After a cliff I couldn't resist, it had been a wonderful surprise that sprung in after a slow chapter.

Chapter 19

A soft pink glow lit up the dark room and through the cracks of the windows and doors. The quiet hum of power sounded through the room coming from the sleeping occupant, unaware and pushed deeper into slumber by the damp cloth giving off a funny smell. A person knelt over her with hands splayed out above her body, running them back and forth. Their eyes focused and steady as they narrowed in frustration. A slight sound of movement came from down the hallway and the intruder fled through the window just as someone rushed in.

Touga couldn't explain how he understood something was wrong but the jewel was pulsing in the folds of his fabric and it felt more like a sense of urgency rather than its complaints the last time. He searched out Kagome's aura and rushed to her room, feeling the slight raise in her power level but felt she was unconscious. Seeing the glow from the room and smell of herbs meant to knock someone out, he hurried into the room just in time to see the dark figure slip out. The figure had disappeared from sight before he made it to the window, barely a scent left behind.

Feeling the drowsy effects of the drugs he swiped the cloth from her chest and dissolved it with his acid. He knelt down by her side and wondered who it was and what they could have possibly been looking for. The shadow in the doorway signaled Sesshomaru was there and sensed the disturbance. Touga lifted her up and carried her to the wash room; determined to get that herb off her skin. The jewel glowed softly in his sleeves, a string of energy linking it to Kagome from where it came out.

Sesshomaru summoned a servant to get a healer and settled himself by her window and futon trying to imprint the intruders scent to mind when he found he didn't recognize it. He felt the energies out as best he can but that herbs' effects were fogging up his senses. He knew he had never smelt this scent inside his barrier before but as he scanned the barrier it still stood firmly.

His scowl knew no bounds, the thought someone had gotten in and out of his barrier while also being caught in the western wing of the castle, his blood heated at this insult. A dark figure landed in the room from the other window. He gave quick instructions to track the offender down and gather intelligence.

The healer was already tending to Kagome and doing a more detailed scan of her body. Everything checked out fine but they were left with no answers besides the jewel. If they had another Naraku on their hands then they will prevent them from getting their hands on the jewel or its protector but with the scene tonight, they could have made away easily before either of them noticed.

Something needed to be done, some way for them to be able to detect her presence at all times. Hearing the final words of the healer, Sesshomaru left the room with his thoughts fueling his steps. He prepared to spend the rest of his night getting preparations made for a messenger before shutting himself away in scrolls.

Touga had without a doubt, stayed with Kagome after retrieving all the scrolls he was going over beforehand. With just the soft glow of the lantern lighting the room, he immersed himself in scrolls, already sensing his eldest son's movements. His eyes had pink tinting the whites and amber, while blue fought for dominance with the black.

His mind was clouded by his heated blood and every time he took a deep inhale he would not only get whiffs of Kagome's calming scent but also of the intruder and herbs too. With a frustrated sigh he got up to summon a servant for fresh bedding and yukata. He looked out the window and breathed in the night air as everything was changed. He looked out over the mountains before a flash of light drew his eyes to the dark ridges of rock.

"Summon another servant and gather guards in this room and send my sons after me." He orders the female servant. She looked up seeing the hard look on his face and felt his power and presence vanish from her senses just seconds before he took off through the window. She quickly stood at the window to track his movement into the mountains before calling for more servants and getting the attention of the guards.

She hurried back into the room to make sure her charge was decent before the guards came rushing in. They all stood at attention as Sesshomaru and Inuyasha ran into the room. Sesshomaru's appearance was frightening as a red glow set in before he calmed himself. Scenting his father he grabbed his half –brother by the arm and jumped out the window in a glide as he attempted to smother their presence and fly off to the fading white of his father's clothes.

The spikes in powers informed him his father has engaged an intruder in battle. Only his father's scent was recognizable and he felt his temper spike at two intruders within his domain after he thought it was sealed off. Inuyasha was uncharacteristically quiet and for that he was thankful.

Somehow the half-demon had matured over the years since Kagome's arrival in their lives. He landed in the trees, glad they had both been quiet enough as he listened to his father's heated battle. He knew he wasn't the only one battling heated blood. He allowed his father a few more minutes before he made their presence known to the intruder.

The intruder was clad in black with a shiny black metal chain connecting a small dagger to a larger curved blade. He swung the dagger around over his head as he held the blade in his other hand. Touga's fingers glowed, his whip at the ready to attack or defend as he studied his opponent's movement. The dagger came flying his way and his opponents freed hand slipped into his folds. They flawlessly caught their weapon and the chain slid through his hand until he reached the dagger.

Touga sent his whips flying and they were flawlessly blocked and the intruder went on the offense sending the dagger back at him. The whips connected with the chain and sparks flew. Blue and purple flames raced down to Touga. His hand exploded in flames and he gritted his teeth, dodging attack after attack as they danced around him. The intruder managed to slip his hand into another pocket and used his youki to charge the powder he threw at Touga.

Sesshomaru charged in with his Bakusaiga and a flurry of red smoke surrounded the area right after a bang sounded off. They all covered their faces from the burning smoke and Touga had retreated back several feet. Inuyasha had retreated up a few trees before dashing off after the intruder with no hesitation. They ran over the tops of the mountains to a straight face cliff.

The intruder jumped off with no hesitation and after looking down below, he followed. He searched the dark waters for any trace of the intruder and then broke to the surface for air. Still seeing no one and no hints to any other routes he cursed and jumped out. He watched the water for several minutes before giving up and going back to the palace.

He grumpily passed his father and half-brother and continued to his room, jumping in through the window and quickly shedding his red orbs and donning the dark blue one in his wardrobe. He felt agitated and knew the other two would as well. He quickly dried his hair as fast he could and left to sit in his half-brother's study and wait for them.

In the meantime the other two were washing up and changing their own clothes. They both checked in on Kagome and proceeded to the study together after sending for tea. They had a long night and it wasn't over yet. Two intruders in one night and still no answers, they shouldn't be surprised if anything else happened.

Inuyasha huffed impatiently when they finally showed up in the study. Touga gave him a pointed look at his tangled mane but said nothing as he came to a halt behind his eldest. The growl that reverberated through the room did surprise him but after a quick sniff he got his answer why. Inuyasha looked at his half-brother's eyes as his eyes turned a glowing demonic red and blue. "We have been played for fools," Sesshomaru growled out as he shook in anger before storming across the room and looking for anything out of place.

"They meant for me to see the other intruder then. He was merely a decoy to lure us out while they infiltrated the palace." Inuyasha stood up, feeling a bit on guard from all the events and the rising anger in his father and half-brother. He wasn't exactly close with either of them so he still felt the need to keep his guard up around both of them especially while they were angry.

Taking a look around the room he retreated out and decided to stay with Kagome for the night. He didn't feel like himself tonight but he supposed it had something to do with being so on edge ever since the attacks started back in Edo. He dismissed the guards and settled himself against the wall next to the window once he reached Kagome. He could care less if he pissed his father off by being here. He silenced his thoughts and focused on hearing Kagome's calm breathing and fell asleep just before the sky lightened up for a new day.

I am so sorry this took so long to put up. It's been hard to concentrate with my kid running around with the cats along with all the other noise. Unfortunately I am sick, I actually have been since October 18th and I am going to finally call the doctor to get checked. I am happy that a couple of my readers enjoy me using the name Serenity; it's very pretty and peaceful. I plan on using all the names everyone has given me for different characters. I hope I can find room to have them in here more than once or twice. This might be my last chapter for a while, depends on if I can focus later on or not. I will possibly start working this next week doing 3rd shift with my brother at a bakery and he worked 80 hours + 54 ovt so I think you can see how little time I will have. I really hope I can get the energy to keep up with this story but take this as a warning that it might take me a bit to come back, maybe not until February. Thank you everyone for following my story, placing it in your favorites and giving me reviews. I hope everyone had a great thanksgiving and will enjoy the rest of the holiday season! Oh and Lady Silverfox, I hope your daughter has a great 3rd birthday in February.

~p.s.- I really love the enthusiasm of my readers in the private messages and reviews, it really puts a smile on my face and I do read the comments a lot just so I can see what has made you happy.