Okay, this is three times I tried to post this and have screwed up, so I'll answer you guys that reviewed personally, except for Twilightpup, who is anonymous, so, no more begging, TP, Part Three is here! Now, if only I can refrain from screwing it up... PS, the red Tetsusaiga credit goes to MistiHan, thanks a bunch, hun! Sorry for the wait, here's what you've all been waiting so patiently for!

Last of the Dogmen

Part Three - At Odds With Each Other

Inuyasha trudged through the darkness alone, clutching his side and breathing heavily, his left hand resting diligently on Tetsusaiga.
Night birds sang, and the hum of several species of insects could be heard buzzing through the night air, but he heard none of it. The only thing that kept him going was the scent of human female, and the dampness around her.

Taichi, having taken another route, crept quietly through the jungle instead of crashing through like he normally would have. He needed to get to Kagome, and fast, despite his injuries, before the hanyou boy could.

Kagome grunted as her hand slipped again off the algae that covered the rock wall she was confined to. At first, the idea of scaling the wall had seemed good, until she actually started to climb. She hadn't accounted for the slippery, slimy wall, nor the almost vertical climb that taxed her severely. Her arms were sore from bearing the strain of her weight, and her feet were raw from sliding off her foot-holds.

She swore, but was helpless to wipe away the sweat that dribbled into her eye, stinging something terrible. The wind pulled at her miniscule coverings, making it all the harder to reach the top of this cul-de-sac in the rocks.

"Whoa!"

A chunk of rock gave way under her foot, falling away and disappearing into the mist. She clung to the wall in fear; suddenly this seemed like a really dumb idea, because now she was stuck, with no way to get back down.

Unless I fall, of course, she thought sarcastically, maybe the water's deep enough at the bottom. Hope there aren't any sharp, pointy rocks. That could really suck.

Shivering, she weighed her options, which were few, indeed.

Suddenly, without warning, her whole body slid down the wall two feet, her toes catching a lip in the rock, stopping her descent. She took deep breaths, shaking with fear.

Steeling herself, she looked up, trying to judge how far up the wall she'd have to climb, and became dizzy with the effort. The mist, soaking her, seemed to add twenty pounds to her body as she doggedly lugged herself upward, finding tiny foot and hand-holds as she went, stopping often to rest.

Refusing to look down again, she ignored the sweat that continued to run into her eyes until at last, finally, she dragged her exhausted body over the top and lay on her back, panting, her feet still dangling off the craggy edge.

Shit, I gotta work out more, she thought tiredly, her muscles screaming. She noted a tiny form wheeling in the sky above, but paid no mind as the temptation to let her eyes close overtook her.

Inuyasha began to move faster as Kagome's scent grew fresher and fresher. His body, quick to heal on most occasions, was already beginning to feel better, though his ribs still ached something fierce.

He wondered if that giant dog had anything to do with Kagome's whereabouts on this cursed island. For an unknown demon, he sure seemed eager to protect them all from that dragon... or had that only been an aside to his plans? He didn't think the dog demon wished in particular to save them, but perhaps he had only been careful of where he stepped, and had not had their safety in mind at all.

And, he thought, what if that dog had in fact taken Kagome? Would he give her up? Or was she already rotting in his belly? He didn't think so, or the scent of dead human would have been all over him, and Inuyasha had smelled nothing like that in the air or on the demon at all.

Who was the mysterious dog demon, and why did he smell so familiar? The scent struck memories of Sesshoumaru in Inuyasha's mind, and, although he didn't particularly like his brother, he was the only family he had. Was there some connection between them?

He trudged on, deciding to save those thoughts for a time when he could really think them through. Right now, Kagome needed him; there was no time to waste.

Taichi loped through the darkness, trying to keep as quiet as possible. It was imperative that he get to her first, before-

A crack! stopped him dead in his tracks. Searching, his eyes roving the foliage carefully, he spotted another demon's gaze winking back at him in the night, green in colour and the scent that came with it overpowering. Taichi growled and backed up as the alligator demon slithered forward, snapping its jaws and hissing loudly. If there was one demon he hated running into, it was this one.

The alligator, known as Matsudaira, was the former keeper of a great swamp in the southern half of pre-Heian Japan. His stay here had lasted even longer than Taichi's; he was older than water, and just as unpredictable.

Taichi tried to suppress the sick feeling of a destiny interfered as Matsudaira inched closer, preventing him from going to Kagome. He felt panic rise in his chest as he realised that he'd have to stay and fight Matsudaira, at least until he found a way around the bothersome lizard.

Hissing, Matsudaira charged, and the battle was joined, tooth against claw.

Sango paced the edge, glancing occasionally into the gorge to make sure the dragon was still dead. She'd never felt so useless as she had a moment ago. Her boomerang lay on its side, scorched, twenty feet away, and she couldn't seem to make her self-loathing go away. I stood by while others were killed... and I did nothing.

She wrapped her arms around herself and lowered her head, letting a tear slip out, which she quickly wiped away. If a demon slayer was one thing, it was brave. A sign of fear was a sign of weakness, and it was her duty to keep up that front at all times. The others depended on her stability and her no-nonsense attitude when it came to danger. But there were times when even she had to break down and cry, and now was not it, even though the urge was strong.

Kouga swaggered by, then came back.

Shit.

"You alright, woman?" he asked. He'd never actually bothered to learn her name, but he smelled tears, and he felt his gut twist. What was it about a woman's tears that could render him so confused and turn him into a pushover?

"I'm fine." She looked him in the face with dry eyes, and he lifted a brow, knowing his nose didn't lie, but let it slide. If she wanted to live in denial that was her problem.

"Good." He turned his back on her and called out to his pack, gathering them close.

Sango took the opportunity to leave, finding Miroku and Kirara nearby, Shippo on the monk's shoulder, ready to cross the divide before them.

"Climb aboard, dear Sango," Miroku beckoned, his lip twitching in a way that made her suspicious.

"Don't even think about it, monk," she hissed, sliding in front of him.

"Thought never crossed my mind." He winked at Shippo, who only shook his head.

As they took off, leaving the others behind, Miroku let his hands hover around Sango's waist before letting them rest around her stomach, the same position anyone would take when riding the fire-cat, but with him, she couldn't help the feeling of excitement that crept through her blood at his warmth.

Some day, Miroku... some day...

Inuyasha broke through the tree line on a high plateau, his sides heaving. Along the way, he'd picked up a stick to lean on, feeling ridiculously like an old man.

The sound of water was loud, and Kagome's scent was fading amidst the moisture. He began to panic.

"Kagome!" He was close, he could feel it! Where was she?

Ahead, the cliff dropped away, and there was a flat spot where the moss had been pressed down; it was still popping back up, as if someone had just gotten off of it. He scanned the edge.

Faintly, he heard a boulder fall, and what he thought was a woman's voice. Several buzzards circled not too high above, riding the wind lazily.

Suddenly, someone burst from the bushes to his right and screamed loudly, if not hoarsely, "Get away, you son of a bitch! I'm not dead! Screw off!"

Inuyasha went down on one knee as the black hair, matted and soaked, flew, flinging water droplets all over. It was Kagome.

Kagome backed out of the shrubs and held the pine branch over her shoulder like a baseball bat. She'd been having a nice little snooze in the moss when this damn buzzard came down and tried to peck her eyes out. She'd gotten up and sworn at it, but it seemed to think that she was the walking dead, and continued to follow her.

She bared her teeth at the offending scavenger and cried, "Die, bitch!" and swung the branch, scaring the giant bird into flight, the momentum of her swing turning her all the way around, where, right where she had just been, sat a battered Inuyasha.

Inuyasha couldn't believe his eyes. He'd seen Kagome in just about every state of dress she'd ever been in, but what stood before him now had his blood flaming, even though she was so dirty her skin was almost black. She wore nothing but her bra and tattered skirt, her feet and shins about the only stretch of skin he couldn't see.

She was beautiful.

Kagome felt her jaw drop open, and she didn't even see his ripped clothing or bruised face before launching herself into his lap.

"Inuyasha! You came for me!" Her cheeks grew wet with her tears of joy and she caressed his face with her hands, as if trying to memorise his features. She began to sob, and he pulled her into a tight hug, stroking her damp hair.

"Of course I came for you! Don't you know how much you mean to me?" He turned his face into her neck and breathed in her scent.

She laughed while she cried. "I was so afraid I'd never see you again," she hiccupped, brushing his bangs out of his eyes and finally noticing his state of dress. "You look like you've had better days."

He snorted. "So do you."

She giggled, her forehead pressed against his. Despite his sore ribs, he lifted her arms until they circled his neck, and, staring into her brown eyes, slowly moved his lips toward hers.

Kagome met him half-way, revelling in the joy of him, of being found at last, and of being loved. He hadn't said it, but she knew he was thinking it, the intensity of his kisses told her as much. His hands roamed her bare back and sides, before finally breaking away and taking a breath.

She watched him wipe his eyes. "I missed you."

He smiled. "I missed you more."

She laughed. "How did you find me? I don't even remember what happened."

He reached into his shirt and pulled out her torn jacket. "I found this by the Well. But I didn't find you."

She smiled at the sight of her jacket, letting him drape it around her shoulders to stave off the shivers that would soon set in from the moist air.

She reached into the pocket, and, her fingers closing around the Jewel, she sighed in relief. It was still there. If she'd lost it, he'd have never forgiven her.

"Come on," he said, hauling her to her feet, then wincing when she squeezed his middle before letting him go quickly.

"Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, throwing his stick aside. "No." He looked into her eyes, determined that she remain ignorant to the extent of his injuries. If she knew, they'd never get off this island. The sooner the better, his broken ribs be damned.

Forcing himself to walk and breath normally, he turned back to her. "Come on."

Grinning, she moved to follow, but stopped when she thought she'd seen a flash of white through the trees. Is Taichi back? She wondered.

When no movement came seconds later, she shrugged. Must have imagined it.

Following Inuyasha, she disappeared into the forest, and Taichi stepped out into the clearing, limping on his left side. Matsudaira had taken several snaps at him, but one in particular had been severe, and a large chunk of flesh and bone was missing from his foreleg. It bled with every step until he sat down to nurse his wounds, red tears of sadness leaking from his golden eyes. Had she left him to go with that young half-breed boy?

Whining, he sniffed the moss where she'd lain, finding it tainted with the smell of male. Snorting, he wondered if she'd discovered the journal. If she had, would she stay? Or would she leave him forever? If she did, he wouldn't blame her. He'd give anything to get off this island, even his demonic powers, just to be humanoid again. If he could do that, maybe she'd change her mind about the boy? He'd been quite a ladies' man in his youth. Would she accept him? He felt inside a void that seemed to grow deeper and deeper with the thought that she had abandoned him. She had been different from the others. She had been... bliss.

His heart ached. He loved her, and he was heartsick over it. He knew his affection for her was looked down upon in the outside world; hell, even here it just wasn't done. Humans were fodder and that was the end of it. But not for him. Never for him.

Turning his face to the sky, he let out a mournful cry, shaking the pines all around him.

Kagome was following Inuyasha's back when a howl pierced the air, sending her blood racing. Was it Taichi? Was he hurt? He'd never come back for her... Maybe I missed him. She felt terrible for leaving suddenly, and Inuyasha's rescue seemed to pale against the time she'd shared with the most gentle, sensitive, protective demon dog she'd ever met. Taichi had risked his life for her; the least she could do to repay him was return the favour. She began to lag behind, wondering how she could do that. Could she get him out of here? She wasn't sure.

"What's the hold-up, Kagome? Let's get out of here." Inuyasha pulled her wrist, wondering why she was slowing down. If he saw this island again it would be too soon. Why wasn't she acting the same way?

She was looking behind her, and suddenly she said, "Stop."

He did, staring at her like she was crazy. "Why? Don't you want to get out of here?"

She had turned her back to him, and replied, "Of course I want to get out of here, but I can't just leave him behind, Inuyasha."

"Leave who behind?"

She turned to him. "Your grandfather, Taichi, first Dog General to ever rule the West. At least, I think he's your grandfather."

He blinked, then narrowed his eyes. What was she babbling about? Sure the dog smelled familiar, but when one encounters another of similar species, that's bound to happen. "Who told you that?"

"I read it, in a journal hidden behind the falls. I'm not the first woman to be sacrificed here, Inuyasha. I don't know what this place is, but after all he's done for me, I refuse to leave him behind."

Inuyasha was beginning to feel fear creep into the back of his mind. She seemed unreasonably attached to this Taichi person, and she had spent her last two days in hell. She almost sounded like she had feelings for this man, or dog, whoever he was.

Suddenly it was imperative to get her away from here. He refused to lose her again after facing so much to get her back. He frowned, but before he could talk her out of going back, a giant alligator crashed through the trees, sending splinters flying through the air like knives.

"Kagome!" he yelled, yanking her onto his back and bounding away, running away from confrontation for the first time in a long while. He was in no shape to fight, and losing her again was not an option.

Taichi sat alone, nursing his wounds, when her scream filled the air. That was all he needed. She would not die.

Not my little miko.

Kagome was beginning to think she was destined to re-live the last twenty-four hours all over again. The branches slapping her in the face and the feeling of terror seemed almost commonplace as Inuyasha carried her away from the alligator demon, which pursued them relentlessly. She squeezed her eyes shut as the bottom of a thick branch just skimmed the top of her hair.

Suddenly, she flew through the air, no longer holding onto Inuyasha; he was lost somewhere beneath her, and the two rolled down the hill amongst the debris and boulders caused by the alligator's approach behind them.

"Inuyasha!" she cried, but before the ground that rushed up to meet her again could slam into her thin frame, a hot tongue deftly caught her in mid-air, tightening protectively about her body as Taichi growled ferociously past her at Matsudaira once more.

Inuyasha, buried in the branches and rubble, watched through gritty eyes as the giant white dog, holding his Kagome with his tongue, safely deposited her in the high crook of a tree before turning to face the enemy.

He thought he might have imagined it, but he was sure he saw Kagome stroke the dog's face in what seemed to be a pretty intimate, and quite submissive, manner. His heart clenched. The dog was taking liberties with his woman. Treading on thin ice didn't even begin to describe the anger he felt.

Kagome watched fearfully as her wounded dog took on the alligator, this time getting a good grip on it's neck, while the alligator's tail slammed him repeatedly with thunderous thrusts, shaking the rubble-strewn ground and making her tree sway.

While she watched the fight, she searched the ground for Inuyasha, and felt her fear rise when there was no sign of him. Risking her position, hoping to be heard over the din of the fight, she screamed, "Inuyasha!!" He didn't answer her, and she leaned far forward, searching frantically for a sign of red or silver, anything that would tell her he was okay.

Her branch shook, and she turned, his face directly in hers. She grinned and threw her arms around his neck once more, her jacket sleeve ripping a little further from the strain.

"Oh, thank gods you're safe!" she cried into his neck, then drew back, angry, and slapped his shoulder hard as the tears started to fall. "Don't ever do that again! Ever!"

He held onto her arm firmly. "We have to get out of here. Now." He wasn't at all sure he could control himself when he finally got her to safety. Her actions a moment ago had spoken louder than any words ever could. Had he really lost her?

"No, Inuyasha, I can't leave him," she sobbed, but Inuyasha had had enough.

"There's no choice, we have to go now!" She looked at him, saw the anger in his eyes, and she didn't understand. Why was he so anxious to leave? Was Kikyou waiting for him?

As soon as she thought that she regretted it, but couldn't help herself. She'd caught them together on enough occasions in the past to guard her heart from him, fiercely if necessary. She loved him, but she couldn't quite risk putting her heart in his hands for fear he'd crush it once more.

"No, I won't leave-"

"Listen, Kagome! We are going to die here if we don't move. Is that what you want? Sango and Miroku and Shippo have already risked their lives trying to bring you home from here. Are you just going to ignore that?"

Damn him, he had a point. But she couldn't bear to leave Taichi behind, not wounded the way he was. He'd wormed his way into her heart, and she felt the tug of war that those feelings caused, but now was not the time to think about them. Inuyasha was right, no matter how reluctant she was to admit it. Taichi had survived here this long; he'd live on with or without her help.

When Inuyasha saw her face fall and she put up no resistance when he offered her his back, he took the opportunity to put as much distance between the dog and his girl as possible. Kagome was his, dammit; he loved her, and here she was, hesitating.

That didn't stop him from feeling like dirt for dragging her away, though.

Sango watched Kouga's and the wolf pack's progress from above. They had managed to span the gap by working together and building a make-shift rope bridge from vines and splintered wood. She had to give Kouga credit; when it really counted, he was an excellent leader.

Shippo sighed. Miroku sighed. There hadn't been a sign for the past two hours, but there had been plenty to see. It appeared that this island housed a great number of demons of all shapes, sizes, and breeds. Miroku was beginning to wonder if the human sacrifices were first-come, first-serve. Any demon that spotted them high above seemed to eye them with a hunger that made him very uncomfortable.

"Look there!" Ahead, in the light of the rising sun, a spot of red could be seen hopping from tree to tree.

Shippo cried, "It's Inuyasha! And he's got Kagome!"

Sango sighed in relief. "Thank gods," she breathed under her breath, and Miroku tightened his grip in support. They were safe.

Below, Kouga sped up, Kagome's scent strong on the wind. "Just ahead, men!" he shouted, leaving them in his dust, as usual.

Kagome was the first to spot their friends. After a silent and uncomfortable trip, her first words were like a balm to Inuyasha's weathered ears. "There's Kirara."

He stopped, and she climbed down off his back before he could even bend his knee in assistance. Brushing the dirt off herself, Kagome put on a smile as her friends landed, rushing forward to greet them, her enthusiasm growing with each smiling face.

"Shippo! Sango! Miroku! Kirara!" she crooned, hugging each in turn, leaving Sango for last. Miroku wandered over to speak to Inuyasha, who stood alone where Kagome had left him, his expression dispassionate.

Sango launched a billion questions at her frazzled friend. "So, what happened?? How did your clothes get so ripped? How did you survive? We were so worried about you Kagome," She gushed, holding both Kagome's hands in hers.

Kagome smiled with bittersweet memory. She'd likely never see Taichi again, now.

She replied, "I was saved, Sango. An Inu demon here saved me, that's how I survived."

At Sango's persistence for more, she covered her mouth and refused to speak more of it. Sighing, she said, "Let's just get out of here." Her sore heart was in need of some dire distraction. She sighed again. May as well get it over with. No pain, no gain.

Miroku approached Inuyasha glibly, sensing immediately a thread of discord between he and the newly rescued Kagome. "You did it, Inuyasha, you got her. I'm so glad you both made it back safely."

Inuyasha grunted. "Well, great. Let's get off this stupid island before I destroy it."

Miroku nodded silently to himself. Yup, something is definitely amiss here. He didn't push it. He was sure that whatever was going on between his friends would resolve itself in time.

A dust devil heralded the arrival of Kouga, who hugged Kagome so tight that she nearly choked.

"Kagome! I'm so glad you're back in my arms. Did the mutt take good care of you? I'll skin him if he didn't!"

She extracted herself and grinned half-heartedly, in no mood for his dramatics. "I'm fine, Kouga." Subtly, she distanced herself from him, and Sango said loudly, "Alright, everyone, I think we've spent just enough time here as we can stand. Let's not waste words and make our exit."

Kagome climbed up on Kirara with Sango, and the rest of the group moved out, in a surprisingly uneventful trip back to the bridge spanning the river of lava.

"So, the island is a prison?"

Sango nodded. "That's what the headman of the village on the mainland says. There were afraid of this place, Kagome. And if I didn't know any better, I'd say you are reluctant to leave."

You'd be reluctant too, if you had to leave behind the kindest demon you'd ever known.

Sango decided not to speak further about the island. Kagome had gone through a lot, and she was obviously stressed about it. It was probably best to let her rest for now.

Finally, the rickety bridge the wolves had thrown together came into sight, and, Kirara acting as a spotter, every member of the two groups on the ground crossed safely to the other side of the gorge, the dragon's body hanging below and the claw-marks in the cliff-side the most obvious evidence of the battle.

Kagome wondered what had happened here, but never asked. She didn't want to know.

Three hours later yielded the final crossing to their freedom; the wooden bridge from which Kagome had only a short time ago hung, helpless in the face of certain death.

She got down from Kirara, fingering the severed ropes with a reverence all but those uninterested found puzzling. Inuyasha had a good idea, but Kouga was baffled. Her behaviour was strange at best. Was she trying to recall the night before last? If she was, he thought surely she had some good reason, though he was unable to come up with one.

As Inuyasha passed her, she caught his eye, and it was hurt she saw in his golden depths. He obviously didn't like her resistance to leave Taichi behind, but she couldn't help the anger that rose within her. He hadn't there; he hadn't saved her when she was in dire fear for her life. He hadn't spent his entire time with her looking after her best interests. Sure, he usually had her safety in mind, but not like Taichi did. She felt a shift in her heart that she feared bid no good for her relationship with Inuyasha.

Halfway across the bridge, Miroku, who was in front, walked right into a force-field, and bounced off it and back into Kouga's chest, his face sore.

Kouga couldn't see anything, and muttered, "What the hell?"

Sango reached out, and, sure enough, her finger was stopped in mid-air, unable to go any further. She poked repeatedly, making a rippling in what appeared to be thin air.

"It's a barrier," Miroku breathed, rubbing his sore nose. "Meant to keep everything trapped here within."

"Great. That's perfect. How do we get out? I don't know about you, but my feet are frying here." Kouga shifted his weight to emphasise his statement. The lava below was even bringing out the sweat in the demons in their small party.

"Get out of the way, I'll handle this." Inuyasha pushed his way up front, Tetsusaiga glowing red as he held it up, ready.

Kagome waited in the wings, knowing what Inuyasha was going to do. He was going to create a rip in the barrier, wide enough for them to slip through. She waited in silence and watched.

Swinging the sword, Inuyasha made a man-sized hole in the barrier, then turned to usher everyone through. "Come on, one at a time," he said, holding the rip open with Tetsusaiga.

There was a crashing behind them, and Taichi emerged from the jungle just as everyone turned to see what was going on, and Inuyasha yelled, "Hurry! Get going! Kagome!"

Kagome, near the end of the line, smiled at Taichi's appearance; she thought she'd never see her doggy again, and, her frayed emotions undone, she cried out, "Taichi!"

Taichi barked, and wagged his tail, but could come no further than the edge of the escarpment. Kagome turned to run to him, but Kouga yelled, "Grab her! We aren't losing her again!!"

Ginta and Hakkaku snatched her arms and pulled her, kicking and screaming, toward the rip, Inuyasha yelling for them to hurry up. Only he and Kouga remained to hold the opening.

Taichi barked furiously, helpless to save her from those two puny wolves. His anger took a backseat to despair. The only girl he'd ever come to really love was leaving him. He'd helped others to escape, of course, through the underground river, but she had been special; he had grown to love her in their time together, and his heart felt like it had been ripped to shreds as she was taken away from him. Now more than any other time he wished he could speak to her, and hold her in his arms, not his paws.

Kagome, unsure of her feelings, which were in a turmoil at his appearance, beaten and bloody, cried out his name, reached for him, but soon drew back her hand. He was imprisoned here; there was nothing she could do about that. He was beyond her help, whispered common sense, but her heart disagreed.

Once through the rip, she was quickly carried away, for fear she would bolt back through, and they made away with her through the tiny village, not a soul to be seen as they crept down the tunnels and finally reached the moorings where their boats were tied. Inuyasha put his hand on Kagome's shoulder, not quite sure what to feel, let alone think, at her display on the bridge, but she violently threw his hand off, hissing, "Leave me alone!"

Rebuffed, he backed off, much to everyone's surprise. Kouga grinned, while Sango frowned. Kagome wouldn't talk about it, but something had happened on that mountain. She hoped Inuyasha could persevere until he and Kagome could work it all out. She was certain that once Kagome was back in Japan, in her own era, and safe, she'd come around. Until then, they'd have to tiptoe around her.

Loading up, they set sail, this time rotating regularly with the oars; the faster they reached land, the better.

Inuyasha turned back to look at Kagome often, but she refused to return his gaze. Had he alienated her when he'd forced her to leave? He knew it had been for the best, but she obviously didn't think so. He wondered how long he'd have to wait for her to come around and forgive him, if she ever did. He had a bad feeling he'd screwed up big time, but couldn't help his hurt pride. He thought she'd understood that he loved her, but her encounter with the dog demon seemed to have changed her mind about him.

He would accept whatever decision she made, but he didn't have to like it.

He sat alone at the bow, speaking to no one, until land finally came into sight.

Kagome met the headman of the village ashore, and old Michiko. She was praised for returning alive, but Inuyasha was hailed as the real hero of the day, taking the pats and handshakes in a much improved mood, but she still would not look at him. He slumped his shoulders despite the jovial atmosphere.

Aside from all the excitement, Kagome asked Sango if she could take Kirara and go home, alone.

"Why, Kagome? Aren't you going to stay and celebrate? The headman wants to honour you and Inuyasha tonight with a feast, and-"

"Please, Sango," she whispered, her eyes downcast, "I miss my family. Please, I just want to go home."

Sango sighed, and agreed. Kagome was obviously wrestling with something big, but for the life of her, she couldn't fathom what. Likely it had to do with something that happened on the island. Either way, she knew Kagome wouldn't tell her till she was ready.

"See you later," she said, after helping Kagome mount Kirara while no one was looking.

"Yeah, see you. Thanks." Kagome caught Sango's hand, and squeezed it, her face grim. Sango saw it, and smiled reassuringly.

"Get going."

"Bye."

Sango watched them leave, Miroku silently joining her a moment later. "She tell you anything?"

"Not a damn thing." Sango sighed again.

"Inuyasha's clamming up, too. Whatever happened back there, I think has to do with that giant dog. Did you see the way Kagome resisted coming through the barrier? She was following like a lamb until he showed up." Sango dropped her gaze. Miroku was absolutely right! She'd forgotten all about Kagome's reaction. She guffawed.

"Do you think...?"

Miroku nodded. "Could be, could be. For now, I think we should keep our suspicions to ourselves. Inuyasha won't talk and Kagome's gone. And I doubt he'll start talking when he finds out she's left us. So, it shall be our little secret."

"Agreed. I guess all we can do now is wait and see if he comes after her." Sango blew air out her nose. Kagome and Inuyasha had been so close lately, but with rumours of Kikyou becoming more prevalent in the Musashi Plains, he'd been disappearing more and more. He was stuck on Kagome, that much was certain, but if he kept ruining Kagome's warm-fuzzies by running off, well... he'd dug his own grave, so to speak. She'd not put up with his indecisiveness forever.

Sango could sympathise. Miroku constantly told her he was fond of her, and always had her best interests at heart, but he still continued to woo others as well, which was a poor foundation for trust in her opinion. Therefore, they remained no more than friends, despite a mutual desire for more.

Later in the evening, the villagers sat around a communal fire, telling tales of their experiences near the island they'd nicknamed the Island of Lost Souls, for so few were ever recovered.

The young men were gathered around Inuyasha and Miroku, listening tentatively as Suikichi began his own tale, but Inuyasha wasn't listening. He was thinking about Kagome.

Sango sat with the women, her boomerang embedded in the sand at her side. Inuyasha hadn't asked, but Kagome's absence was obvious. No one had mentioned it, but she figured he knew where she'd gone. If he'd had any doubts at all, he'd have said something by now.

She listened with rapt attention to the story when movement caught her eye on the outskirts of the group across the fire. An older man, with short white hair and a moustache, wearing formal armour and looking quite distinguished, stopped to listen in, unnoticed by those around him.

He looked completely unfamiliar, but there was something about him that distinctly told her he wasn't human. He sported no demonic facial markings to give him away; she was picking up a small demonic aura, but one glance at Inuyasha proved he wasn't a threat, or he was hiding his scent. Inuyasha didn't even glance around to look. Either way, he wasn't posing any danger to anyone - yet. She decided to keep an eye on him.

Soon the story-telling gave way to dancing, and Sango lost the mysterious stranger in all the hubbub. She searched for him, but he was nowhere to be seen. Inuyasha wandered away to sit on the sidelines and watch, keeping his expression angry so no one would approach him. He just wanted to be alone.

Miroku waltzed by with a different girl every few minutes, and Sango tendered some tempting offers, but only when the stranger she'd been searching the crowd for showed up again did she dance.

Taking up her hand, he bent over it in greeting and asked her, "Would the lady be kind enough to spare a dance for this old man?"

Sango had to admit he was quite dashing. He looked no more than forty, except for his stark white hair. Her heart rate rose as she smiled her answer, and he led her out toward the others.

He danced divinely, and he led her around on the sand with the grace of experience. She couldn't take her eyes from his face, and whenever he smiled at her, she felt her knees turn to jelly. She breathed deeply of his scent; he smelled heavenly.

When the dancing ended, he bowed to her once more, and she tried not to let her mouth hang open. "Thank you, I had a lot of fun."

He smiled crookedly. "As did I. You are an excellent dancer."

Sango felt her face flame. Back in her village, she had been taught from the time she was old enough to understand that male demons were more often than not very handsome for a reason, and those that were could exert a subtle pheromone to get human females to do their bidding. The pheromone was supposed to be a way for male demons to seduce a stubborn potential mate, but it worked just as well, often better, on human females as a sort of truth serum, having developed no defences against such a sexually charged onslaught. Sango knew she was reacting, and she knew she should turn away and try to breath fresher air, but his eyes were so beautiful, and he just looked so good...

Taichi peered into the woman's eyes carefully. She was thoroughly smitten. Now was the time to question her.

Leading her away by the hand, he took her to one of the empty huts, making sure no one was watching them. The last thing he needed was an interruption.

Sango followed him like a lamb, smiling like a lovesick puppy the whole way. He had to smile at her. She was a good girl. When he had what he'd come for, he would send her back to the monk a little confused, but unharmed.

Releasing a bit more pheromone as he sat her down, just to assure her cooperation, he got down to business, and knelt on the hard-packed dirt before her, his clawed hand stroking one of hers constantly.

"You were on an island today, miss. You and some men, human and demon, took a young girl away, and brought her back here. She is not here now, but I still smell her scent. Tell me child, where did she go?"

The pheromone was working well. Sango sat back and loosened the collar of her kimono until a small glimpse of her cleavage could be seen, and smiled seductively at him, hooding her chocolate eyes.

Whoa, better lay off the aphrodisiac.

"You mean Kagome? She went home to her own era." He frowned, and she reached out with her finger and traced his lips, murmuring, "Don't frown, I like it better when you smile."

So that's her name, he thought, a flush creeping up his neck. His little Kagome. He thought of the pink bauble that simmered with explosive power in his breast pocket, having spotted it sitting on the edge of the bridge just inside the ripped barrier. My little miko will soon wonder where her little jewel has gotten to.

He'd heard of the Jewel, and knew she had it for a reason. Its power was inexplicably dangerous, and only a pure soul like hers could contain it. For that reason, if nothing else, he had to find her. If anyone else had found it... he dreaded to think what could have happened.

He drew her hand away and asked, "Where is this place?"

She giggled. "Five hundred years in the future, silly. The Well is the only portal to her world."

Well? Could she be referring to the Bone Eater's Well, in Musashi? He knew of that well. It was swirling with demonic energy, or had been in his day. It was a portal to another era in time? He had so much to catch up on. Was his son looking after the West? Is he still mated to his shrew of a wife, that bitch Mamekichi?

Sango asked suddenly, "Who are you?? I don't know you. Why are we here? Miroku's going to wonder where I am." She pulled her kimono tight over her breasts, turning a bit red as she did.

Taichi got up and bowed low. "Forgive me, miss. You were a bit drunk and I brought you here to sober up. Your friends are just outside." He held back the door curtain to show her she was no more than twenty feet from all the activity, and was free to go at any time.

Sango frowned. She didn't remember having anything to drink... but if he said so, she must have. There was a fuzzy spot in her memory that she recalled experiencing after she and the others had gotten drunk off of the Mist of Sages Master Mushin had requested a taste of before he died, and the old sod had managed to spill most of that extremely rare, ill-gotten loot. Apparently her tolerance for alcohol hadn't improved.

"Well, thank you for looking after me, Mr-?"

"Taichi. Just Taichi will do, miss."

She nodded, and he helped her to her feet. She swayed a bit, but he held her up, and took her outside the door into the fresh air, where she perked up directly. Giving him a smile, she bowed and thanked him for his discretion, and he bowed back, and watched her join her friends, the monk and the half-breed boy. There was something about that boy that tweaked his interest, a smell that was all-too familiar, but he wasn't ready to divulge his identity just yet. If what he had seen was true, his Kagome harboured feelings for the young man, but she seemed to harbour feelings for him, as well. He would accept her choice, but, grandson or not, he'd woo her to the best of his ability. He might be old, but he wasn't dead.

Taichi turned to leave, when a small old woman caught his eye. She smiled, her face terribly wrinkled and several of her teeth missing, but there was nothing wrong with her eyesight. She knew an old friend when she saw one.

Taichi smiled back, her scent revealing her identity to his nose. Michiko...

He waved, and she waved back. A young woman at her side saw this, and asked the old woman who the man was, but by the time the young woman looked again, he was gone.

"Granny, who was that man?"

"An old friend, Sara," Michiko rasped. "Just an old friend."

Kagome landed and got off Kirara, patting the fire-cat's head affectionately. Kirara purred in response, leaning into the caress until Kagome began scratching her ears, her itchiest spot.

"Thanks, Kirara. You're a god-send in a pinch, you know that?" She ruffled Kirara's fur, and the giant cat sat down, enjoying the attention enormously.

Kagome sighed, and, remembering her backpack, looked around for it, not seeing it anywhere.

"I left it right here, damn it-"

Kirara nudged her, and Kagome followed her gaze. Ahead, in the meadow, stood Kaede, the large yellow bag resting at her feet. Kagome grinned, and ran to the old woman, who'd been more like a grandmother and trusted friend than her own grandmother had been. She was a fellow priestess, and her eagerness to teach Kagome all she knew about her powers was refreshing in a time when most were suspicious and distant to each other at best, the risk of war and battles breaking out nearer than anyone liked to think, not to mention tricksters and demons fooling everyone and causing trouble.

"Kaede!"

"Kagome! Ye are safe, child, thank the gods."

Kagome hugged her tight, revelling in the love the old woman so freely gave. Kaede never judged her; she could say anything to her, and Kaede would respond in a calm, smart manner. Kagome regretted hurting her on more than one occasion, against her will, of course, but she felt no better about it. Kaede just forgave her and moved on, despite her wounds.

"Yes, I'm alright. Inuyasha came for me." She wouldn't say rescued. She had not really wanted to be rescued in the end, but Kaede didn't have to know that.

Kaede rubbed her arms vigorously. "He was worried sick for ye, child. We all were." Kirara growled in agreement, rubbing Kagome's back with her head.

Kagome smiled. "I'm so glad I have you and the others, Kaede. You're like my family away from home." She sighed again, melancholy. Kaede saw it immediately.

"Kagome... is something the matter child?"

Kagome debated whether or not she should share her adventure with her mentor, and decided to give her a tidbit to chew on.

"I met someone, Kaede. I was kidnapped and taken to an island in the ocean as a sacrifice," she explained. "But, after all that was over, I've never felt more at peace than I did in the two days I was on that island. Does that make any sense?"

Kaede lifted her lip in a half-smile. She'd heard rumours of such an island, but little else. Supposedly it was a demon prison, but that was just speculation. No one really knew what was truth and what was myth. But Kagome was afflicted with some inner turmoil, that much was for sure. She nodded.

"Some. Are ye going home, child?"

"Yeah. I miss my Mom, Kaede." A tear leaked out of Kagome's eye, and Kaede hugged her again. The poor child was distraught, and sorely needed her mother.

"Ye go to her then, child. She will be glad to see you."

Kagome sniffed, and wiped away the stray tear. "Thanks. Kaede. You take care while I'm gone, the others should be back shortly."

"I will, Kagome. Goodbye."

Kagome hefted her bag, and walked to the Well. She stopped to wave to Kaede and Kirara before hopping in and disappearing. Kaede sighed. "Men are such bothersome creatures, nay, Kirara?"

Kirara whimpered in reply, and Kaede laughed, rubbing the cat before sending her on her own way. She wandered back to her hut to start supper. The others would come home hungry, for sure; but while she walked, she thought about Kagome's comments. She knew the signs when she saw them. Kagome had obviously met another demon, and now she was torn between he and Inuyasha. She didn't envy her young counterpart her situation at all.

Carefully descending the long shrine staircase, she ambled into her hut, looking for a big pot to start her stew to boiling.

Taichi, once outside of the village, took to the air, following her beautiful scent. She was the best thing that ever happened to him, besides his wonderful mate, Amaya, who'd died a millennia earlier. He'd not let her go without a fight. He loved her.

After a while, another familiar scent reached him. A young Inu male, mature by the nuances in his scent. His son's essence was there; was this his beloved Ryu's other son?

The young man came into sight over the next hill, and Taichi set down, wishing to meet what could be his first grandson, who hopefully wasn't pursuing the same woman as he.

Sesshoumaru eyed the new-comer warily, Jaken standing at his side in support of his Lord. Whoever this man was, he was shockingly similar in appearance to Father, Sesshoumaru thought.

"Good evening."

Sesshoumaru didn't reply. Family or not, this man was clearly a rival for the Western holdings; if he was who Sesshoumaru thought he was, and by the smell of him, he was, then there would likely be a fight on his hands. He had waited for a long time to inherit the West from his Father; when he had died and Sesshoumaru had inherited, unchallenged, he'd been very angry. It was his birthright to prove he was worthy to lead, to fight for what was rightfully his, and he had been denied that privilege. Perhaps this old man would provide him some much-needed entertainment, and test his true skill.

"Frosty little nipper, aren't you?" Taichi chuckled, leaning in for a long sniff. "You're my Ryu's boy, alright. Bet you never thought your grandfather would come back from the dead, did you?"

"I was unaware you even existed, old man. If it's a fight you're looking for, be warned, I won't give in easily."

Taichi shook his head, a half-smile on his lips. "There's the Mamekichi in you, son. That bitch never knew when to back down. Apparently you don't, either."

Inwardly, Sesshoumaru fumed. Jaken looked at him fearfully, waiting for the reaction such an insult would incite. Lord Sesshoumaru was no fonder of his mother than anyone had been, but he still took offence if anyone smeared her name.

"Mother may have been stubborn, but she was no coward. I will not give up the Western domain, grandfather. I've ruled it for the last two hundred years, and I will not relinquish control of it now, just because you've come back from the dead, or so you say."

Taichi crossed his arms, then let them fall to his sides. Reaching out, he placed a hand on his grandson's stiff shoulder.

"No need to split hairs, young man. I'm sure you're doing a fine job as Lord. I see you have already garnered a loyal retainer, and if I'm not mistaken, you have another hiding in that bush over there. A little girl, is it?"

Sesshoumaru stiffened more. Would this ancient man ridicule his human retainer? Rin was the first human he'd revived since inheriting Tensaiga, his father's life-saving legacy. Denial of his father's two more powerful swords was a bitter fragment of his recent past, but with the new addition of his own sword of destruction, Tokijin, he was content to let the situation be. Inuyasha could keep the Tetsusaiga; he had a sword that was just as good, if not better, now, one that didn't burn him whenever he touched it.

Rin peeked out from behind the bush, and, seeing the man who looked so similar to her Lord, stepped out of hiding tentatively. When Lord Sesshoumaru made no move to stop her, she came forward cautiously, and the older man knelt down to smile at her.

"Hello, little one. What's your name?"

Rin smiled, "Rin, sir."

Sesshoumaru watched warily as his grandfather made nice with his retainer, and he rolled his eyes when Jaken wasn't looking. To a retainer, appearances were everything, and Jaken would figure out more than Sesshoumaru wanted him to, given the chance.

"You are a very pretty little girl, Rin. Do you like flowers?"

Rin nodded, rocking back and forth on her heels like she often did when she wanted something. "Rin loves flowers!"

"Then watch closely." Taichi balled his fist, and, while he reached behind himself with the hand she couldn't see, he whispered, "Flower, flower, on the land, appear right here in the palm of my hand!" He waved his fists around once, then, with a flourish, opened them, presenting Rin with a perfect, white night-daisy he'd picked from under his foot.

Sesshoumaru had to contain the urge to scoff. That trick had been absolutely pathetic. Even Jaken snorted. But Rin was enthralled, and took the daisy from him reverently, thanking him.

Taichi stood, and ruffled the girl's hair. One down, two to go.

"Well, I'd love to stay and ask you how your life has been, but, you know what they say. Time stands still for no man." Except me.

Gathering his jaki, Taichi readied himself to take to the air, but Sesshoumaru's voice made him pause.

"Where do you go, old man? You come out of nowhere and claim to be my blood, but you have no desire to regain the Western title. Where have you been all this time?"

"I have been imprisoned, young man, but believe me when I tell you, it is too late for me to settle into that life again. Besides, a young maiden has caught my fancy, and I leave now to pursue her."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "I see. Is she human?"

Taichi tilted his head, lifting a brow. "Does it offend you if she is?"

Sesshoumaru looked at Rin. "Not at all. So, Father came by his tastes honestly, and has passed them down to us." He returned his gaze to Taichi's face; his words were closest he'd ever come to condoning the behaviour he'd long since looked down upon. "Who are you?"

Taichi smiled. "I am Taichi, first General to rule the West." He let the spell that he'd used to fool the villagers into thinking he was human fall, revealing two red cheek stripes and a red crescent moon on his forehead. His eyes flashed gold.

Sesshoumaru lowered his head immediately, his abbreviated version of a bow. "It is an honour to know you, my Lord." His manner had changed completely.

Taichi's smile grew. His son had apparently taught his own son respect well, despite the major role he was sure Mamekichi had played in keeping him out of her son's life. "And what, pray tell, is your name, young man?"

Rin piped up, "He's Lord Sesshoumaru, sir!"

Taichi looked down at the little girl. "He is? Well, that's a very suitable name, don't you think?"

She nodded vigorously, and he grinned at her enthusiasm. She leaned into Sesshoumaru's right sleeve, and it was then that he noticed it was empty.

"Old war wound?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at the offending reminder of his encounter with his younger half-brother. "You could say that. My father's half-breed bastard gained the upper hand once."

Taichi laughed. "What is his name?"

Sesshoumaru's expression soured more, something Taichi marvelled at. "Inuyasha."

Ah, Taichi thought. So the young man at the village is also my grandson. Ryu, you bastard! What a boy!

"And how is your father? Retired from the tediousness of border patrol? I hated that the most when I was in charge."

Sesshoumaru looked at the grass. "Father died. Two hundred years ago."

Taichi felt the news hit him like a punch to the gut. His only son... gone? He'd had high hopes of reuniting with him after so long... and now I find out he's dead?

Sesshoumaru said low, "He died when he battled for a human woman. Of course, a very recent battle with Ryyukotsusei didn't help matters any." He wasn't about to admit his own foolish attitude at that time. No one had to know about that.

Taichi growled. "Ryyukotsusei! That bastard! I'll kill him! He was a pain in the ass from day one!"

"It is already done," Sesshoumaru explained. "Inuyasha battled him and won. Justice was done, my Lord."

Taichi blinked away his tears and straightened his armour. "Good. As long as Ryu was avenged, his honour is intact. Was it a quick death?"

"In the end it was, as I understand," Sesshoumaru replied. "However, I was not there. Myouga, and old Totosai, would be able to tell you more."

"They're still kicking around, huh? Those two cowards. It'd be good to see them again." Reaching out, Taichi shook Sesshoumaru's only hand. "Thank you for telling me all this, Sesshoumaru. I'm very grateful, and glad, to have met such a fine young man."

He'd never admit it, but Sesshoumaru revelled in the praise.

Waving goodbye to Rin, Taichi took off once more, leaving Sesshoumaru and his retainers behind.

"Well, that certainly was odd. Who'd ever have thought your grandfather could return from the dead? I say, this has been a most unusual evening."

"I liked him. He was magic!"

"Rin, you think everything is magic."

Sesshoumaru listened to the toad and the child argue. Grandfather... you remind so much of father. Is this affection for humans a genetic trait? Whether I want to admit it or not, such behaviour has certainly affected me. He looked at Rin. But this encounter was so strange. I never knew you. Father told me stories, but it is not the same as actually speaking with you. You must miss father terribly. Despite his choices, he was a good man.

Sesshoumaru sighed. It was no use to follow this train of thought. He had a reputation to keep up, and gods help him, he'd not let it fall.

And no one had to know that he was a closet human lover. He may have come by it honestly, but there was no reason to flaunt it.

Suddenly, he didn't feel so wretched for allowing the girl to follow him. She was good company, and fine entertainment. Sure she could be a nuisance, but so could Jaken, easily. She was occasionally ransomed, but in the end, he always got her back. It was worth it so see the love and adoration in her tiny brown eyes. It was moments like that that made him wish he taken the time to find a mate and become a father, himself. Oh well. There was still plenty of time for that. Besides, he hadn't found a bitch to his liking.

Yet.

He was so caught up in his thoughts it didn't occur to him that he'd neglected to inquire the reason for his grandfather's long imprisonment in the first place.

Kagome climbed out of the Well and dropped her bag on the ground. Sitting on the lip, she put her face into her hands and cried.

Why am I so confused? Why did he have to be so good to me? As if I haven't got enough going on... Wiping her face, she made herself stop crying. Crying didn't solve anything.

Dragging the bag, she stepped out into the sunlight, and savoured the sound of traffic and factories and schools. She recalled feeling very strange when she first visited Feudal Japan; the lack of background noise had been almost freaky. She didn't know how they lived in such silence back there.

As she crossed the yard the noise comforted her. Sliding back the door, she called, "Mom! I'm back."

Her mother stepped out of the kitchen and smiled brightly at her daughter. Tossing her dishtowel over her shoulder, she came into the foyer to give Kagome a warm hug, but before she reached her, her smile faded.

"Oh, Kagome! You tore your jacket!"

"Huh?" Kagome looked down the front, and saw some mud, and wrinkles, but no tears.

"In your sleeve." Her mother fingered the frayed fabric thoughtfully. "It's just a ripped seam, easily fixed. Come on, off with it."

Kagome put her hands in her pockets to empty them before giving the garment to her mother, and pulled out a single shard of the Jewel, then gasped.

"What is it, sweetheart?"

"Oh, Mom... I had a whole wad of shards in here... but now there's only one," Kagome explained, her eyes watering again. "Inuyasha's going to pitch a fit."

Mrs. Higurashi waved her hand dismissively. "He'll get over it, honey. Now give me that jacket. I thought you weren't going to wear this over there, it's too nice for Feudal Japan."

Kagome sighed. "I know. But you said it looked so nice, I just thought..."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled sadly at her daughter. "You thought he'd be impressed."

Kagome shrugged. "Yeah."

Her mother pulled her close and dropped a kiss on her head. "Oh, Kagome."

"I know, I know, I should know better, but... I just thought that maybe this one time he'd notice me."

"Sweetheart, I don't think he has a choice but to notice you. Perhaps you're trying too hard."

"Maybe. Oh well. It doesn't matter anyway. I don't think I'll be going back for a while. I miss you guys, and I need a break."

"Well, that's fine, Kagome. It'll do you good to relax for a while, now that school's out." She watched Kagome drag her body up the stairs, exhausted. "Dinner will be ready in an hour, honey."

"Thanks Mom."

Taichi headed in the direction of Totosai's lair, deep in the volcanic flats of an acrid and desolate crevice in the side of a mountain to the West. Finally finding it, he let his gaze sweep the entrance, heaving a deep chuckle from within. "Old bastard never changes."

Approaching boldly, he called out, "Totosai, old man - are you here?" Silence greeted him, and he tilted his head, frowning. It wasn't like Totosai to avoid him like this... at least, it hadn't been.

Putting his nose to the wind, he sifted through the many scents that wafted by: sulphur, carbon, smoke, summer breeze, salt, and... old man stink. He was in there, all right.

Marching toward the opening, he called out again, "Totosai, old man, what are you hiding from?"

From within, a shaky voice demanded, "Go away, you insolent pup! I told you before, I'd die before I forged you a sword, so just go away and leave me alone!"

Taichi raised a brow, and looked at the sword that hung from his waist, the handle set with a brilliant round ruby. What was the old coot babbling about?

Entering, Taichi spotted Totosai cowering behind his anvil, and laughed out loud. "Old man, don't you recognise your friends when you hear them!?"

Turning, Totosai peeked an eye over the worn edge of the iron anvil, and, his jaw going completely slack, stepped out dumbly from behind it.

"It can't be."

Taichi grinned, and flashed a fang at his old friend mischievously. "It is."

Totosai broke out in smiles and hobbled over to his old friend, and thumped him several times on the back while he greeted him profusely.

"I never thought I'd see your ugly face again, you old hound!" Totosai, boomed, pumping Taichi's hand vigorously up and down. "I haven't seen you since the Heian. Myouga and I didn't know what to think when you disappeared."

Taichi shrugged nonchalantly. "It's a long, long, story, Totosai, one I'd rather not get into right now. I wanted to ask you something, but why did you pretend not to be here just now?" His curiosity demanded to be assuaged.

Totosai turned pink in embarrassment. "Well you, see, there's this young pup, Sesshoumaru, who threatened to kill me if I didn't forge him a new sword, see, because his little brother inherited the sword he wanted, and-"

"Sesshoumaru, you say? Yes, he is quite a piece of work. A little frosty, isn't he?"

Totosai practically laughed in his face. "Is he ever! That little bugger likes to think he walks on water, I'd say. A little big for his britches, no? Have you met him already? Look out for him, he's a dangerous little snipe!"

Taichi smiled. The old fool really had no idea. Apparently the bouts of forgetfulness and memory loss were taking a more permanent fixture in his life. He had to be blind not to connect the "little snipe" to the man standing before him now.

"The next time I see my grandson, I'll keep that warning in mind."

Totosai just stared at him, his face once again turning red, before he quickly asked, scratching his head in a somewhat confused manner, "Who are you? Where am I?"

Grinning, Taichi snatched Totosai up by his neck and rumbled, "You're not getting away with acting senile, old man! You know just as well as I that your assessment of my eldest grandson is accurate. I won't dispute that. Now," Here he set Totosai down, who wheezed from the abuse, "I've come to ask you: Do you know of my other grandson, and a young woman named Kagome?"

Totosai looked at him blankly, then guffawed loudly. "'Course I do! What, did you think I just sat around here for the last few thousand, years? I'm not that reclusive!" he shouted. "Momo and I go day-tripping all the time, and-"

"Stick to the subject, Totosai," Taichi warned amicably, seating himself on the hard stone floor while Totosai did the same, occasionally fanning himself from the heat wafting down over the lip of the brazier.

"Well," Totosai began, stroking his beard thoughtfully, "you want to hear what's been going on since your disappearance, hmm? Alright, but only if you'll tell me where you were for so long. My hair turned grey from worrying, you know. Thanks to you, I'm bald!"

Taichi made a rude noise at this, but motioned for Totosai to continue. He was beginning to feel rather tired.

"As I recollect, it all started fifty years ago. Inuyasha - that's the younger of your sons' sons," he informed Taichi, who knew this, but refrained from interrupting, "-fell in love with a young priestess. Kikyou was her name, I think. Could purify you just by looking at you, and a pretty thing too, but a man named Naraku came between 'em, and turned 'em against each other something terrible. In the end, they ended up killing each other - or something like that," Totosai scratched his head. Sometimes his memory was a tad fuzzy.

"Anyway, the priestess died of the wounds inflicted by who she thought was Inuyasha, but really it was this Naraku person impersonating him - I don't know what stake was in the whole thing for him, except maybe the Jewel - or where he came from, but maybe Myouga knows that.

"Anyway, this Kikyou, she pinned Inuyasha to the Sacred Tree, just outside the village which housed the Shrine containing the Jewel, but instead of killing him, she merely put a spell on him, to sleep there for eternity. Which, you know, obviously didn't work out. There he slept for fifty years, until this young Kagome waltzes into the picture, claiming to have been pulled through the Bone Eater's Well and into our time. Pretty young thing, too.

"Well, this Kagome's a an odd girl, you see. She comes from a strange time, dresses in a strange manner, and, some say, is the reincarnation of the very same priestess who pinned your grandson to the God Tree in the first place. Just before she released Inuyasha, it was discovered that she carried the Jewel of Foul Souls, which, they say, was cremated with Kikyou, it's original guardian - inside her body. It was torn free, and somehow or other, after she freed Inuyasha, she managed to shatter the thing - could be in a million or more pieces now, spread all over the land. And guess who came out of hiding to gather 'em up for himself?"

"Naraku."

"You got it. That greedy bastard, he doesn't just play with people's minds. He plays with their emotions. Sango, Inuyasha's groupie - she's a demon-slayer, and a pretty young thing, too - had some sort of dealings with him about exterminating a giant spider, but her whole family wound up dead and now Naraku's got her brother under his thumb, and he uses the boy against Sango every chance he gets, the sadistic little shit," Totosai spat the demon's name like it was poison.

"I see," Taichi replied, having listened intently so far, having counted mentally how many times Totosai had said, "Anyway", and, "She's a pretty young thing,", got right down to the point of the conversation.

"Tell me, Totosai - is my grandson... fond... of this Kagome girl?"

Totosai made a rude noise with his tongue as if the answer was painfully obvious. "He was in love with the Kikyou girl, sure," he replied, his eyes narrowing, "But he's about as stuck on Kagome as stink on a skunk. Won't admit it, of course," he grinned, almost toothless now. "Comes by that honestly enough, though."

Taichi made a face. He himself had been known to pen up his feelings, but his son, Ryu, had been terrible for it - at least, he had been when Taichi had been around. Of course, Ryu was just married then, and his shrew of a wife seemed to bring out the worst in his son. Mamekichi had been a nagger, and liked to think she could have done better than Ryu, but Taichi knew, as did everyone involved, that it was Ryu who could have done better. Taichi often regretted his decision in women for his son. Mamekichi had been against the marriage, but had grudgingly done her duty by her husband, and gave him a son - only to turn it all around and raise Sesshoumaru to be an Ice Prince before she got herself killed. Stupid bitch.

Totosai chatted on, oblivious to Taichi's thoughts. "Anyway, Inuyasha loves that girl, that's for sure. Ha, she has this nifty little subjugation spell on him, it's funny as hell! She says the word and WHAM!, he's down, chewing dirt. Handy, too. If it weren't for that little rosary, that boy'd be tearing up the countryside - and everyone in it - to have that Jewel for himself. Wants to be full-demon, see; thinks that half isn't enough. 'Course, when he does turn full-demon, poor boy can't remember a thing he's done. Kills without discrimination, he does, but that Kagome, only she can bring him out of it. She won't say it either, but she loves him. As big a pain in the ass as he is to live with, I'm sure - no offence, Taichi-sama - she gives everything she's got for him, and he for her. Personally, I think all they need is someone looking in from the outside to tell it like it is, but far be it from me to interfere with what isn't my business. It's a funny thing, that Shikon no Tama. They say it's got the power to corrupt with a touch, but Kagome, she can purify it like that. That Naraku, he wants to use it for evil, but not while she's breathing will he accomplish that goal. She won't let him, see. In her possession, it remains pure. They say it was his perverted version of love for Kikyou that drove him to kill her, but-"

"So he loves her, does he?" Taichi fingered the small, chipped pink orb inside his kimono, safely sequestered in a deep pocket against his chest.

"Like a squirrel loves nuts. I'm surprised he hasn't mated her yet, to tell you the truth. Though of course, Naraku would only use their love against 'em. He tries all the time to separate 'em and manipulate 'em, but Kagome, she's special. Breaks his spells every time. Did I tell you she was a pretty young thing?"

Taichi smiled wanly. "Yes, you did."

Totosai scratched his head. "I did?"

Taichi nodded, his thoughts in a turmoil. Suddenly, he wasn't so sure he could destroy what his grandson had built with Kagome. From what Totosai told him, they were very close. He wasn't sure anymore if he could bring himself to take that away from his grandson, despite his own feelings for the girl.

Was senility setting in for him, too? He was ancient by Sesshoumaru's standards, and even more so by Inuyasha's, had he known of Taichi's existence. Inuyasha's ignorance had been a part of his plan to get Kagome back, but, now, he was beginning to wonder if his old mind wasn't playing tricks on him. She was young - sixteen, tops - and he was... Gods, he couldn't even say. The years had blurred so badly into one another that he'd lost track of how long he'd been confined to that heathen island.

Can I take away the one thing Inuyasha wants and keep it for myself?

Deep inside, he already knew the answer.

Getting up, he pulled Totosai to his feet and said, "Thank you for the information, Totosai. I'm sure Sesshoumaru will inform me of anything you've forgotten to tell me." Suddenly, Taichi remembered the one other thing he'd wanted to ask Totosai.

"Totosai, my son... how did he...?" Had Sesshoumaru missed any details, Totosai would surely fill in the gaps.

"Ryuukotsusei," Totosai replied, then spit on the stone floor of the cave as if the name inspired a bad taste in his mouth.

"What happened?"

Totosai tilted his head. "Well, I'm not rightly certain. I think it had to do with a title challenge, but I can't say for sure. All I know is, that damn dragon butchered Ryu before he finally subdued him. You'd have been proud, Taichi-sama," Totosai breathed, remembering, "Ryu-sama was a fine man, and an even better leader. Had more compassion than brains, that boy, and his little hime, Inuyasha's mother - he loved her so. Even made a sword to protect her - courtesy of yours truly, of course. Inuyasha has it now. Tetsusaiga, Ryu called it. One of my finest creations."

Taichi smiled sardonically at that last remark.

"Anyway, Ryu was hurt pretty bad, and that same night his princess gave birth to Inuyasha, and he died defending 'em both from her jealous suitor... so, Inuyasha never met his father, poor pup. A real shame it is. He didn't live near long enough, he didn't. One of the greatest friends I ever had."

Taichi nodded, and both were silent for a moment, remembering.

Finally, Taichi clapped Totosai on the back. "It was good to see you, old man. Don't be shy now that I'm back."

Totosai raised a brow. "That reminds me - where were you, anyway? One minute you were at the palace planning strategies for a mobilisation into the East, and the next thing we knew, you'd been arrested!" He paused, his eyes narrowing again. "Will you reclaim the West from Sesshoumaru?"

Taichi smiled. "No, Totosai, it is his now. He has waited long enough, and I ran it long enough to let him do as he wishes. Retirement is what I've got in mind."

"So, why were you arrested, then?"

Taichi shrugged. "That's just the thing - I don't know. Maybe I was too powerful for the higher powers that be - I really couldn't say. But it sure does feel good to be home." In a rare display of emotion, Taichi hugged Totosai, who returned the brief gesture with a tear of his own.

"I missed you, Taichi," he admitted, dropping the formality for the first time since they'd been reunited.

Taichi chuckled. "I missed you too, you old metal bender. Whenever I needed an ear, you were there. Always loyal."

Totosai stood up as straight as his old bones would allow before bowing. "Always, Master."

"Thank you, old friend." Taichi smiled gratefully into Totosai's old eyes.

Tearing up, Totosai shooed him out, calling for him not to be shy and to visit whenever he pleased.

Taking his leave, Taichi realised he had a lot of thinking to do - and a Jewel to return. But first, he had one more thing he had to do before he could even think of returning the bauble.

He made his way East, back from whence he'd come.

Inuyasha watched the moon wax away as dawn approached. The whole night had been sleepless. Nearby, Sango and Miroku snored like saws, and Shippo snuggled closer to Kirara in the cool breeze off the ocean.

He'd never much liked the sea; the scent of salt was too strong, but he found that he didn't even notice it anymore. Without her, it was hard to notice anything.

The evening had been filled with food, fun, and stories, but he was never one for celebrations. He couldn't stop thinking about what Kagome and Sango had been talking about when he'd seen his taijiya friend send Kagome off into the night, on the back of her fire-cat.

Miroku had asked what had happened. Inuyasha had been unable to answer, for really, he didn't know what had happened back on the island, but whatever it was inside Kagome that made her take off without informing him was a mystery. Miroku had said that Sango had told him Kagome wouldn't talk about it, but he had to wonder if Sango wasn't just covering up for Kagome. After all, he thought grimly, his lip quirking in a small ironic smirk, girls stuck together.

Kagome was obviously conflicted, and Inuyasha found himself afraid that taking her off that island may have cost him her friendship. Whoever that demon was, he'd gotten under Kagome's skin. That better be all he got under, Inuyasha thought murderously. He couldn't help it; whenever he even thought about Kagome with another guy, especially Kouga or that Hobo creep from her era, he saw red. He recognised that this was possessive behaviour, indicative of his true feelings for her, but it seemed to piss her off so much that he'd kept his mouth shut and waylaid confessing his feelings to her. He knew he loved her, and he knew the others knew, but Kagome somehow seemed to be missing the red flags. Half of him wanted to scream it to the sky, tell the whole world, but the other half held him back; he was deathly afraid that she would scorn his love, and that she would laugh at him. He didn't think he could take that. Not from her.

A lifetime of self-preservation was hard to break. He'd learned very young that if you kept your feelings hidden, no one could use them against you, but with her... it was hard to keep himself in line. She was so happy, and she smelled spectacular to him, and when she was angry... that was when she was most beautiful.

He figured that she wouldn't have stayed by him so long if she didn't at least like him. She had an obligation to reassemble the Jewel, and he had been delegated to help her, but what had started out as a means to an end had grown into something more, for him anyway. He felt his gut flip at the thought of her in trouble; his blood ran cold at the thought of her trapped with Naraku, their greatest enemy, alone, and afraid. He would do anything he could, even give his own life, if it meant she would be spared, be safe.

He couldn't remember when like had turned to love; it just seemed so natural that it had. Kagome, on her part, seemed to return his feelings, but he was no expert in the ways of women. In that aspect, he relied on Miroku to tell him how it was, and really, Miroku wasn't the best person to go to for advice, he himself never getting anywhere with the opposite sex despite his smoothness and worldly manner.

Inuyasha sighed, clutching Tetsusaiga a little tighter. Only three things were certain in this world: sunrise, evil, and war. Love was not one of them. Sometimes he wondered why life seemed so easy for others, but so difficult for him. Kagome, especially, what with her higher learning and school, should at least know what was going on. However, she seemed to be falling off the horse in that respect.

He sighed again, his thoughts distracted by a flickering star in the sky, one that hadn't been flickering earlier. He frowned, squeezing Tetsusaiga nervously.

The light grew brighter, and, as Inuyasha suspected, landed before him, turning into the figure of a man.

Sesshoumaru, he thought, baring his fangs, now what do you want?

Taichi took in the sight of this, the youngest of his grandsons, and hid a smile. He was a feisty one, he could tell. His aura was practically sizzling.

"Screw off, Sesshoumaru! Whatever it is you want will have to wait-" Inuyasha trailed off as the light faded and a demon stood before him, but it wasn't his brother. No, it was someone different, and his scent was very familiar, yet... not. He looked like Sesshoumaru, a little, but there was no ice in his gaze, no frost in his demeanour. This man was jovial, almost. Inuyasha was taken aback.

"Father...?"

Taichi smiled sadly. "No, son, I'm not your father."

Inuyasha sniffed again, his nose recognising the scent again. "You were on that island."

"Yes, I was. I was there for a long time. But, that's in the past now." Slowly, he approached the boy, spotting the tiny ears that flicked madly on his crown, and stifled a grin. They were so... cute! "You must be Inuyasha. Am I right?"

Inuyasha lifted a brow, skeptical. "Who wants to know?"

Taichi snagged him in a head-lock and gave him a gentle noogie. "Your grandfather does! It's good to finally meet you, boy!"

Inuyasha almost couldn't believe his ears. This demon was his grandfather? It was almost more than he could have hoped for. Never having known his own father, Inuyasha had been certain only Sesshoumaru was left. It was good to know that his family wasn't so small, anymore. Still, he decided to tread carefully; Sesshoumaru at first had appeared to be friendly enough, but a small scar on the inside of his wrist was a constant reminder of how foolish those childish notions of trust had been.

Extracting himself, he growled low, "If you're my grandfather, why were you on that island? Why did you let my father die?"

Taichi's smile faded, and he seemed to search inside himself. Inuyasha thought, Ha! Answer that, old timer!

"Had I been there, I would not have," he replied quietly, crossing his arms slowly. "Ryu was my pride and joy. I only have two regrets in my life, son: one was marrying him to his bitch of a wife, Mamekichi, and the second was not being there to save him from Ryuukotsusei."

Inuyasha felt his elation wane as the older man's eyes lowered themselves to the ground. Feeling eager to hear more, yet still cautious, Inuyasha asked, "What's your name, if you are in fact my grandfather?"

Taichi smiled wanly. "I am Taichi, son. First Inu General to rule the West."

Inuyasha let the deep baritone voice wash over him like a wave he'd waited a lifetime to feel. The word 'son' felt like balm on his battered soul.

Dropping his guard, he removed his hand from Tetsusaiga, and crossed his own arms not in a gesture of confrontation, but of amicable conversation instead.

"So, you're my grandfather, huh? Why were you on that island?"

Taichi spread his legs to settle his weight in his hips. 'I don't know why I was arrested. All I know is I spent a long time trying to figure that out until it no longer seemed important. For whatever reason I was put there, I'm free now, and that's all that matters."

"Oh." Inuyasha looked at the ground. "So... you knew my father?"

Taichi laughed. "Did I know him? Like the back of my own hand, I did. He was a good, honourable man, Inuyasha, never forget that. His compassion, lust for life, and fierce loyalty inspired those all around him to be better demons, including myself. He really had something, you know? He could make anyone feel better just by talking to them. In fact, he inherited the land as soon as he could defeat me in battle, and he couldn't have been any older than you, boy."

Inuyasha smiled a little. "Yeah? He was that strong?"

Taichi smiled back. "The strongest. Ryu took nothing for granted, and if he didn't like something, even the bitch I'd picked out for him, he never complained, just took it like a man."

"Was that Sesshoumaru's mother?"

"Is there any doubt? The boy isn't as reckless as she was, I imagine. He seems a little too well-trained to be hasty in anything."

Inuyasha laughed. "You got that right. He's wound up so tight you couldn't pull a cork out of his ass!"

Taichi laughed, but, slinging an arm over Inuyasha's shoulder, grew serious. "Don't fault your brother for his ways, Inuyasha. I imagine he had a hard life growing up. Mamekichi was a tough bitch. Hell, she wouldn't even do her duty by Ryu until he could prove he was stronger than her. Bitches of the Inu persuasion are known for being somewhat difficult," he said, remembering his own dear wife, and her sharp claws, "It didn't take him long, of course, but she just wore him out with her snide remarks. I don't think that woman was ever happy."

Inuyasha was beginning to understand why his brother was so cold. His mother had shown him no other way. "Didn't father have anything to do with Sesshoumaru's upbringing? His mother couldn't have had all the influence over his life. Could she?"

Taichi shook his head, enjoying this homey chat with Inuyasha. It was nice to speak with a family member that so resembled his father in personality, it was almost scary. "She may have. Sesshoumaru wasn't very old when I was arrested, but when I went to visit just after his birth, Ryu was at the end of his rope with her. Said she refused to feed her pup until he stopped crying. Sesshoumaru was a new-born; his first meal was denied him until he'd cried himself dry. She didn't feed him for four days, son. Don't blame your brother for his attitude. He knew no different, especially if Mamekichi didn't let Ryu spend any time with him. I'm sure she moulded him into her very image, but he isn't so hard. He just doesn't know any different."

Inuyasha made a "wow-what-a-bitch" face, and thought he could understand Sesshoumaru's past actions a little better. And now that he had Rin, well, he could only get better. Right?

"Well, what are you going to do with yourself now? Sesshoumaru won't give you the lands back."

"We have already discussed that, and he is welcome to them. Things seem to be running smoothly under his rule; no need for me to come along and screw it up. I really have no interest in complicating things until he asks. Unless you were wanting a piece of it?"

Inuyasha shook his head. "He can keep it. I have a better heirloom to remember my father by." He patted Tetsusaiga.

"So, that's Tetsusaiga, hm? Totosai was telling me a bit about it. Is Tensaiga still around?"

"Yeah, Sesshoumaru has it." Inuyasha cocked his head to the left. "Didn't you see it? I got the impression you'd met Sesshoumaru already."

"I have, but I didn't see Tensaiga, just another sword. It could have been behind his sleeve, I suppose. It used to be my sword."

"Yeah? I thought it was father's."

"It was forged of his fang, but he'd given it to me as a gift." Taichi sighed, remembering. "Well, as much as I've enjoyed reminiscing to you, son, I did have a purpose in mind when I came here." He reached into his kimono, inside the armour, and pulled out the Shikon Jewel.

Inuyasha's eyes went wide. "Where did you get that?" And then he remembered. Kagome had had something for this guy, even though he'd been a dog, or so he suspected. His attitude cooled off a bit, and Taichi noticed.

Rolling the pink ball around in his palm, he remarked, "This little trinket is quite controversial, or so I hear. Easily corrupted, and just as easily purified, in the right hands, of course." He pinched it between two fingers and held it up to the moon. "I'm not going to lie to you, Inuyasha. Your priestess friend struck a chord in me, and we became rather close. It was only two days, but... I fell for her. I know, she's too young, and I'm too old, but when time hasn't existed for one for so long, it is easy to forget one's age. I certainly don't feel my age, Inuyasha; from the look on your face I gather I don't look it, either. Still, I saw the two of you together, and I was jealous, enough in fact to go after her. But, upon reconsideration, and after a long, informative chat with my good friend Totosai, I realised that you were there first; you have always been there first. She is a special girl, Inuyasha. Don't let her get away."

Here he dropped the bauble into Inuyasha's palm, and watched as his grandson followed its path as it rolled around in his hand, before returning his gaze to his grandfather's face.

Inuyasha almost couldn't believe he'd heard all that. His suspicions were right on, but he couldn't take any joy in that. The object of his suspicions was just too personal, and, as much as it kinda weirded him out that his grandfather was in love with his best friend, he reasoned that his explanation was valid. Apparently, time had stood still for him, and the only giveaway of his age was white hair, but then again, they all had white hair, so it was an honest mistake.

And Kagome... what was she feeling about all this?

Taichi watched Inuyasha's thoughts play across his face, and knew it would be a while before he could get his thoughts in order; he had, after all, dropped a bit of a bombshell there. To speed things along, he suggested, "Go to her, son. She deserves to be loved, but by someone who's earned it."

Inuyasha looked up, grinned, clasped the Jewel tightly in his fist, and took off, leaving the others behind.

Taichi watched him disappear as the sun peaked over the horizon, gilding the world with its golden layer of liquid light.

Sango, rolling over, rubbed her eyes and started at the sight of the man she'd seen last night.

"You again? What are you- where's Inuyasha?"

Taichi smiled gently, helping her to her feet. "He's gone."

Sango looked confused, then brightened. "After-?"

Taichi nodded, and the smile that spread across her face rivalled that of the sun behind her in beauty.

"Yes! Go, Inuyasha," she whispered.

Finally, things were going right.

Well, end Part Three. Holy shit my fingers are sore! Well, I know it's a lot to ask, since I was so rude and made you guys wait so long, but reviews are always welcome. Now, may God speed my fingers to finish the Ep in record time, and start on some other waylaid projects I need to get my ass in gear on!!