he trusted in the Hanyou's strength and that he did not view his intended mate as anything but capable.

Hand on the shimmering steel of his car, Sesshomaru's nose caught the scent of something on the air, something that sent his heart hammering within his chest – blood, Inuyasha's blood. Human blue eyes hiding his true, red tinged golden ones, he was only slightly surprised when a small bird landed before him, its tiny talons clicking on the metal of the car's roof. Forcing his mind to focus, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed in on the leaf held tightly within the creatures mouth.

Reaching forwards, Sesshomaru plucked the blood soaked leaf from the birds grasp. Immediately he felt his Youkai scream within his soul. Pain the likes of which the Lord of the West had never encountered flooded his body. Every ounce of his being wanted to let his Youkai loose upon the world – a world that would dare harm the one he held more precious than the lives it held. In that instant, it took every iota of power he had to subdue his Youkai. Breathing in the scent of his young brother's blood, Sesshomaru recognized the second lacing the leaf – Bakusen'O.

Eerily calm, Sesshomaru stepped away from his car, heading back into the building and aiming directly for the stairs leading to the roof. Once there, he concealed his presence and transformed into an orb of energy, shooting across the sky with none the wiser.

Landing just outside Bakusen'Os woods, the first sight to great the Lord of all Asia's eyes was the dead body of his driver, Sang-di. By one of Sang-di's hands lay a blood coated cell phone, by the other - the remains of an unknown scorpion Youkai. His driver had not gone out without a fight. Stepping over the body, Sesshomaru walked into the woods, the heavy scent of blood and death thick within the whispering wind. Silent and deadly, the Lord of the West moved forwards, inside he knew he was already too late to stop the carnage that had already taken place. Finally, his footfalls landed before Bakusen'Os base.

"Bakusen'O."

Face instantly forming, Bakusen'Os lips were thin with worry. "Lord of the West, you received my message?"

"This Sesshomaru received it. Where is Inuyasha?"

"A Youkai he addressed as Kaplow took him away. Your intended mate fought valiantly and killed many attacking Youkai, but this fox was deceitful. He showed the Hanyou images of Youkai and humans that Inuyasha seemed to recognize. This Kaplow threatened their safety should the youngest son of Inu no Taisho not lay down his arms."

Stiffening, Sesshomaru silently cursed Inuyasha's one true weakness – his love of his friends. Kaplow had used the one thing his Hanyou had no defense against. Swallowing, Sesshomaru felt his Youkai rise. "And the Hanyou? What was his condition upon leaving this woods?"

"He was injured, but alive. I know not what kind of magic this Kaplow used, but Inuyasha was carried from my woods unconscious."

Fangs and stripes elongating, Sesshomaru hissed his anger. Poison dripped from his claws, hissing upon the scorched earth below. "He would dare . . . he would dare take what is rightfully this Sesshomaru's!"

Feeling the rise of Sesshomaru's Youkai, Bakusen'O did not fear for his own life, but that of his late friends pup. Woody limbs pulled back and stretched to their full glory, Bakusen'Os voice landed with the authority of aged wisdom and power. "Lord Sesshomaru, control yourself. If this fox Youkai wanted the Hanyou dead, he would have done so here. Your intended mate is still alive and must be found as quickly as possible."

Pulse pounding, Sesshomaru battled with his inner Youkai. If he gave in to what the beast desired, the whole of the land would be laid waste. Although he cared little for the destruction and loss of life this would surely incite, going practically feral was no guarantee that he would recover Inuyasha. No matter how difficult, he had to regain control. Forcing his mind to clear, Sesshomaru reigned his livid Youkai in, his eyes almost returning to their natural golden color. Voice cold but deceptively calm, the InuDaiYoukai stated, "Kaplow will not survive long."

"I am pleased to hear such." Sighing, Bakusen'Os branches drooped. "Inuyasha is strong, he will not perish from this earth."

Eyes flashing, Sesshomaru's mouth curved into a sneer. "This Sesshomaru is aware. The Hanyou will not die easily. But for every drop of InuHanyou blood spilt, Kaplow shall equally scream for mercy. But no matter how his voice begs, this Sesshomaru knows not the meaning of such a word."

With nothing further to say, Sesshomaru moved from the woods. Stopping before the lifeless body of his driver, Sang-di, the Lord of the West contemplated his next actions. Inuyasha had been taken, no, he had gone willingly to save those whose lives were but insignificant gnats compared to that of his Hanyou. Kaplow had taken his intended mate alive, implying the fox wanted something more, something either only Inuyasha could give him, or he planned on using his Hanyou as bait to lure him into a trap. "Foolish fox," Sesshomaru whispered, his eyes landing upon the blood soaked shirt of his driver. Leaning forwards, he picked the rabbit Youkai up, placing the limp form in the back of the car as he climbed into the drivers seat. Had Sang-di lived through Inuyasha's abduction, Sesshomaru would have killed the Youkai himself. But, it was evident his driver had done what he could and as such, if Tenseiga was willing, the Lord of all Asia would resurrect Sang-di's spirit from the afterlife.

::::::::::

Kouga didn't have a fucking clue why he'd been ordered into the Lord of all Asia's study, but feeling the killer aura coming off the InuDaiYoukai had him more than a little uneasy. In fact, he hadn't felt this kind of power leaking off Sesshomaru since . . . oh shit, "Where's the mutt?"

Turning from the glass windows before him, Sesshomaru's face gave away nothing, but his eyes held an endless cold. Frigid and devoid of any emotions, his golden orbs glinted in the dying sunlight. "That is a very good question, Wolf."

Feeling his anxiety quicken with every passing second, Kouga licked his dry lips. "I know you've claimed him as mate, but Inuyasha's my friend too. Tell me what the fuck's happenin'."

"Against my better judgment, I allowed the Hanyou to travel to Bakusen'Os woods this afternoon. It appears Kaplow has made his move by abducting my younger brother."

Blood draining from his face, Kouga shakily sat within a nearby chair. "Fuckin' hell." Shaking his head in disbelief, the Wolf King simply couldn't believe Inuyasha had been taken. "Are you sure? The mutt wouldn't have been an easy mark, no way would he have let a bastard like that fox – "

"Initially, he fought quite well, but in the end, Inuyasha willingly left with Kaplow."

Shooting up from his seat, Kouga's mouth gapped wide. "Why the fuck would he do that?"

Eyes narrowing, Sesshomaru couldn't help but blame the wolf before him for this, at least in part. "It seems that Kaplow used knowledge he'd gained regarding the Hanyou's relationships against him."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"According to Bakusen'O, Kaplow showed Inuyasha several visions of those he cares for and threatened the lives of all, your mate and pups included."

Blue eyes livid, Kouga snarled. "That idiot! As if I can't take care of my own mate and pups. Fuckin' dumb ass Hanyou, always thinkin' he needs to sacrifice himself for everyone."

Pleased the wolf viewed his intended mates actions similarly, Sesshomaru's anger ebbed slightly. "Then we are agreed the Hanyou will need further education as to his value upon his return."

"You're damn straight he needs further education. God's damned fool. I'm gonna tear his hide off his scrawny ass body – "

"This Sesshomaru will punish his intended mate, not you, Wolf."

Waving a hand in the air, Kouga flopped back down in his chair. "Yeah, I got it, but that don't mean I'm not gonna give him a piece of my mind."

"You may berate Inuyasha as you see fit." Leaving the pane of windows, Sesshomaru sat in his chair, his face still a mask of empty apathy.

Head in his hand, Kouga stared through his divided fingers, not fooled for an instant by the blank expression the DaiYoukai wore. "So, when are we gonna go get the puppy?"

Lips thinning down into a small line, Sesshomaru's eyes hardened. "I have scoured the city and surrounding lands, but to no avail."

"You mean you can't find him?" Kouga asked, not even trying to hide his astonishment. Mates had an uncanny way of knowing where the other was at all times. Then it hit him, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha hadn't officially mated yet. They'd probably done damn near everything else, but hadn't yet finalized it. Still, even without the official mating, they were siblings . . . "Hasn't he called out to you yet?"

Eyes narrowing, Sesshomaru's answer was a cold, "No."

"Shit." Canine Youkai were at heart pack animals, and as such, any directly related to or accepted into the pack had the ability to call out when in danger. Although all within the pack would hear the call, it was the alpha of their group that would be able to not only hear it, but track it as well. The fact that Inuyasha hadn't done so meant one of three things: he was incapacitated and unable to do so, he didn't know how, or he thought it a useless gesture, in other words, he thought Sesshomaru wouldn't come for him. None of those things were good, but the last one had deeper implications than any in that room were willing to speak of.

Clearing both his mind and throat, Kouga didn't like the stillness taking over the DaiYoukai's form. "Kaplow took him alive, so he must want somethin' and we both know that chances are he wants it from you, not the mutt."

"This Sesshomaru is aware."

"Then you're also aware that when he does contact you, you'll be walkin' into a trap."

The silence was answer enough.

"I'm thinkin' you're also aware that I'm not about to let you walk into somethin' like that alone."

Again, there was only silence.

"Well then, I guess we've got that all sorted out." Leaning back into his chair, Kouga stared up at the ceiling, willing it to give him answers to questions that had been troubling his mind for far too long. Finally shaking his head, the Wolf King said, "I don't get it, why in the hell would Kaplow be workin' with Tullic? As a general rule, Youkai don't trust fox's too much, and I can't believe Tullic would be this incredibly stupid. Kaplow's so much more powerful than him, he's gotta know he and his clan are just bein' used."

Eyes wandering towards the wolf before him, Sesshomaru was pleased by Kouga's thought process. The Wolf King wasn't as sharp nor cunning as himself, but he wasn't stupid either. Kouga knew when something wasn't right, he simply lacked the abilities to find all the answers. "Jaken related some interesting news to me regarding Lord Tullic. Were you aware that he has no mate, no offspring, essentially no one that would miss his presence. No one that would know him well enough to question his current activities and actions."

Scratching behind an ear, Kouga muttered, "Huh?"

Irritated, Sesshomaru wondered how the wolf could seem so intelligent at one moment and so dim-witted at another. "Perhaps Lord Tullic is no longer who we think he is."

Eyes narrowed in thought, Kouga ran that line through his head, his eyes suddenly going wide. "You don't think – "

"It is not beyond possible."

"Fuck. If that's the case, that means the bastards been playin' us for awhile now."

"But it still does not answer the question as to what Kaplow's final goal is. In the past his lust for power knew no bounds, nor did his methods to attain such power. I can only assume this is currently his aim."

Head bowed, Kouga thought he probably agreed, but hated the fact that they still knew so little. A fox Youkai of Kaplow's level was nothing to sneeze at. As he'd stated earlier, magic was a whole different kettle of fish. Magic was not to be taken lightly nor could it be defeated easily. Blowing out a deep breath, Kouga looked annoyed. "So, I guess we wait then."

"It would seem so."

"Fuck, I hate waitin'."

Giving the wolf a scathing look, Sesshomaru turned to stare out the windows before him. They would find Inuyasha, and his intended mate would be returned to him alive and whole. Of this there was little doubt. With that settled, Sesshomaru felt his Youkai ease into a state of merciless anticipation. Death was coming and it was coming soon to those who'd dare take what he had rightfully claimed and soon, all would know the consequences of such actions.

Oh boy . . . well, Inuyasha's in trouble again. And yes, I too think it was stupid of him to go to that forest alone. But, as Sesshomaru stated in an earlier chapter, even once Kaplow and Tullic are defeated, another Youkai will most likely take their place and neither he nor Inuyasha could live their lives in fear of the "what if's". Anyways, that was my logic.

Next chapter we get more info into Kaplow's fucked up mind and unfortunately, things are gonna get a bit rough on our Hanyou. But as we all know, Inuyasha is one tough puppy! Not easily killed nor dispirited. That's why we love him :-)

Until next Sunday . . . lunamist.