I'm back! It didn't take me so long to update this time though YAY!!!!

I'm so happy we're friends again Ceaseless Cloudy Days! :: hugs back:: Now I'm extra happy! Yes there will be romance but I don't know when...I'll try to get in some fluff in this chapter for ya! I would like some fluff too but only when it's appropriate. When it goes with the flow. You know what I mean? I don't want to wonder away from the plot. But I shall try loyal readers!

Oh! I'm currently working on a story at fictionpress so if you wanna check it out...here's the link! Just copy and paste .

Anywho, my cat says meow ( Hi!) and enjoy the chap!

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Un-expected

The clouds hung low, wispy arms brushing the treetops. The sun was hidden, lending no light to the winter gloom. Everything was shrouded in shadows. The snow glittered a silver glow, providing dazzling light in this gray world. Even this didn't conquer the lurking darkness that loomed in the forest.

Four riders sped through the trees, one riding a cat youkai. They passed in and out of shadows, making no sounds except the pounding of hooves. With them, they carried a great power. It radiated from their aura, filling the forest with a new light. They were proud, proud to be able to fight back. Fight back for themselves, and for the kingdom they called home.

One rider in particular, Lord Inuyasha of the Western realm, held the most power. Hatred seethed from his very soul at one demon in particular, He hated him for reasons he kept to himself. All he knew was that his life had been ruined, ruined by one low piece of shit who didn't know when to keep his snout out of things.

' Damn wolf. You wouldn't be in this mess if hadn't been "daddy's little boy". Baka'.

He turned his thoughts to more pressing matters like, his curse. That one Naraku had set upon him the day he died. The day his soul was stolen away from him. The day his life was turned upside down.

' That curse still weighs down on my shoulders. I would have committed suicide if not for...'

He glanced over at Kagome, who was looking straight ahead and almost motionless in her saddle. ' If she hadn't come to the knighting ceremony that night, I might have slit my own throat right then and there. I would've missed my chance to regain my life'.

He smiled slightly and looked back at the trail, letting his senses reach out. He travelled up the trail, winding around thick trees and frozen ponds.

'Huh?'

Something was up there. It was big and alive.

He wasn't quite sure though, it was a few miles off. Although, his instincts had alerted him of danger up ahead and he knew to trust them.

He probed deeper and searched further, trying to determine what it was. It was a snake youkai, a large one at that. It's were open but blank, signalling it was asleep.

He knew, if they ran into it, then they would die right then and there. If they surprised it however...

Kirara bounded past them, snarling. She was one step ahead of him.

"Sango, where are you going?", Kagome called out.

"There's a demon up ahead", the taijiya answered back, disappearing into the growing gloom.

She nodded and smiled to herself. ' Go do what you do best Sango'.

The pair disappeared into the growing shadows. All they could see now were The flames on Kirara's tail and paws. Even those didn't flicker for long and were soon distinguished by the darkness.

"We should go up and help her", Miroku said, moving his horse beside them.

"Yeah, we should. It's getting dark so that demon is going to have the advantage", Kagome added.

"We have a few miles to go so come on". Inuyasha spurred Cadoc into a gallop, lashing his sides for all his speed. The others followed, horse's stretched out low to the ground.

What they saw when they reached the demon wasn't all that pleasing. It was rearing above Sango, fangs bared and hissing loudly. Its orange eyes held an un yielding fury, for reasons they couldn't comprehend. Its body was thick and covered in green scales, dark on top but lighter on its belly.

It turned its large head towards the trio that had just pulled up. A low hiss escaped its gaping jaws and its tongue flickered out, identifying them.

"You're ssssscent is mingled with that of a certain wolf demon isssssss it not?". Its voice rolled out, each "s" getting a slithering note.

The hanyou flexed his claws and growled. "What would a demon like you know about Kouga?"

The snake youkai shifted, keeping an eye on Sango and Kirara still in its grasp.

"I would know enough young demon. Alssssso, your companions carry the ssssscent of that demon assssss well. Maybe your are in league with him". At this he lunged, fangs bared and eyes blazing.

"Now die!"

The horses pranced in fear and jumped out of the way, eyes rolling.

The youkai crashed into the nearby trees, spitting curses. It veered up and turned around, pure hatred leaking from its youki. It lunged at them again, this time, looking sure not to miss.

Inuyasha whispered over to Kagome and she leapt on to his prancing horse with ease. She knelt in-front of him, clutching fist fulls of mane as Cadoc pranced beneath her. "I want you to hit him with your energy. Don't kill him though, just stop him".

She nodded and tensed her legs, ready to spring. He hooked his hands under her feet and pushed up, letting her spring into the air.

The young miko gathered enough energy to paralyse the demon and fired, aiming for his head.

It hit just a little off but hit none the less. Blue light enveloped the snake youkai and he stopped, eyes wide with shock. His gargantuan body fell to the ground, limp as a rag doll.

"What have you done to me?!", he hissed, trying to wriggle free.

"Nothing that will hurt you. Now, what do you know about Kouga?", Inu asked coldly.

The snake gazed at him through narrowed eyes. "I know that he isssss a murderousss sssscum bag, he and hissss father".

"Murderous?", Miroku questioned.

"Yesss, murderoussss. Yearssss ago, hissss father decimated one of our many dens, killing off mosssst of my young. We recovered but never lossst the hate for him. Then, he died and hisss sssson came around to finissssh us off. I am the only sssurvivor". There was sadness in his airy like voice.

"Who are you?", the inuyoukai questioned, voice still cautious.

The snake hesitated, eyeing them all. He then seemed to relax and breathed in a sigh, seeming

to have trust them now. "I am Ssssei-ssshi-sssai, leader of the ssssnake youkai clan. Which hassss been obliterated".

All was silent after that, until Seishisai spoke again, his voice softer. "You sssseem to loathe thissss Kouga assss well do you not?"

"Hai, we all do", he motioned at everyone in the area.

"Ah yessss. I can ssssmell it".

Kagome groaned, still suspend in mid air. "I can't hold this for much longer..." She sighed and fell down, landing in Inuyasha's arms. She went limp at once, exhausted from the energy she had exerted.

"We should make camp", Miroku said, looking up at the dark sky.

"Hai". The hanyou nodded and dismounted.

Seishisai nodded as well and set let Kirara and Sango out of his coils. He slithered off the trail and motioned for them to follow. "Come travellerssss. I have found a place where you can ssstay for the night".

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Inuyasha stared into the flames, thoughts racing through his head. He hadn't really expected to befriend a snake youkai. It turns out that Seishisai had a well developed hate for Naraku and Kouga. ' He has reason to as well'.

The giant snake lay curled up by the fire, eyes open but blank ( A/N::snakes don't have eyelids). His slow breathing rumbled in his throat, the ground trembling ever so slightly.

Everyone else lay within his massive bulk, warming each other.

Inu sighed and stood up, stepping over the youkai's tail. Kagome had gone out a while ago to let the horse's graze. It was getting late so he decided to go fetch her.

He marvelled at how beautiful the forest looked at night, sprinkled with fresh snow. It glittered brilliantly, even though it had no moonlight to reflect. The trees were laden with white powder and their trunks seemed frozen. The bark had an icy tone to it, almost like a sheet of frost.

He maneuvered around a large tree and looked upon a frosted glade. The grass was frozen and still, gleaming green through the ice. A light blanket of snow covered the glade, making it look like a thin sheet of mottled white and green.

He stepped onto it, boots crunching in the hard packed snow. Hoof marks were everywhere, signalling Kagome and the horse's were near. He could smell them too, grainy and grimy. He inhaled it, taking in her smell the most. He loved her scent. It filled him with hope and courage, peace also. She always had something comforting about her, something to keep you going when things looked dull and hopeless.

The glade opened up more, exposing a group of willow trees. Their weeping branches were green with spring leaves, fluttering slightly in a light breeze. It was a warm breeze, not biting cold. 'Strange'.

He walked closer to the trees and stopped, peering between the branches. The scene of a calm summer night met his eyes. The horses stood on a lush bank, coats gleaming as they grazed. Everything was in bloom, beautiful and overwhelming. A clear pool of turquoise water shimmered at the foot of the bank, moss clinging to every damp rock.

Another warm breeze beckoned him in and he accepted, stepping through the branches. Warmth suddenly enveloped his body, causing sweat to roll down his forehead. He removed his cloak and unbuttoned his tunic a bit, showing some chest.

' Wait, where's Kagome?' He looked around the glade, noticing she wasn't anywhere to be seen. The bank was empty and so were the trees. He couldn't see her wading around in the water either. He gazed back at the horse's and noticed a slight lump behind Cadoc and Shadow ( Miroku's horsy).

He walked around the two horses and found Ionn, grazing peacefully with Kagome asleep on his broad back. Her hair was damp and her dress was tied up loosely, signalling she had already had a dip in the pool.

Inu couldn't stand it this time. He walked up to her and tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ears. The look on her face made him feel warm inside. ' She looks so peaceful'. He let his hands stroke her face, feeling her soft skin.

She mumbled and sighed, eyes fluttering open. "Hi Inuyasha".

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you", he apologized softly, hand dropping to his side.

She smiled, a blush creeping across her cheeks as she spied his chest beneath his open tunic. "No, it's okay". With that she fell back to sleep.

He smiled. 'She is one of a kind'. He gathered her cloak which had been discarded on the ground. He wrapped it around her slim body and made sure she was warm before tying on his own.

"Come on", he clucked.

The horses raised their heads and followed obediently, hooves making no sound on the soft grass. They passed through the willow branches and immerged into the cold, overcast night. A shiver ran through them but they continued following.

He felt a soft breath on his shoulder and turned to see Cadoc's dappled face, chin rested on his shoulder. He ran a hand down his stallion's cheek, gathering warmth from him.

' Now let's just wait and see what surprises tomorrow brings'.

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Sorry it was short but I had to leave it at that. My mom was howling at me again to get off the computer so I had to obey.

I put some fluff in there for you guys and a little surprise! Hope ya liked it!

Anywho, REVIEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!

I'm glad so many people love my fic That makes me so happy!

Oh and, I'm sorry for not really checking my work. Blame it one my mom.

Well Ja Ne!