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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

Chapter Three: Untold

Together the dog and I ran south over the flat lands that would lead to the dark thick forests of my home. I dreaded returning. The land was dark and strange since my pack left. The only wolves that dwelled under its branches were mangy and unintelligent, a fact that disgusted me and made me dread Sesshomaru seeing them. The sun was starting to set to our side, allowing our feet and paws to dance upon its fading rays like golden stepping stones.

"How much further, wolf?"

Ignoring him I ran on. At the moment I didn't feel like wasting energy on talking to the mutt. Why I ran so willingly to help a human pup that I had just met I didn't understand, but onward I ran. Another thing that bothered me was Naraku and what he wanted from us. I knew that we would most likely not find out his motives until we found Rin, and by then there would be a slim chance of avoiding him.

On the horizon the outline of the forest appeared. Urging my legs faster I hurried on, wanting to close the distance quickly.

"Wolf, how far must we run into the forest?"

Again I ignored him.

"Wolf!" the demon yelled violently.

I ran faster, plainly showing him that I wished him to leave me be.

Suddenly he leapt in front of me and barred my way, causing me to collide into him at breakneck speed and slam him hard into the ground.

Snarling I held him to the earth with my paws. "Yukiko is my name. Not wolf. You will call me by my name or not speak to me."

I stepped off of him with more push than necessary and stood staring into the distant forest.

"Fine. Yukiko, how much longer must we run?" I could hear the bite in his voice, and the strain of him trying to remain calm as he got back to his feet.

"Until we reach one of the forest's many caves," I said without looking at him. "How the half-breed knows where I was born nips my hungry curiosity…"

"Do you not realize his power?"

"A cur has no power," I replied quickly. "Now enough talk, let us be off so that we may reach our destination all the sooner."

Without waiting for his response I surged forward and continued our run to my homeland.

Later…

Stars dotted the black canvas above us as we reached the forest's edge. I cantered to a stop and peered suspiciously into its mysterious foliage. A breeze stirred the tops of the trees, creating a wave that distorted the already dark forest. All of my vigilant senses went to work to detect the area before as I checked to verify our safety.

"What are you waiting for?" Sesshomaru demanded to know as he strode in front of me and plunged into the forest.

Ignoring his question I cautiously followed.

"You act as if we'll be attacked at any moment," he continued scornfully.

I huffed in annoyance. "Do you honestly believe that Naraku will not have a trap waiting for us?"

He was silent as he pondered my words. "Why do you fear him?"

A wolfish laugh bubbled from my throat, sounding more beast than human. "I fear nothing, dog. No demon has killed me yet, so why would I believe that one could kill me now?"

"What about a half-demon?" he goaded.

I snarled in warning. "A cur is no threat to me."

"Of course not." I could hear the smile in his voice.

A flash of white suddenly flooded the forest, making Sesshomaru spin around, ready to fight. I stood before him in my human cloak, holding his gaze calmly.

"Did I scare you, oh great Lord?" A smile flitted at the corners of my mouth.

He scoffed. "Your cynicism is starting to grow annoying." When I continued to stand nonchalantly he continued with his scolding, "Warn me before you do that, it would be a shame if I accidently killed you."

Laughter bubbled from my mouth. "Was that sarcasm?"

My question was answered with silence, not a surprise. We walked onward through the forest, the dog taking my lead through the dense and unfamiliar foliage. It had truly been too long since my paws had last touched the forest's floors. I barely remembered the den's path.

I am alone, I thought as we stepped deeper. What is a wolf…without her pack?

"Tell me something, wolf." Sesshomaru demanded, cutting through my thoughts.

I looked back at him with a quick, meaningful look and a cock of my brow.

"Yukiko," he corrected in aggravation. "Why do you care for Rin? Most wolves wouldn't have saved her from the river to begin with, much less agree to steal her from Naraku."

"You forget that I am a noble wolf, not some lesser demon that you are most likely used to seeing." I paused to collect my thoughts before explaining further. "Life is a precious thing, especially in pups. They are innocent, and have no reason to be harmed. Of all living things on this world they deserve life the most."

"What makes you think this?" The dog demon asked.

"Inside of us…are two wolves," I began. "One is evil: it is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. One is good: it is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and devotion." My golden eyes half closed as I slipped into my own thoughts.

"And?" he prompted.

Looking at him calmly I asked, "Which wolf triumphs?"

His own bright eyes bore into mine, waiting for the answer. "Which one?"

"The one you feed the most."

The demon pondered my words for a moment. And then, "I don't get it."

I shook my head. "Most don't…but it's the reason for who I am. Feed the good, not the evil." I cocked my head to the side as something occurred to me. "But that doesn't mean you let the other side die, for both need to live for one to be whole. You must feed even the evil side from time to time."

Sesshomaru sighed. "I'm afraid I'll never understand wolves, not that I wanted to in the first place."

Smiling I purred, "Of course not."

I thought that maybe he was done with his questions, but he proved me wrong.

"Are there no others of your kind?"

I shrugged slowly, slightly surprised at his sudden change of topic. "None that I know of."

"Then your race is dead," he pointed out bluntly.

"For now, yes."

"You seem at ease knowing that you may never have a mate."

I shook my head gently, slowly. "Species does not hold a barrier to love. I will be with whomever I choose."

He laughed harshly. "There's no such thing."

"As what? Love?"

Nodding curtly he explained. "All you need in this world is to be strong enough to survive; love is none existing, and so not needed."

"Then how would the worlds ever be populated? If love doesn't exist."

"Convenience."

This made me laugh again and shake my head at his thick headedness. "For one as wise as you claim to be you still say such…foolish things."

"Why do you say that? Do you have proof that it does exist?" He wasn't snarling yet, but I could hear its threat on the edge of his voice.

"Not proof, but experience, yes."

"Enlighten me."

My shoulders slumped slightly. "I had love, once upon a time. He wasn't a true wiser wolf, but that didn't stop me. He was true and sincere…back before the dark times came."

"Dark times?" Sesshomaru prompted.

"When disease set over the land with its hungry maw, sweeping over every living thing and leaving a sickness in its wake," I snarled quietly in remembrance. "It crushed many lives, but mine it spared. Perhaps it is my blood that protected me or simply my health. Whichever shielded me, my mate did not have. The sickness grabbed him by the throat and gradually choked life from him, making sure to drag out each breath slowly and painfully." My voice filled with bitterness. "Nothing I did saved him, and his life departed."

The dog demon stared at me curiously. "I don't understand why it upsets you. Wolves die every day."

I shook my head jerkily. "You cannot understand because you have yet to feel love's embrace."

"It's not a loss."

Choosing to not reply I focused again on the forest around us. I recognized the hill that we were climbing as the one before the den. We were almost there. Finally, I thought tiredly. This dog is testing my nerves with all his nosey questions. Another voice inside my head pointed out that not answering them would solve the problem, but I acted as if it had not spoken.

Stepping over the hill's peak I glared into the shadows. The familiar jagged rock gloomed in the darkness. My cave. It brought back a flood of memories: My mother's warm body. My sibling's and I wrestling…always at play. How it felt to lay with the pack as one great body.

Silence.

"It should not be this quiet," I said pointedly.

My ears pricked for noise, waiting for the ambush that was sure to come. Sesshomaru, although seeming at ease, was as alert as I.

The silence deepened.

I barred my fangs. "Step away from your cloak of invisibility, Naraku. Though sniveling cur you may be, ignore your fears of my claws at your throat and show yourself!"

Laughter, dark and sinister laughter, floated through the air around us. "Temper, dear wolf," it echoed in the voice of Naraku. "We will have the chance to fight soon enough, don't you worry."

"Where is she?" Sesshomaru growled next to me.

"Ah, if I told you that then this game would lose all of its fun." He laughed again.

Snarling I yelled, "No games, cur! Tell us where she is."

"Maybe…you should ask your brother," the creepy voice hinted evilly.

Sesshomaru spoke, now curious and angry in one voice. "Even my brother is not foolish enough to help you."

More laughter sounded, the sound rubbing against my annoyance level. "No, not your brother. Lady Yukiko's brother."

"He died long ago, what trickery are you playing at?" I demanded to know.

"Even the dead do not remain lifeless in my hands," he cackled darkly. "Good luck, my friends." And he was gone.

Fury in the form of a snarl exploded from my jaws. "The cur! I've had enough with his stupid riddles."

"What did he mean about your brother?" Sesshomaru asked urgently.

"I don't know," I spit out viciously. "He's dead, or at least he was last time I checked."

"How did he di—"

"Hush," I commanded immediately, cutting off his question. "That is none of your concern." My voice was one edge, as was the rest of me. Naraku's evasiveness was driving me to madness.

The dog demon didn't press any further, but instead stood silently at my side. I glanced around the clearing and found my eyes locking on to the cave. My cave. Involuntarily I wandered towards it. My fingers brushed its peak as more memories tumbled through my head.

Kage's big brown eyes filled my mind. His too big for his body puppy paws swiping at me in play, and then our bodies colliding as we rolled head over paws down a hill. His tan fur was only a few shades lighter than my yellowing coat, for it had taken moons for my fur to turn into its now snow whiteness. Out of all my siblings he was the only male, and my closest cohort.

Sudden white hot furry surged inside of me; filling my veins to the brim with rage. Anger at Naraku and his foolishness. Anger at the great dog demon that killed my pack long ago… killed my pack…and my brother.

"Where do we go now…" I asked myself quietly.

"Where did your brother die?" Sesshomaru prompted.

My golden eyes considered him before replying. "At the northern tip of this vast forest. It would take days of travel, even with running at our top speed."

"Then what do you suggest?"

With an easy leap I found myself standing of the cave's roof, staring up into the cosmic night sky. "We could always fly."

Sesshomaru was silent.

I looked down at him serenely. "Were dogs not given wings?"

He stared at me strangely.

"Yes?"

"Your mood changes quickly, I could have sworn you were angry only a few moments ago…"

I laughed quietly. "That's what's bothering you? Have no worries dog, anger passes quickly with me."

"And the flying?" He continued on, not bothering to comment on my before statement.

Smiling, I stared at him calmly. "What of it?"

Annoyance flashed across his face. "Wolf…"

"Dog," I spat back, but in a goodhearted manner. A smile still hung on my lips.

He sighed in exasperation. "Do I look like a bird to you?"

My next words would have been better left unsaid. "Of course not, what bird flies with one wing?"

The remark about his missing arm stung him, I could tell by the insulted look that flared upon his face immediately after I spoke. "Do you have a death wish¸ Yuki?" A snarl formed my name.

"Of course not, I merely answered your question."

"As blunt as possible, yes you did."

I shrugged. "I answer truthfully is all." He opened his mouth to fire back his next retort, but I cut him off. "Let us be off then."

A flash of light eliminated the area, leaving the familiar suit of my wolf body in its wake. My legs immediately went into action as I leapt in one fluid motion to the cave's top. Sesshomaru's eyes clung to me, watching my movements with an intense concentration that I had yet to see on his face. The muscles on my back rippled with movement as I flexed my hidden strength, my hidden talent.

More blinding light exploded from my shoulders: two individual shapes that formed the outline of wings upon my back. The light faded away, leaving Sesshomaru with a look of surprise on his face as he stared at my back.

Large, white feathery wings engulfed the air around me, their base sprouted from the area of my shoulders. I flexed them slowly, stirring the leaves and air around me in a light tumble.

"You can fly," the dog demon pointed out quietly.

"Of course I can," I replied coyly. "Why else would I ask if dogs were given wings?"

A sigh escaped his mouth. "So strange…"

"Yes?" I asked, prompting him to explain.

He shook his head as a look of reflection spread across his face. "I will run below you, fly where I can see you and I will follow as fast as my body allows it."

Giving him one last glance from my golden orbs I launched into the sky, pumping my wings to fight against the updrafts and winds until I hung, suspended, high above the tree line. Another pump of my wings and I glided into the winds, manipulating it to take me north. Below me Sesshomaru sped across the ground. The chase was on.