It was late at night, when Inuyasha and Akihiko decided to rest before traveling again at dawn. Inuyasha made himself comfortable in a tree as Akihiko was much like his other uncle leaning against the trunk of a tree. In fact, it was the same tree that Inuyasha was in. There was something nagging at Inuyasha every since he met Inuhime's son. So he said to his nephew, "I don't understand one thing, Akihiko." That statement took Akihiko by surprise.

"About what, uncle," he asked while he looked up at him.

Inuyasha sighed. "Why didn't you run away from Naraku?"

"Oh... because I was afraid that he'll kill my mother. He had always threaten me of it whenever he wanted me to do something."

Inuyasha understood and didn't asked anything else. However...

"You know, uncle, he wanted me to kill you, but I refuse even though he threaten me about my mother or my life. It wasn't because you're my uncle either. It was because it was the right thing to do. Besides that, I was nothing like him. That was why he created Akuokaesu. If I had a choice to choose between Akuokaesu or Naraku to die, I would choose Naraku."

"Feh, I'll kill both of them."

"I know, uncle. The reason why is because Akuokaesu is more sane than Naraku. He's more reasonable, too. However, I understand why you feel like that towards him. I would feel the same way."

Suddenly, they felt a huge aura coming near them. They got into their fighting stance. Inuyasha had his hand on his Tessaiga. "Alright, bastard, come on out here and face us or..."

Akihiko interrupted. "Uncle, it's just Zoku."

Zoku chuckled as she walked out of the shadows and into the moonlight. "Akihiko, your ability to identify auras is amazing. However, I didn't come here for small talk."

Inuyasha relaxed a little as well as Akihiko. "Keh, why are you here, then?"

Zoku came closer to them. "I came to tell you some disturbing news."

Inuyasha was getting impatient. "Well, what the fuck is it?"

Zoku was going to reprimand him, however, the news was important to tell and the time is of the essence. "Naraku is on his way."

Inuyasha and Akihiko blinked in confusion because... they are at war with him... and his son. "Um... Zoku. Sesshomaru and grandfather are fighting him at the west's southern borderline."

Zoku thought, "I need to stop talking as if they could read my mind." She said, "I know that, however, Naraku is coming this way... going to the palace."

Akihiko's eyes widened. "You mean... he passed uncle and grandfather and on his way to the palace."

"Keh, That's impossible. Dad and cold bastard are powerful. There's no way he'd passed them."

"No, I didn't mean to make it sound that way. Naraku and Akuokaesu split the army in two. Akuokaesu is now in battle or will be soon with Lord Sesshomaru and Lord InuTaisho as Naraku is coming this way to get to Lady Kagome and..."

"FUCK! WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST SAY THAT?! INSTEAD OF JUST RAMBLING ON LIKE..."

"Inuyasha, if you finish that sentence I will make you think twice about speaking to me that way again."

Inuyasha quickly shut up. Yes, normally, he would kept on going, however, it was the way she said it. "As I was saying... I was on my way to the battleground to report to Lord Sesshomaru and your father, when I sensed you, two, here."

"But what about Kagome and my mother?!"

"I was getting to it, if you, two, stop interrupting me. Anyways, I need to also inform Inuhime before Naraku gets there or they would be taken by surprised. I can't choose between one or the other. I..."

Akihiko interrupted again... "Oh... you need us to deliver the message, correct?"

"Yes..."

"Inuyasha, you go tell uncle and grandfather while I go home and tell mother."

Inuyasha nodded and they were starting run, however, Zoku quickly grabbed both of the back of their haoris.

Inuyasha and Akihiko shouted in unison, "Hey, what the hell (fuck)!"

"Listen to me, Inuyasha, you take Akihiko and go to your father and brother..."

"Half-brother!"

"Whatever! Tell them what I just told you! Now go, whelps, time is running out!"

They both nodded and all three left to go to their perspective destinations.

-

About a mile away from the Western Palace, Naraku's army awaits... A general of his army went inside of his lord's tent.

"Milord?"

"Yes?"

"We are ready to do what you command."

Naraku smirked evilly. "Good, stand down, for now. I'll let you know when it's time."

"Yes, milord." The general left.

Naraku kept his evil smirk on his handsome face. "It won't be long now, my dear, Kagome. You and your friends and whoever else you hold dear will die. If it's not by my hand, it will be done by my son's hands. Speaking of... Akihiko, you will die a pathetic death. Perhaps I should absorb your body instead of killing you. After all, it will be a waste of power if you'll die."

Meanwhile, at the palace, Inuhime was sitting in her brother's study. She was sitting down pondering, with her fingers interlocking as her chin was resting on them, at a desk. She has a very bad feeling something will happen. A foreboding feeling. She could practically taste it. She stood up and walked over to the balcony. The wind was eerily calm, like a calm before the storm. She, then suddenly, got the chills and began to rub her arms up and down as if she was trying to warm up. However, the night wasn't cold or cool for that matter. She said out loud, "It's too quiet."

"Indeed."

-

At the camp of Sesshomaru and his allies' armies, Sesshomaru and InuTaisho were discussing their battle plans. Then, suddenly, Inuyasha and Akihiko came running in.

"Dad, we got bad news," Inuyasha yelled as he came running in panting and Akihiko came in after him, also panting.

Sesshomaru and InuTaisho looked at each other. "Well, what is it, son?"

Akihiko said as he was panting, "Its. About. Naraku."

Inuyasha added. "We. Ran. Into. Zuko. On. Our. Way. Here. She. Informed. Us. That. That. Bastard. Is. On. His. Way. To. The. Palace."

Akihiko said as he finally caught his breathe, "Zoku went to inform Mother about it."

Sesshomaru growled as he was walking outside, "We're leaving."

"But, uncle. What about Akuokaesu? He'll be here soon."

InuTaisho stopped Sesshomaru. "Akihiko is right. We can't leave here without defeated our foe first. Inuhime will protect Kagome. You must believe in her, Sesshomaru."

Sesshomaru looked at his father. "Father, I know she'll protect Kagome. I don't doubt her strength. However, it's my job to be there for her. My beast is anxious. He wants to return quickly. We spend too much time here as it is."

InuTaisho sighed. He understood. His fatherly instincts were already kicking in and the pup wasn't even there, yet. "I know, son. However, you must not lose your patience. You are no good to Kagome if you go get yourself killed. You must stay calm."

"Hm, you should tell my beast that; not me."

-

Inuhime turned around and saw Zoku there.

Zoku said, "Indeed too quiet. Too quiet for comfort. I have bad news."

"I know. What's the news?" Inuhime knew, but having confirmation wouldn't hurt.

"Naraku is near."

"Where's my son?"

"He's with Inuyasha, they should make it at Sesshomaru's camp by now."

Suddenly Inukimi and Kimiko walked in, "Inuki, you called?"

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari