Kagome had just entered the palace when...

Inuyasha asked, "Dad, what do you think is out there?"

InuTaisho looked at his son and shrugged as they made their way towards Sesshomaru, who, by the way, was already dressed from his and his mate's love-making.

"I don't know, but whatever it is... it's powerful. Oi, Sesshomaru, sensed anything suspicious out there, yet?!"

Sesshomaru glanced at him, but didn't answer. He stared towards the southern part of the estate.

His father muttered, "How typical."

He sighed. Inuyasha said bluntly, "This is wasting time. We should just go and kill whatever is out there."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and said, "Baka, haven't you learn your lesson from last time? It's obvious that you hadn't."

"Keh, whatever, asshole. You'll fight your way and I'll fight mine. Got that!"

InuTaisho sighed. "Boys, this isn't the time to bicker."

"Feh, he started it!"

"Hm."

The three inu males looked onwards to the southern part of the estate... waiting. Of course, Inuyasha was getting impatient.

"Alright, asshole, you better come out or I'll go over there to beat the living fuck out of you!"

InuTaisho was about to reprimand Inuyasha for his impatience and using foul language, when they heard a chuckle coming from the shadows of the forest.

Sesshomaru growled ferociously, "As the Lord of the West, I demand you to reveal yourself."

While saying that, he couldn't help, but having the strangest feeling of deja vu. The one in the shadows communicated with Hakudoshi and Kanna, telepathetically.

"Hakudoshi? Kanna?"

They said in unison, "Yes, milady."

"You know what to do."

Afterwards, Kanna, with Hakudoshi, used her invisibility and teleportation powers to be able to assist the pup for their lord's mission to abduct Rin and Kagome.

The person, in the shadows, appeared in the bright light of the sun. The inu males couldn't believe who they were seeing, especially, InuTaisho. They were shocked to what she wore. She was dressed as though she were a whore. All three males snarled, especially, InuTaisho and Sesshomaru, because they knew that she would never wear something so provocative and degrading. They noticed the change within her aura, which told them that she'd, indeed, succumb to the darkness that their foe had bestow upon her. They, also, took note that her eyes had change from golden-yellow to midnight black.

"Hello, father... Sesshomaru... Inuyasha, it's been while, hasn't it?" Her voice was hard as stone and cold as ice. In contrast, her voice used to sound soft and gentle.

Sesshomaru said sternly, "Why are you here?"

Inuhime closed her eyes for a moment, then reopened them.

"Forgive me, but this is the only way."

Suddenly, she attacked with no warning at all. She used her demonic speed to knock out Inuyasha with an uppercut. She tried knock out both Sesshomaru and their father, but they'd easily dodge her attacks.

Sesshomaru said, "You think could knock us out as easily as you did with the half-breed."

"Of course, not. Inuyasha is an easy target. He's always so eager to go into battle. His impatience and his temper got the best of him. You know, you should train him for the upcoming battle or he'll die... again."

"Hm."

"You know, I suggest you should let Kagome do some training as well. Unless, of course, you want her to be unable to protect herself and your unborn pup."

Sesshomaru snarled and tried to grab Inuhime's throat, but she quickly dodged of the way just before he could grab her.

"Uh-uh, you are so predictable, little brother. My lords could easily play with you, especially, if they know how to get into your head. When someone mentioned someone that you love and care about, you let your beast get the best of you. Father had always said not to keep your beast on a tight leash."

When she said the word 'lords', she said it with such a disgusted tone of voice, like it was a horrible taste in her mouth.

Then she felt her father behind her ready to strike like a cobra. However, she knew, he was there waiting for the opportunity to make his move as Sesshomaru kept her distracted.

"Also, you should communicate with your beast more often than you do now. No wonder, you couldn't keep him under complete control."

Sesshomaru growled dangerously. "Listen to me, Inuhime. You best remember your place or..."

"Or what, little brother? I am not part of you any longer." Her voice was just as cold as Sesshomaru's voice.

When InuTaisho heard that, he felt a sting of pain in his heart. He wondered if Sesshomaru felt it, too. However, this wasn't a time to reflect on the pain. He sneaked up to her with a dokujin* in hand. Sesshomaru kept her distracted until InuTaisho quickly grabbed her from behind and had the dokujin pointed against her neck

-

Before Hakudoshi and Kanna reached the pup, he said, "Kanna, should we help out our lady?"

He said the word lady with an appraising tone of voice.

"No, that's not why we are here for." Her voice had a neutral tone, like she didn't care one way or another.

"Hm, then why are we here?"

"We are here to carry out our lords' orders. Don't tell me that you'd forgotten."

"No, I didn't forget. I didn't know that we have to carry them out now, that's all. I thought, we were here to help our lady."

"We are."

"I mean, helping her with them." When he said that, he pointed his thumb over his shoulder.

"No, we are to help her with another purpose. We are near the pup, now. We best get on with our lords' business."

She said the word lord with hatred.

The pup sensed their arrival with someone's powerful aura, that he could barely recognize. He felt the ones, who he did recognize, coming towards him. So, he waited for their arrival.

"Let me, guess. My 'father' and Akuokaesu sent you here to 'assist' me for their mission."

"Correct. We must help you with their mission."

"Lets get this crap over with," Hakudoshi said grumpily.

-

InuTaisho had a dokujin pressed against Inuhime's throat. He growled trying to get her to submit to his will, but Inuhime flipped him over her shoulder. She, quickly, moved away from them as Inuyasha begun to stir from his knockout, earlier.

"Inuki, tell us what you meant by 'this is the only way'. Only way to do what? For who?"

Before she could answered them, she'd, mysteriously, disappeared. They began to look around to see if they could sensed for aura or her scent, but there was nothing. Suddenly, a voice came out of no where.

"You know, you shouldn't let your guard down. Just because this one has disappeared. You never know when she would reappear."

Sesshomaru snarled. "Enough of your games, Inuhime. Reveal yourself, now!"

"Is there a please at the end of that?"

"Keh, the bastard wouldn't say please to anyone, even if his life depended on it."

"Well, that's just too bad, isn't it?"

Their father spoke. "Sesshomaru is right. Enough of your games and reveal yourself."

Suddenly, they heard a weapon being unsheathed. "I wondered if you would recognized this, especially, you, Inuyasha."

"Inuhime, you hadn't, yet, answer my question."

"And, father, what question would that be?"

Sesshomaru said coolly, "No matter what it was. You wouldn't answer it, now would you?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. I am what people seek to answer questions when they couldn't find answers to."

Inuyasha really didn't understand what was she was talking about, but Sesshomaru and InuTaisho were taking a hint that she really wasn't all evil as it appeared.

-

Meanwhile, at the Southern Palace, still in the sitting room, Naraku, Akuokaesu, and Akira, after they had gotten their way with Kagura, were looking through a magical mirror to see what was happening. It was almost like Kanna's mirror. However, the said magical mirror doesn't have audio, which means they couldn't hear what was being said.

Naraku's and Akuokaesu's eyes widen at the realization that Inuyasha has been resurrected. However, they had no idea who was the other inu male was.

Akuokaesu snarled, "How did Inuyasha survived? I know I killed him."

Akira said obviously not impressed, "Well, it's obvious that he isn't."

Yes, she knew who Inuyasha and the other inu male was, but she decided not to say anything about other inu male. Why? It was because in her eyes, they don't deserved it. It was that simple. She made it appeared as though she had no earthly idea who he was. What would be said next would test her obliviousness.

"Akira, dear, do you know who that other male is?"

At first she was startled by the question, however she answered with a cool, calm voice.

"No, I have no clue who he is."

Akuokaesu said, "You should know, since you and your family were after the Western Throne for a long time."

"True, however, when I came around, whomever that male is wasn't around when I started to go after Sesshomaru for his throne."

"Hm." He fell for her lie and he or Naraku didn't questioned it any further.

Unbeknownst to them, Kagura and another pair of eyes and ears were listening to them from the shadows.

Kagura thought, "You will pay the consequences of what you did to me, you bastards."

The unknown person had an evil smirk and its eyes were glowing red then it faded from the shadows.

-

Inuhime reappeared with the Tetsusaiga in hand.

"Inuyasha, do you recognized this?"

"That's Tetsusaiga!"

"Correct. Do you want it back?"

"Keh, that's a stupid ass question. Of course, I want it back!"

"Are you you willing to fight for getting it back?"

"What kind of stupid question is that?! Of course, I would fight to get it back!"

InuTaisho spoke, "What kind of game you are playing Inuhime?"

"It's no game. It's just a challenge."

Sesshomaru spoke, then, "A challenge?"

"Yes. Although, it won't just involved him, but you, two, as well."

"Very well, name your challenge, Inuhime."

"What," exclaimed Inuyasha. "Who died and made you the final decision maker!"

Suddenly another person's voice spoke up from behind them.

"Baka, do you want Tetsusaiga back or not?"

All three males looked behind them. Standing there were Kagome and Kikyo with their bows and arrows, Zoku with her own youkai sword, and Inukimi also with her own youkai sword.

"What the fuck, Kagome? You, Kikyo, and you, two, should be in the library," yelled Inuyasha.

"Hm, you know, you shouldn't shelter them. They are warriors, after all," said Inuhime.

"Oh yeah, who asked you?!"

"No body. It's merely an observation."

Inukimi said, "Enough, talk! Name your challenge, Inuhime!"

"I am sorry, mother, but you, four, won't be participating. Only them, three, are to participate."

"Very well, just name it."

"Alright. You, three, fight me. If two out of three wins, Inuyasha gets Tetsusaiga. Simple."

They accepted the terms of the challenge.

Sesshomaru said to the females, "Kagome, you and the others will return into the palace."

"No."

"No? Kagome, I am your alpha. Return to the palace, now!"

"Listen here, you overprotective, overbearing dog. I am going to stay. Whether you like it or not, I. AM. STAYING!"

Sesshomaru growled angrily and stomped over to where she was. He tried to appear intimidating by using his youki, but who was he kidding. She'd never shown any fear towards him. Kagome stood her ground using her reiki. It was a battle of submitting on both sides. Sesshomaru realized that he wouldn't win this battle.

"Sesshomaru, I am staying and so are they!"

"I want to know why you are deliberately disobeying me, your alpha." His voice became a little softer, but it still sounded aggressive.

In a gentle tone of voice. "Because I... I mean, we want to support you, three. That's why we came."

"Very well, then. Just stay out of our way."

Sesshomaru was aggravated and thought, "That insufferable and infuriating onna! I bet she does this on purpose."

"Are you finished, yet," asked Inuhime.

"Yes."

"Lets get this challenge over with."

-

"We can use our abilities and/or youkai weapon. Remember, two out of three wins. Also whoever causes one to spill blood, first, wins the first match."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Inuyasha retorted.

"Challenger, first."

Inuyasha leaped into the air. "Sankon Tessou*!"

Sesshomaru yelled, "Dokkasou*!"

While Sesshomaru and Inuyasha distracted her with their attacks, which Inuhime dodged them, InuTaisho quickly slammed Inuhime down to the ground.

"Why are you doing this, Inuki," asked the Dog General.

Inuhime coughed up blood. "I am doing this because it's the only way to get my pup back."

InuTaisho thought as Inuhime stood back up, "Pup?"

"Father, I'll explain, later," said Sesshomaru

Inuhime used the Tetsusaiga to cut her father's arm. The match is now tried 1 to 1. Sesshomaru quickly leaped towards her and put his fist through her stomach. Then the match is: 1 to 2. Inuhime stumbled and fell to the ground. She was coughing up blood. She discreetly got a dagger and threw it towards Sesshomaru. It pierced his left shoulder. Now the match is: 2 to 2. Inuhime knew that her strength was rapidly weakening, which was abnormal.

She thought, "It seems that that bastard hadn't lessen the curse, after all. He had this planned all along. He will pay for this."

Inuhime was on the ground on all fours. She heard her father said...

"Inuki, please, tell me. Who are you serving?"

She coughed out more blood. So, that she could breathe. "I only served the Kami."

"Ok, then who are our enemies?"

"It's the Lord of the South, Akuokaesu and Naraku."

Just before they got to ask another question, Kanna appeared and disappeared with Inuhime, who left without the Tetsusaiga, which no one hadn't notice yet.

Inuyasha yelled in disbelief, "What?! How in the hell is that bastard alive? We defeated him!"

Kikyo thought the same thing, of course, without the foul language. After a few moments of silence, Kagome noticed that the Tetsusaiga was laying on the ground in it's sheath. She walked towards it.

She thought, "Hmm, I wondered if she left it here on purpose."

Her daughter spoke, "Of course, mother."

Kagome spoke out loud, "Look, Inuyasha!"

"What?!"

Kagome pointed downwards. Inuyasha's eyes followed where she was pointing at. His eyes widen. He walked towards it. He couldn't believe his eyes to see what he was seeing.

"Well, are you going to pick it up?"

Inuyasha shook his head and spoke in a small voice. "I can't. I can't because what if it's an illusion?"

For the first time ever, they heard fear in Inuyasha's voice. Surprisingly, Sesshomaru didn't ridicule him because of it. Perhaps, he thought the same thing.

Kagome's daughter spoke to her mother, "Mother, it isn't an illusion. Uncle Inuyasha will feel better if you pick it up, first."

Kagome didn't give a second thought or even argue the point with her pup. So, she picked up the Tetsusaiga and turned toward Inuyasha. She hold the sword out in both hands.

"Something tells me that Inuhime left it here on purpose. I believed that she left it here for you because it was stolen from you to began with, Inuyasha."

Zoku said, "Kagome's right, Inuyasha. Inuki won't go against the Kami, no matter what."

"What if, it's somehow tainted with Naraku's malice or something?"

Zoku chuckled and said reassuringly, "That's impossible."

Sesshomaru spoke up, "How could it be impossible?"

She chuckled again. "Even if it was tainted, it would had been purified whenever Inuki touched it."

For a moment there was silent until InuTaisho spoke up, "Zuku's right. Have you forgotten that Inuki is a miko-youkai?"

Inuyasha was confused and said, "So, what does that have to do with anything? If she did purified did, then it's now useless, because reiki and youki don't mix well."

Sesshomaru rolled his eyes and said, "Baka hanyou! Inuki has both reiki and youki. Like Zoku. She's also a miko-youkai."

InuTaisho added, "True. Kagome is having an inu-pup, who will have reiki and youki, as well."

Zuku added, "Which means that Tetsusaiga is still useful. Inuyasha, I guess, you didn't know this, but when a miko-youkai purifies anything that has youki. The youki would still be there, because a miko-youkai is the only one who could purified any weapon that has youki within it and could still have youki power."

Kagome added, "In other words, Inuyasha, Inuki had purified the tainted aura of the Tetsusaiga whenever she had touch it. So, it isn't tainted and it's not an illusion, either. I believe in my heart that Inuki did it because she's really good. Despite the fact that she had darkness within her heart."

Afterwards, Inuyasha smiled. Perhaps, he knew in his heart that it was true. So, he took the Tetsusaiga off of Kagome's hands. He took it out of its sheath. He noted that the sword was still feel the same as it was before he died; the first time around. Then he returned the sword into its sheath.

Suddenly, Zuku's ward with Shippo came running outside yelling in fright. They were saying too fast for either one of the adults to understand what they were saying. Kagome knelt down to their eye level hugging them until they'd calmed down.

"Ok, Shippo, tell us in a calmer voice."

"Momma, it's Rin! She'd disappeared!"

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari