Hello again, my dear reviewers, I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. It'll get better as it goes along, and there's going to be a suprise and I think part of it was revealed already but that's okay. That aside, I won't keep you for long. For those of you who read this and don't skip right for the story, I'd like to answer some of your questions, and or concerns.

Inu Battousai, yes, I do believe Kenshin's learned some of his limits. Especially when a certain Taiyoukai is involved. Also, another yes, Sesshoumaru is somewhat curious about the human samurai for... Several reasons. One being his hair, and eyes. Then there's the blade that he carries. Though, I doubt the Taiyoukai would dare admit that.

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I had done an okay job on the Un-mother but thank you for telling me otherwise.

I'm glad you enjoyed the fight, and the fact Kenshin participated in it too. Yes, InuYasha was genuinely saddened by what he thought that was their death. He's slow and all at times, but still has a human heart. Another yes, Kenshin's learned a lot more than about InuYasha's tragic past. There should be more about Kenshin and InuYasha, perhaps interacting further in later chapters. We'll just have to see.

-insert smiling kitty face here-

Yes, I know. Kenshin is ignored most of the time, but that will change in future chapters. At least, that's the plan anyway. You'd be right in saying he has little control of Kagome, even if he does happen to try. It is funny to see InuYasha allowing him to ride his back, but being thrown off takes the cake. It's a funny thought. Yeah, he's doubting his involvement in Kikyou's death.

Now that Inu has Tessaiga perhaps Ken could show him the proper way of swordsmanship? I'd say... Maybe. I might make this happen but you know how stubborn InuYasha can be.

Maybe Kenshin will have a chance to beat that toad. And yes Kagome is a handful for Kenshin at times, he was asked to watch her by Kaede, someone who he respects and admires.

Author's personal message to "The Great Wizard": I am aware of the similarities and such but as I've mentioned before I'm sure, this story was originally going to be based off Kenshin and Kikyou. A crossover pairing, however, the fans wanted InuYasha introduced and I couldn't deny them everyone's lovable dog boy so... He was introduced and at this point, I can't back out now.

And thank you for sticking with me thus far. I'm not the reason I'm still writing this. YOU are. You're all the reason I'm still writing this, and the reason I'm so motivated. So thank you, yet thank you does not feel like enough.

Without further adieu, enjoy the story.

Last Time:

InuYasha sat within a tree, continuously swung the sword in order to tap into it's power again but each one failed. Looking to the trunk of the tree, he swiped at it with said sword but only succeeded instead of nearly falling off the tree. He sighed out in dismay.

"I spoke to soon, it's back to being a piece of junk"

"Hey InuYasha"

"What?"

"Do you want me to tell you? You know, how to use Tessaiga?"

"since when are you an expert?" he said jumping down in fron of her.

"Well do yo promise what you'll protect me with it. Forever and ever?" she asked with a smile.

"What in the world are you babbling about? Is your brain broken or somethin'?"

"But you said I should let you protect me!"

"But I didn't mean it like that! If you shut up for a minute, I'll tell you what a sword like this should really be used for, stuff like collecting jewel shards and making me more powerful. I sure as heck ain't wasting it on babysittin' a helpless little human like you!" he said as he approached a bridge that was nearby.

Kagome felt her brow furrow, and she shut her eyes. Keeping herself from retorting, then found herself pushing him all the way at the center of the bridge. Turning on her heel, she returned to safety before shouting sit, to which he broke through said bridge and fell into the water.

"It's my fault for think I can teach an old dog, a new trick"

"What do you mean 'trick'?"

Kagome didn't respond and merely walked away from him, even as he screamed for her to tell her what the secret was.

The Ribbon That Binds Us (Untitled)

This morning, such a beautiful day. The sun was shining down on the earth casting it's light at the life below, the sky was blue and clear and our heroine from the future was seen swimming in a river wearing a yellow and orange swimsuit. She returned to shore once being sure she'd been washed throughly of the dirt and grime that stuck to her. More perticularly, her hair. Kagome threw her arms in the air with a smile, sending small droplets of water shooting up into the air only to return to the water that awaited them.

"Oh, wow! That was so nice, the water is clean, the air is fresh. It's not so bad being in the middle ages" she said, turning to look at the scenery before her.

Kenshin was seen resting under the tree where InuYasha lay into, with his blade propped against his chest. Meanwhile, InuYasha and Myouga spoke amongst themselves. Or rather, the halfling was speaking more to himself while his flea friend spent his time gawking at the girl. Kagome.

"We've been away for three days now, you said if we left the village we'd be find more Jewel pieces out in here in Musashi, but..."

"Yeah, yeah, sure whatever..." Said the small flea from a leaf in the tree.

"Are you listening to me, or what?" InuYasha asked, opening his eyes to look at his retainer.

"Uh... Well, of course, you're right. I was just a bit uh, distracted by our young lady down there" Myouga looked back to InuYasha with some sweat beads gathering at his brow, and a guilty expression, only to return his sights on Kagome.

"Listen, you," he begun but was cut off.

"I'm just going to check on her, kay?" the flea stated while hopping onto InuYasha's knee.

"You're just gonna get clobbered, I wouldn't do it if I were yo-..." InuYasha begun even as he watched Myouga head for his doom, yet someone, or something stopped him mid-sentence.

Looking to his right just in the knick of time, after his ears moved the sound of strange noise, he noticed a white blur passing by that continued in the direction where Kagome was. InuYasha pushed himself up to his feet and took hold of his sheathed sword, before quickly chasing after whatever it was that was heading in that direction. As InuYasha chased after that strange white blur, he heard Myouga say a comment about peeking on Kagome but ignored it for the time being. He soared through the air, and up in the trees where he continued after... Whatever it was.

Meanwhile, Kagome was still standing in the water in her swimsuit, cupping some water in order to splash her face but her actions were halted mid-way. Turning her head to the noise, she nearly let out a scream, causing a chain reaction of the following. First, InuYasha heading towards her had been surprised by her scream, and that resulted in him having to land on a rock quickly that sat near the river bank, where he had to regain his footing. While the scream happened to reach Kenshin's ears, to which he woke with shock. Quickly he shot up with his sword and rushed to the river in time to see the two arguing. Sort of...

"Geez, would you not scare me like that?! It's not what you think!"

"It's not 'cause of you, It's my clothes!" she said pointing to that very blur, that he'd been chasing.

Both Kenshin and InuYasha turned to look in time to see a small white monkey carting off with Kagome's school clothing. A second later, a whistle flowed into the one clad in red, causing either appendage to twitch in the slightest at the sound. Kenshin and Kagome had heard it too, though probably not as loudly. The whistling continued a few times, and both humans followed after InuYasha who followed the whistle.

There sat a young man under the shade of a tree, awaiting the arrival of his monkey friend. When the little while creature drew near and hopped on his lap, the male asked what was brought this time with a smile, though as he reached into the shirt of the strange outfit, what he thought might have been food, was not in fact what he'd sought.

"Wha-... This isn't something to eat!"

That was the moment InuYasha decided to push through some bushes with Kenshin and Kagome in tow.

"HEY!" he said with his fangs bared.

"Give me my clothes back!"

"It is not nice to take a woman's clothes, that it isn't" he said popping out from behind InuYasha.

"Who are you!? You look suspicious!" the male shot up from his sitting position, into a kneeling position of sorts and drew out his sword.

He'd likely been startled by their sudden appearance. The startled male received a foot to the face. More specifically, InuYasha's foot. Kenshin watched on alongside Kagome whom blinked a few times.

"We were just about to say the same thing!" the halfling stated.

The red head's attention after that was said, was stolen but the little white monkey running around InuYasha's other foot while letting out a prolonged, startled whine, or something of that sort. Once they settled their differences and exchanged a few words, they all sat together. Kenshin was seen sitting to Kagome's left, keeping his sword tucked to his chest as he watched the young man gorge on some strange... Food. Kagome watched him too, he seemed so famished by the way he was eating. Even his monkey was nibbling on one.

"You must have been really hungry, would you like some tea?" She stated before offering the can of tea.

The man stopped munching before turning to accept it, and offering her thanks before drinking from it. Kagome turned and pulled another bag of chips for Kenshin, which he smiled with thanks before opening to eat himself. She offered him tea as well before looking to InuYasha, and pulling a red bag with a puppy's face on it.

"I got something for you too"

"No thank you" he said from his spot against the tree.

"But if you eat it, I won't have to carry it"

InuYasha chose about then to push himself off the tree and jump up between Kagome and Kenshin to grab her backpack, all after she returned the smaller red bag into it.

"Look, it's not my fault you gotta carry around so much junk all the time"

"It's not junk, it's homework and clothes and..." she retorted, turning her head to look at the sky, avoiding his stare.

"I give up..." InuYasha said more to himself, rather then his present company.

Kenshin watched the on goings while he munched on the salty treats at a slow pace, occassionally stopping to drink the beverage to his right. They were good but caused his mouth to dry a little quick. The popping sound from the empty bag the other male carried was heard, and their attention moved to him. All three stood upright, as did the young black haired man, even Kenshin who had moments earlier returned the other potato chip bag which she closed to return to her bright yellow back.

"I give you thanks woman, the chips potato were delicious"

Kagome turned to look to the other male, their new found friend, with a smile.

"My name is Kagome, and his InuYasha, our friend with the sword is Kenshin... And, that's Myouga the flea" she begun with introductions, and smiled after the young man slapped the little flea off his cheek.

/ Who... Who are these people? /

"You said before you were seperated from your allies, tell me, are you a nobleman?" she asked approaching the male with the white monkey on his left shoulder.

"I'm not at libraty to reveal my family, but my name's Nobunaga" he started while turning his back to her into order to walk a few steps forward, eventaully turning to look at her with a smile as he revealed his name.

"No- Nobunaga?! The Nobunaga?" Kagome exclaimed with a bright smile, either of her hands over her cheeks at the reveal.

There was brief confusion betwee the three males before Kagome once again approached the one whom called himself Nobunaga. The girl was scaring him, if he was honest with himself.

"Let me shake your hand, I'm so glad to meet you! Can I have your autograph?!" she took his hand in an excited manner, followed by her grabbing things from her bag and returning to him with the items.

"Uh... Sure..."

"Right here, if you'd be so kind, and your full name of course" Kagome smiled, pointing the paper he now held, all after handing him the wooden brush.

Kenshin had never seen her this giddy before, was this man important if she was this excited? Had they met before? No, that can't be right. She'd been under his protection for most of the time that she's been around here, and to his knowledge, this girl... Had not once left the village where he resided with Kaede without some form of protection.

"What's got you so excited?"

"That's Oda Nobunaga, hello? Didn't you study history?" she turned her head partially to look at him, rising her slightly clenched hands in the air to show just how exciting this was for her.

"Well actually, my dear, that's not what the signature says"

Kenshin blinked a few times as the paper and brush was returned to her, with a curious stare. There on the paper was the name Amari Nobunaga, looking to Kagome she seemed... So disappointed.

"Amari Nobunaga?... But I thought you were Oba Nobunaga" Kagome approached him with a bit of a saddened but surprised look.

"Hmph, I belong to the Takeita clan in the land of Kai, please do not confuse me with him" He responded with that while crossing his arms over his chest.

"So you do know him?"

"Yeah and he's a big idiot!" turned to look with somewhat of an angry stare, of being compared to him.

"If you weren't Oda Nobunaga, you should have said something!... And here I thought you were living history..." she started angrily before turning to glance sadly at the paper in her hands now, and whining slightly while closing her eyes.

Kenshin was not accustomed to see Kagome so sad yet, it was sort of silly wasn't it? While he pondered that, the conversation ongoing at the present moment flew past his head, in a sense.

"I trust you'll excuse me, an important mission demands my immediate attention, farewell" the young man stepped away once that was said, and found himself on his back, due to having fallen from a hill despite InuYasha's warning, though the monkey was relatively safe from that fall.

"I told ya but you wouldn't listen."

"A loser, yes, but Oda Nobunaga, probably not"

After the young man had gotten up from his... Awkward situation at the foot of the hill, he found himself in the bushes near a village where InuYasha and his group had followed him. They had made it in time to see several young women being carted off with ropes around their wrists. That allow was weird. It concerned the group, but Kenshin watched on closely, each women were relatively young and beautiful... Now begs the question, or more like questions, why were being dragged off that way and to where?

"Haven't they taken enough young women from our village already?" said an elderly.

"of all the girls summoned to the castle, not a one has yet to return..." responded mid-aged man.

The group hidden away in the bushes watched on as the women passed with their eyes downcast.

"Aha! I knew it, so the rumors I heard were true, afterall"

Kenshin was quick to glance at the guy with the blue outer jacket, at that comment. So, this was rumored? Women being carted off like cattle to some unknown castle? This was strange...

"So, why was it that we had to follow this guy again?"

"Because he needs us, and we can't leave him alone"

"What about us?! We still have our own mission?"

"I wouldn't want it repeated, but they say the Lord's been possessed by some kind of demon." a man from the group within the village.

"Demon!?" InuYasha re-stated while moving his left foot over Nobunaga's head and leaning forth, which left the little monkey to run in circles in panic.

Kenshin rose a brow in curiousity, watching InuYasha for a moment then turning to look at Kagome who looked just as shocked at this change of events.

There was a rather large Japanese castle, usnig large hill as it's foothold, and within that castle sat a princess adorned in finest silk. Pink and blue under kimono with a bright red colored overcoat of sorts, with socks of white. Her dark tresses was bound back in a loose ponytail with a white ribbon. The woman's face looked so young and her skin so smooth. Either of her eyes were charcoal brown, and she founder herself seated with her soon to be husband, that did not look quite the same after his... Accident. Either of them chose to be seated in such a way that they could enjoy the outdoors while remaining inside. The princess found herself pouring sake into a cup for him while he'd held onto it. She filled it plenty as he let out a laugh, and that's when she stopped in order to lay the kettle to her front.

"Like ye well castle life, my princess?"

"Yes my Lord, I lack for nothing" she stated, lowering her eyes to the flooring.

"That's alright then" he responded while taking a sip from the cup.

"If I may, my Lord?"

"Yes, my princess?" He exclaimed excitedly, rising the cup in the air.

"The young women, my Lord, the ones your highness so generously summoned to the castle... Might I ask, where they are?" she asked with a smile, unknowing of the hole she may have dug herself into.

There was a brief pause and the cup was dropped to the wooden flooring, only to be smash into bits by a large bangaged hand.

"You. May. Not!" the strangely shaped Lord emphasied each word while hitting his hands on the floor, then moved to stand up.

"Forgive me...! I had no right to ask..." she began to grow more frightened by the minute, yet she dared to end that with a bow.

He whined out for a just a moment before turning on his heel in order to wander to another room, perhaps. As he did, several mumbling of words were heard, and she, the young princess, sat there frightened. The young beauty uttered out her own words about leaving and returning to her original home, the land of Kai.

Later, when the sun had set and the moon begun to rise to the night skies, InuYasha and his friends snucks close. Each one, glancing up the hill and the wooden wall that surrounded it.

"That's the place, heh.. I smell the demon's stink from here, there's a piece of the scared Jewel alright. We'll better have a closer look, jump on Kagome!" he begun with a smirk and ended with a crouch, allowing Kagome access to climb his back.

"Kay" was all she said before moving to get on.

All actions were ceased on InuYasha's part when the male, Nobunaga climbed onto his back too. the halfling turned his head to look at him with a look of annoyance.

"Hey..! What's the big idea?! Get off!"

"I've got business up there!"

"Then go find your own ride!"

"Just do it, will ya? And don't forget to get Kenshin, too" Kagome butted in and stopped their squabbles, adding in not to forget their red head companion.

InuYasha let out a small growl before heaving out a sigh and jumping over the wall that held them outside the castle walls. With that single leap, he'd manage to also land as gracefully as he could manage and quickly returned to the red head that waited in order to avoid Kagome yelling his ears off. Upon InuYasha return with Kenshin, the two noticed Kagome and Nobunaga staring out at a mid-aged guard asleep against a tree with a camp fire nearby, giving light to his features. Looking around the entire area, they could see most, if not all the guards asleep in various places, such as stairs, the floor and so on.

"Well, so much for castle security... They're all asleep" Kagome stated aloud, once close to one guard asleep on the stairs.

"Don't be fooled, Lord InuYasha. Their sleep is hypnotic, not natural. Possibly... It might even be castle wide" Myouga said as he hopped his way to InuYasha left shoulder.

Soon, the group found themselves following after Nobunaga, who at this very moment, was running around the castle grounds to check every room, calling for the princess's name. Kenshin watched on as he followed after them, and over heard InuYasha's coversation with Kagome. Personally, he didn't like seeing this going on, but this princess, seemed important to Nobunaga. Plus with all that'd happened up to this point, Kenshin doubted he'd be surprise for other future events.

"Should we letting him make so much noise like that?"

"Don't know why not, they're asleep ain't they? Besides, the sooner we find the demon, the sooner we find the Jewel"

As Nobunaga carried on with his shouting of the princess, Kenshin and the group watched on. But like Kagome, the red head was also concerned with the ammount of noise, yet he merely decided to follow close behind the dark haired male to protect him should trouble arise.

"Princess Tsuyu! Princess!" he repeated again as he opened yet another door to the unknown darkness, his only means of light being from the hall.

A gasp from the male ahead of him brought the red head to attention. Curious blue eyes rising to the woman in a burgandy yukata. Nobunaga rushed to her side and took her in his arms, calling what he thought was the woman's name but was shocked in seeing a face with wrinkles. Kenshin watched on as Nobunaga put on, somewhat of a scene of this situation. Turning his head, the redhead noticed Kagome entering the room alongside InuYasha, and approaching another lady, much more suited to the title of princess. Kenshin freely tapped a finger over the oblivious male's shoulder which he then pointed to Kagome where she'd begun to call out to him as well.

"Hey Nobunaga? I hate to interupt but isn't this the princess, over here?"

Nobunaga, not surprisingly, was shocked and in his shock dropped the elderly's head on the floor. Myouga was quick to appear from his hidden spot onto Kagome's shoulder, where she turned to look at him as he spoke out.

"Did somebody say princess? I know a good way to wake her up" said the flea before jumping down onto the woman's cheek, where he begun to suck her blood though that luxury was short lived when a hand came down and squished him under her palm.

Moments later, she opened her eyes to then push herself into a sitting position as Myouga was left to float to the floor in order to recover. Nobunaga was quick to stand and join her side, while the trio watched on.

"Princess..."

"Nobunaga? Why are you here?"

"Princess Tsuyu, you remember me?"

"of course I do, I'll never forget. You and I were friends as children, and you were always so very kind"

Nobunaga immediately fiddled his thumbs with a light color of red making it's way to his cheeks.

"I-I-I don't know what to say. I... I just thought you wouldn't remember a lowly vessel like me"

"I remember everything, how you'd slip and fall in the pond, how I'd laugh and laugh when you fell in horse dung"

With that said, movement stopped from the male and the white monkey on his shoulder. His companion fell back with a small thud, and Nobunaga was left to stare at her for just a moment then lowered his eyes to the floor in further embarrassment.

"Hey InuYasha? You don't suppose he's in love with the princess, do you?"

"Keh... Pathetic"

Kenshin sat to the right of Kagome, away from InuYasha. Even if they'd reluctantly agreed to be comrades, their companionship was still very much fragile. And this was more or less to keep himself from retorting to the halfling, even if he had wished too.

"If only I could go home..." came the tears of the princess, as she stated those words.

"Princess..."

Kenshin shut his eyes then, though listened and kept on guard. At any given moment him and the group could be pulled into a battle.

"It was shortly after I came here as his bride that my Lord has been beginnning to act strangely. He'd fallen into the garden pond, and ran a terrible fever. It was as though he'd become a different person... Nobunaga, whatever shall I do?"

"There seems no choice, you must return to Kai! Even your father, so far from here, has heard of the Lord's derrangement. Indeed, it was his wish I come that you might be returned to him." he was quick to respond to her plea.

"You came on my father's orders?"

"Even if he had not ordered it, still I would somehow have come"

"Nobunaga..."

"Yes my princess? I'm listening"

"Nobunaga... There's a monkey on your head"

"Yes Princess..." Nobunaga shut his eyes, slightly his face elsewhere.

Kenshin had since seen the scene yet again, and was unsure if that man was just a natural at making a scene or what but... Two small appendages atop a certain halfling's head moved with sounds approaching the room, indicating to InuYasha that the "Lord" had finally made it here.

"Sounds like he's finally here, you coming Kagome?" he said pushing himself to stand and head to the door.

Kagome and Kenshin were quick to follow suit, with the princess and Nobunaga in tow.

"I thought I heard something"

Kagome hid herself behind InuYasha though she still peeked out to the bandaged covered man, although his shape seemed... Somewhat off. The halfling cracked his knuckles with ease, and smirked with feeling victory so near.

"And it took you long enough, let's go!" InuYasha rushed forward to attack, but his strike was diverted to the air after a long appendage from the mouth of the other struck back with the intent to pierce.

"Lets see your true face!" a quick swipe downward was enough to tear through the bandages to reveal the face of a toad, even as he'd fallen on his bottom.

All seven of them were shocked to see the toad staring right back of them with large red eyes. The one shocked the most was the princess herself, where she shortly fainted in the arms of Nobunaga who held her.

"A piece of the Jewel! I see it" Kagome stated once seeing the glow of what they sought all this time, in the right shoulder of said toad.

"Yeah, and what's a lot of good it's done him" InuYasha smirked again while cracking his knuckles yet again only to form a ready fist.

"Not so fast, Lord InuYasha. He's the ninety nineth toad of the ninety nineth generation, he's stronger than he looks"

"Then one good punch oughtta make it a hundred!" InuYasha was as quick in his actions than he was in retorting when it came to battles, he rushed to leap an attack at the toad before quickly being immobilzed by a purple fume from the toad's mouth.

The fumes extended out to the rest of the group, Kenshin struggled to stay standing and quickly enough covered his mouth and nose with his hand. He was quick to realize that these fumes were meant to paralyze the victim as well as potentially poison them, in watching InuYasha writhe before them. Kagome was quick to follow his example to avoid the effects as much as possible, even as Myouga decided then to warn her of the dangers. With InuYasha out of commision for the moment, and their actions minimized, that left them with little options, especially with the toad man approaching it's key target.

"Gimme back my princess" he stated to Nobunaga.

"Stay back monster!" he retorted, forcing his body to cooperate and draw out his blade and shielding the princess with his free arm.

"Very funny, as though you can stop me human scum!" the toad opened to shot his tongue into the man's shoulder, quickly drawing it back and diverting the dangers of that blade.

"Nobunaga!"

Kagome had cried out once the fumes had evaporated, only to be met with the sight of the toad taking the unconcious princess. She cried out for her too, just as Kenshin turned to see him crash through a wall and escape. The red head coughed away the effects of the fumes, and asked Kagome to look after them before giving chase after said kidnapper.

"Nobunaga, stay still, your shoulder" Kagome approached the male, even as he cried out for the princess himself.

"It doesn't matter what happens to me, please! You've got to save the princess!"

"I knew it, so you are in love with the princess then, aren't you Nobunaga?" Kagome asked with a smile.

"How could you tell?" he asked, rising his left arm to place over the wound.

"Eh? It was supposed to be a secret?"

"Keh! Lousy, stinkin' toad! No way is he gettin' away" InuYasha stated, and more aggravated then before for having been imbolized for a shor time.

The scream from the princess was heard being carried by the wind, right into his ears which had him grow even more aggravated and annoyed. He looked back to Kagome and Nobunaga where he stated that he'd follow after the kidnapper and kidnapee, much like their red head companion had done.

The toad had made it to an area where he deemed it safe to uncover from the outer layer of the lady's kimono, which left her with merely two other layers. He laughed a little even as she cowered away from him to the point of feeling something at her back.

"Princess, my princess, I could eat you up"

The princess rose a hand to her mouth, and watched the demon toad with fear. Mere moments later InuYasha burst through the wooden door, announcing his arrival with Kenshin in two. Unlike his halfling companion, he held his sword's hilt, ready to draw it at any given moment. Either males however, were met with not only the sight of the princess in a rounded pod of sorts but with the toad snuggling onto said object. The sounds of footsteps behind them indicated that Nobunaga and Kagome had managed to catch up.

"What has he done?"

"Princess Tsuyu!"

"Sealed her in like toad spawn, just as the rumors said. Young women, kept in egg sacs until their souls ripen, and then eaten. With the power of the Jewel shard in the young Lord's possession, no one could oppose him"

"Y-you mean, that thing is going to eat Princess Tsuyu!?" Nobunaga shouted out in question.

The toad laughed and snickered at that even as he turned to face the group. Nobunaga could take no more and drew out his blade, rushing ahead towards danger and his opponent retaliated with puffing out his cheeks to blow out poisonous fumes again. InuYasha intervened in seeing this, and drew out his sword in order to blow him backwards and potentially injuring him.

"Look, he hit him!"

"And not only that but he was able to use Tesseiga to do it too"

"Right, because she's human"

"I'll disect you with this if I have to, and cut out the Jewel myself"

"I don't want to die, come to me! Souls, souls, I need souls!" The toad became worried in seeing the blood cover his hand where he'd previously laid it over the wound, and immediately cried out to the souls of the women in the egg sacs.

Several of the sacs had glowed in white temporarily before fading to normal again, though what happened next was both unexpected and expected, though not very pleasing. The bodies of trapped women flew out of the large egg sacs and immediately rushed into the mouth of their caller. Once entirely comsumed, said toad smiled and watched as the group noticed his previous wound quickly healing and the blood on his clothing faded to normal.

"I live again"

"His cut... Completely gone!"

"Filthy no good..."

"What are you waiting for? For each cut you make, I'll take another soul" he ended with a laugh which was shortly cut by sounds coming from his right.

Nobunaga had freed his Princess from the egg sac, to which he cried out that she belonged to him when she moved to embrace the swordsman from Kai but quickly enough he was silenced to InuYasha hitting over the head with the blunt of his sword, warning him to sit still. That was enough to pull Nobunaga and Tsuyu from their own little world, he gingerly pushed himself ahead of her, sword drawn and ready to defend. In that time, their opponent had fallen against the rows of egg sacs that remained, seemingly unconcious until his eyes opened to reveal dark sets of large blue eyes.

"Princess... Tsuyu? What am I...? What have I... Where am I...? Please, someone tell me this isn't my doing" There was a slight pause in each question as he rose up to touch his face, and even looked about the room.

Kenshin watched as this was on going, along with the group. Was this a ploy? Or was whoever this is, the human beneath the monster, actually speaking now?

"Well, well, isn't that convient"

"That voice. It is the voice of my kind, Lord husband"

"So then, that would mean... The real Lord is still alive, I knew it"

"It's like a nightmare but I can't wake up... Somehow, I knew, deep inside... I realized what was happening and yet I was powerless to stop it. I wanted to, but I couldn't! Kill me, please"

Kenshin's eyes grew wide at that much like the other, even more so when InuYasha chose to volunteer.

"Alright, now you're finally makin' sense. You want it in the gut or should I take the head?" InuYasha held his sword with the blade pointed to the ceiling, ready to take both the demon's life and that of the man beneath the physical image of toad.

"InuYasha wait! What about the Lord?"

"That's right! Didn't you hear him? There's a human in there"

"It's you who didn't hear, he just asked me to kill him, didn't he? This ain't no time to get all mushy!"

"Stop it!" came the voice of Nobunaga who rushed before the still collapsed toad Lord.

That caught the attention of all else in the room.

"Sheath your sword, InuYasha please! Inside this monster the Lord's heart is still beating"

"Why you...! Move it little man or I'll kill you too!" InuYasha stepped forward, poiting his sword at the human male.

"Please don't!"

"Then move it!" came the irritated voice of InuYasha again.

"I can't! I cannot let you kill him while the real Lord's still in there! Besides, even if he wasn't in there, I cannot approve of you taking life. I realize it's crazy in today's world to feel this way, but I can't help it. I just can't!"

"I agree with our dear friend, that I do"

InuYasha growled under his breath before drawing his blade back to sheath it, offering a momentary glance to Kenshin and seating himself some ways off. There was sudden laughter echoing in the room, and that caused a gasp from Kagome as she looked over to the one standing behind Nobunaga. It was the toad! So it was a trick!

"Thank you for sparing me" he said before shooting his tongue through Nobunaga's back, in much the general area of the last ingury that had been bandaged previously.

Nobunaga screamed out him pain and fell the the floor to which Kenshin was quick to intervene. He drew out his reversed blade sword as Kagome came to the very same realization. He'd reverted back to the evil toad who wished to have the princess as a meal. The red head moved in front of two women who were looking over the fellow companion in this dire situation. Kenshin kept a trained eye on the toad even as the two ladies rushed out under Nobunaga's plea for them to escape. His opponent was none to pleased with Kenshin's interference, and tried to strike him down with his tongue to which the red head dodged quickly and rushed in for an attack of his own. Though it hit, it did not cause bleeding and for a moment baffled the toad which ended in a snicker upon noticing the wielded sword.

"You believe you could injure me with that?"

"And allow you to take in more of these women, no..." as much as he hated to admit it, even to himself, he counldn't injure this toad even if wanted to. It would be too risky for the souls that remained and for his companions.

Nobunaga fought to remain concious through the two speaking while InuYasha sat there and watched the whole ordeal. Meanwhile Kagome and Tsuyu were heard running down the hall, with the princess being pushed to run faster by the teen.

"Think! There's gotta be something"

"A monster toad is stil just a toad, try something hot"

"something hot?"

"Like hot water or something"

"Water?!" she repeated with a glare to the small flea on her shoulder, coming to a stop in her run with Tsuyu who slowed to a stop as well.

"Well, sure! Distract the toad and the Lord can come out!"

"Tell me, how do you suggest I get this hot water!?"

Suddenly the cry of the toad was heard from down the hall and caused both women to panic, Kagome was quick to take Tsuyu's hand again in order to run again. Continuously, as she ran, her thoughts rushed to think of a solution. Fire!...

"Fire's hot"

As she was about to ask a silly question to Tsuyu, Nobunaga's monkey popped from his spot onto the princess's shoulder and almost immediately rushed off to find what they sought. As said monkey dissappeared into the dark, Tsuyu tripped and fell onto her knees. Clearly, she could not run much further.

"Wait for me! I'm going to eat both of you!"

Kagome took a step or two back as the toad was approaching even now. A sweat rolled from her brow as she thought this would be the end of not only her, but the princess too. She thanked her lucky star however when the monkey returned with a source of fire... Although it was small and contained onto a nearly flat plate-like object.

"Ah what a smart monkey you are... If only it weren't so small" she started excitedly, accepting the animal onto either of her palms, and ended with worry.

In her distraction, Kagome failed to notice that the toad had caught up and used his tongue to push her onto the floor where most of her belongings fell from her backpack. The toad laughed, victory was so close he could nearly taste it. Both women froze in fear once turning to look at him, luckily though InuYasha made it on time. He leapt and flipped over his opponent while calling out to the "toad Lord", crouching down in a two point crouch with his sword once again drawn out.

"InuYasha"

"Kagome, I'm sorry, but mercy is not a luxury we can afford"

"Luxury...? As in... I know!" Kagome turned to look at her scattered belongings, and as luck would have it, there it was.

As InuYasha was about to end it with one strike, Kagome was quick to turn with the flame and her hair spray at the ready. With a quick word, dog boy crashed into the floor and she went on the offensive. Using the small flame and the push of her hair product was enough to send a short lived inferno onto the toad. That caused a scream of agony and the toad seperated from Princess Tsuyu's beloved.

"InuYasha get the Jewel!"

InuYasha was luckily recovering from his fall quickly, stating that he was on the case and slew the floating toad with a quick swing of his sword. He caught the Jewel shard when it was freed from the death of said toad, then sheathed his sword.

"InuYasha, InuYasha! Well done, the Lord is still alive, you drove out the toad! you worried me for a bit but then you came through" Nobunaga began with Kenshin in tow, soon taking InuYasha's hand in his own with a thankful smile.

"Actually I, uh..."

"It's kinder to just let him believe it" Kagome smiled in approaching InuYasha from the back.

Kenshin however, despite his own injuries went towards Kagome and the princess. Both seemed fine, thankfully. So much so that the princess stood on his own, and called for her friend.

"Nobunaga?"

"Princess Tsuyu..." he moved aside, hoping to approach her though hesitant.

"Nobunaga!"

"Princess Tsuyu"

"You saved my husband, thank you!" she stated with a smile, hugging her beloved.

"Princess Tsuyu..." he sounded so defeated as he fell comically to the floor.

"Oh, my Lord. You haven't changed a bit, it's as though you were never away"

"I'm so sorry I worried you"

"He seems a nice enough guy..." Kagome pitched in.

InuYasha on the other hand couldn't help but look at InuYasha with a bit of an annoyed glance, adding his own comment on the matter. Kenshin though meerely remained silent save for a short, pity-like laugh for this fellow.

Soon, it was morning once again, and the group left the castle after everything was settled. The inu group was seated onto a blue picnic basket, even InuYasha was seated with them. The only one that was not, was Nobunaga which was seated in the grass, a little ways away. Currently, Kenshin was sipping away at his tea after having let Kagome treat his injuries. Kagome and InuYasha looked towards the fellow ahead of them.

"Oh come on, say something Nobunaga, won't you?"

"Idiot. Even though he practically got himself killed, he went of his way to save the life of his only romantic rival"

Nobunaga lowered his head with a short laugh, even though the pain shot up his arm with that movement.

"That's me, alright. Amari Nobunaga, world's biggest idiot and fool"

"You are an idiot, but you also saved a lot of lives, so don't beat yourself up, there's plenty of others who'll do that"

"Know what? that does cheer me up, okay!" he said with a smile, using a wooden cane to help him stand before walking ahead.

"Hey! Wait, look out"

"wouldn't go that way if I were-..."

His warning was cut short as Nobunaga slipped and fell from the steep heel. Kenshin nearly winced but settled for a sigh while remaining on his spot, the other two though...

"... you"

"he's an idiot alright"

I apologize for this chapter being somewhat short and maybe a little... Cheap, but I wasn't really sure how to go about this one. Especially considering it's so close to Christmas and all. So I guess this one could be considered a rushed chapter. It doesn't help I couldn't think of a clever title either...

Kenshin peeked from behind the author's high back chair with a Santa hat on, blinking several times.

"Oro?"

"Not yet Kenshin!"

"I'm sorry that I am!" he hid once again behind the chair.

"Pretend you didn't see that..." *insert eyes looking to the side face here*