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Chapter 9: Overcast

"What the hell!" The young male yelled out as he carved through another demon that leapt at him thoughtlessly with sharp rugged claws extracted dangerously in their direction. Calloused bare feet crushed blades of grass underneath his weight before launching his slender frame at the target before him. With his sword pulled out for an attack, he sliced through his wailing enemy. Gravity took hold of him and pulled him down towards the ground. Silver strands of silk blew in the wind behind him. His long sword lay coated with the blood of his enemies that dripped along its sharp rustic edges onto the forest floor. Tall trees stood around them with branches twisting high into the air and green foliage that covered patches of the forest floor. The soft buzzing of a bee flying from a nearby saplings suckling nectar was heard along with the calling of angry birds above in warning.

"Inuyasha move!"

The young demon-man quickly stepped sideways from the pink energy incrusted arrow whizzing centimeters passed his face and struck another enemy right in the middle of its forehead before disbursing into many pieces. Powerful miko energy surged around the woman before ballooning into the area. Her signature aura fanned over his skin gently in a soft caress before retreating into the woman's body. The soft vibrations of her power left a tender hum in his sensitive ears that perched towards her direction. The young Inu hanyou looked out at the spot where the demon was vanquished, its rage echoed into the surrounding forest and left an odd signature of a dark presence even after its death.

Red fire rat robes blew softly into the breeze as the woman who warned him ran up to his side. Bow and arrow clanked against her hip before she maneuvered them into battle position in a blink of an eye searching for the next target. They both continued to scan the forest around them looking with sharp eyes and blazing auras. The tall trees tilted and waved above them letting in morning sunlight and providing shade for the two warriors. Silence and the whistle of leaves dancing were heard but no other sound of disturbance was detected.

Inuyasha stood up straighter after a few moments observing no sign of immediate danger. Sheathing his Tessaiga, he turned his head to look at the woman still targeting with her bow and arrow out. Her limbs were ready for combat and her eyes were ablaze looking out into the distance flanking his back. Her brown orbs were narrowed dangerously into the forest line with a strength he noticed she'd developed since her training to become the village miko had begun several seasons prior. His golden eyes watched the soft fall of her hair onto her shoulders wafting slightly in the summer breeze before resting in the crest of her back. The white fabric of her miko blouse hung to her today in a manner that made him yearn to pull her near him. Her chest rose and dropped gently with concentration on whatever sensation inhabited her body. Her green hakama's were tailored like the pants Sango wore showing off her curves and the soft swell of muscle she had developed from training with Kaede and Sango. She had become quite a warrior since she made the decision to stay in his time. She was a strong woman and now went about missions and solving disasters faster than he did. His mark sat snugly on the soft skin between her shoulder and neck; gleaming in the sunlight provided by the canopy tops of the trees in the forest bearing his name. The mark was slightly different then the last time he saw it. Something odd was there now. Something that needed replacing. His tongue came out and slowly dragged across his pointed canines in longing to remind her of who lay it there.

"Mine."

Kagome stared out in front of her before she felt a buzz in her consciousness. She concentrated on the task at hand, but it was proving to be trying with her senses running amok. Her mouth grew parched, and desire rapidly began to torrent through her veins. She spun to Inuyasha with an anomalous expression before she lowered her bow and arrow quizzically. Her eyes trailed downward at her shirt as a pink tinted hue swelled on her cheeks. "Oh my god, you horn dog! Get your mind out of the gutter would you!" She yelled as she hid her growing blush with one hand and moved out of his direct view sight.

"Well, I wouldn't be thinking about you like that if you would insist on putting that on - wait a minute!" He paused watching her as she stomped away from him back towards the village.

"How did you know? Yo-you heard me?" He asked quickly catching up with her in stride. His red sleeves blowing as he went.

"Yes, you baka!" She spoke exasperated while securing her bow on her back while walking towards the break in the trees.

"Bu-But how? I didn't say it out loud!" He yelled angrily before he stopped moving. Another scent registered to him, and he released a warning growl. Kagome pulled out another arrow and notched up her bow ready for combat.

"It's dark whatever it is." Kagome stated warily. She felt a foreign evil presence approach them at odd angles, possessed and unsure of its route. Her miko powers flared reflexively from the dark energy permeating throughout the serene forest.

Inuyasha nodded before leading the assault and rushing towards their adversary. Gleaming sharp claws flexed, and joints popped in preparation of his attack. As he approached an odd shadowy creature that crouched low to the ground waited up ahead of him. Glowing rubicund eyes stared at him from a distance among the trees before slanting into a wicked smile. Kagome's footsteps were heard crushing on the grass as she approached behind him. Both stood in defense waiting to see what the shadowy being would do. They watched as it crawled across the floor in a crab like motion before standing on its hind legs. Kagome frowned at its features. She noted its odd look as if it seemingly spawned from hell itself. Its black wispy body moved with murderous intent. It threatened with sharp claws and jagged teeth that smiled at them twistedly. It quickly ran up to the pair before launching itself violently in their path. Inuyasha's claws sliced through the demon cutting the enigma in half. He watched the strange creature marred smile twist upwardly before disappearing in a smog of black puff into the air.

"Inuyasha?"

Furry ears turned towards the soft voice that muttered his name before he turned just in time to see Kagome tilt. He ran over catching her as she gripped her forehead with one arm and reached for his hand with the other.

"Kagome!" He yelled pulling her body close to his while his nose checked her over. Concern leaked into his aura and heightened his awareness. His nose inhaled and exhaled lightly over her skin while his hearing trained on the unexpected arrhythmical beating of her heart. He whimpered lowly in his throat as his demon assessed their chosen courted female. He nipped her ear lobe to rouse her before looking into her face.

She gripped her forehead while staring at the sky waiting for the world to right itself. Trembling hands clenched the fabric of his red hirori securely before moving on their own accord searching for comfort. Her body shook like she had just drank the most caffeinated coffee. Her fingers reached out and clutched onto his fire rat clothing with sudden relief. Swallowing thickly, she closed her eyes and focused on pulling herself together before the dizzying feeling retreated. Brown dazed eyes rolled upward with labored breathing onto her sworn protector. "Inuyasha, something's wrong."

Ororo sat up with wide eyes and heavy breathing. Golden eyes stared back at her with a stoic expression. She looked deep inside of them to see her own frightened white eyes. The weight of the Lord's hand was on her shoulder indicating that he had tried to rouse her from her sleep. Swallowing she closed them and focused on control over herself and her thoughts.

"You spoke the name of the miko belonging to my brother. You saw something?"

She opened her eyes to look at the Inu demon with a frown. "I felt something. Something dark has come close to this woman. I don't think she is safe. But, it was so strange." She muttered touching her arms feeling the goosebumps along her skin. She looked back up into his eyes as if trying to share telepathically what all she was feeling.

Sesshomaru looked to her, watching her eyes remain clouded over. Her sapphires were still creepily opaque as she looked up at him. Her chest still moved and her long snowy ponytail hung down her back. Its puffy nature curled from the rainwater that dried during the night and her movement as she lay on the cave's floor. He stood up and walked towards the cave's exit. He stopped at the edge looking at the darkness being shifted away by the rising of the sun above the mountains. He listened to the jingle of her ringlets on her feet as she gathered herself. Time stretched before she approached him. She too looked out with sharp eyes searching for anything that would bring light onto what she had saw in her dreams. The earth was dewy from the rain, and it smelt fresher to the senses. The trees sway and shook with droplets falling into the soil below.

"Your affiliate is asleep a few meters north. Shall I go get him?" Ororo asked with a tilt of her head.

"I shall return." With that said he threw up a barrier over the mouth of the cave and jumped leaving her standing there watching him be enveloped by the forest.

Ororo walked and collected her things along with freshening herself up a bit. The fire had gone out and left a draft inside the cavern. She folded the blanket she had used and put it away where she had found it. She looked around noticing the pile of furs in the corner clearly made into a soft bed for a little person. A basket filled with little trinkets like seashells, combs, dead flowers were in the corner next to the pile of furs. She knew he had been here before seeing as he knew exactly where to go and how to navigate the space. But, to find such odd things confused her. The space looked as if occupied by a child.

She didn't see Sesshomaru with children, and he wasn't mated so she wondered if maybe someone else had found the spot and utilized it as well. She dug into her bag and pulled out her hairbrush and oil. Very quickly she began to change clothes and fold her old hanging shirt now that it had dried. She went soon into detangling her long snow colored hair humming a small tune while waiting for the Inu King to return. It wasn't too long before she heard the loud cries of an imp upon seeing his savior. His rant of amazement and faith echoed outside in the mountains making her giggle slightly. She stood up and picked up her things making her way back towards the entrance.

The sun was slowly making its way a little higher than it was before. She could see the silver hair reflecting off the sunlight a few mountains below heading towards her direction. She pulled her long hair into a high ponytail again and stepped back allowing room for Sesshomaru to land and set his most devoted champion on the ground.

"Good morning, Master Jaken." She greeted brightly looking at the poor tired imp. He looked exhausted and seemed to have suffered greatly from the rain during the night. His robe was slightly haggard and he smelt of the woods.

The imp nodded towards her which she decided was a step in the right direction. She realized she should not be looking for any polite address or extreme shouts of devotion from the imp as he had only one love it seemed for his Lord.

"Come."

Ororo looked up to see Sesshomaru look out towards the direction they needed to head towards. She walked beside him, stopping at the edge before she could feel his hands pick her up and hold onto her. She opened her mouth to tell him that she was more than capable of flying but the soft texture of his mokomoko pelt against her cheek made her reconsider his offer. She would tell him later after she enjoyed the flight towards their destination. Maybe keep the little bit of information for herself. On a need-to-know basis of course.

"Don't leave me again, My Lord!" The imp squawked in panic. Something formed on the bottom of his feet and soon Jaken was able to hold on to him without fear of falling.

Ororo leaned back to look up at the demon that held her. He didn't sleep naturally at night she noticed after she debated on slitting his throat when she lay facing the fire. Her visions continued to plague her with him being at the center of her distress. Ororo thought she could end it all by just killing him now. She wondered if he too found her presence troubling. She also lay defensively that night. She purposely provided an opportunity for an attempt to kill her should he prove untrustworthy. Her blade lay at the ready against her thigh. But he had indeed left her alone to rest. Now being so close to him again she thought the chance to kill him would be perfect.

She sighed and looked away feeling disgraceful at the thought. Majority of the people on the land held honor and respect so highly even for the simplest of things. She couldn't help but feel shame for she found he at least deserved to fight for his life before she took it. Her fingers rubbed through the soft texture of the pelt on his arm. It felt so soft, warm, and comforting. But, what was she going to now? Ororo leaned deeper into him without realizing it.

Sesshomaru felt her shift in his hold, and he looked to see her eyes were now a shimmering ocean blue. His stomach dipped feeling her fingers rub so thoroughly through the fur pelt at his side. It was a part of him as it was a symbol of his power and of reaching the milestone of adulthood. Like many powerful Inu, it was an extension of himself and shared the same sensibilities as he did. He felt her soft touch against his spine with every leisurely rub of her fingers pressing into the pelt and stroking it gently. His grip hardened and his lip tightened. The foreign sensation nearly made his grip lax and drop her. Her hair nearly blended into it as if becoming one. The sun's rays shined brighter and shimmered off her skin like gold. He looked ahead concentrating on the course they were taking. At the pace they were going they would be there before dusk.

Sango stood on the hilltop overlooking the village that she called home. After a few months training to restore her body from birthing babies, she relished in her return to combat. She performed her duties as mom and announced that she would not just stay a housewife. Miroku was highly against it but they compromised and so she was at least in charge of the border around the village and teaching the basics of self-defense to the villagers and the occasional mentee.

She shielded her eyes watching the sun descend from the sky above her and set along the horizon. The sky was already darkening quickly, and night would be upon them. A soft breeze whistled by blowing her long ponytail in the wind with it. She rotated her other arm flexing it for preparation of the day's battles and missions to come. With her Hiraikotsu in hand she breathed in heavily the fresh scent of a new day.

Her eyes were soft viewing how the people went on with their day to day lives. Despite the constant danger of a new day, they still got up in the morning and picked the grain from the rice fields. The men came together as a solid unit to construct homes with the barest necessities or to help their neighbor fix their own establishments. More children were outside playing and running around the dirt roads or by the creeks catching fish or playing tag. As the afternoon had waned, the people began to prepare for the evening. The smell of herbs and cooked meats from homes filled the air. Children finally came inside from their fun and waved goodbye to their friends. Seeing life just carry on was a blessing from nature and yet watching the villagers continue to prosper despite all the recent demonic attacks were a testimony to the human spirit. She smiled before looking down and placing a hand to her womb. She had a few of her own and they too were her testimony to her strength.

"The attacks are becoming more frequent and getting bolder."

Sango quickly dropped her hand and turned to see the monk walk behind her before taking his place at her side. He looked out over at the villagers and frowned. "I fear something is drawing the demons here, but I haven't been able to place what." He said holding his staff tightly before looking at his wife standing before him in her combat attire. He couldn't help the smile that spread seeing her back into the swing of things.

Sango nodded turning to her husband giving him her full attention. "I agree. Inuyasha and Kagome have been out investigating other villages and they said the same thing except they are reporting more demon attacks on the eastern edges and further north. Strange ones at that."

"Who could be starting trouble now? You would think the death of Naraku would make everyone want peace for years to come." He said before seeing something fly in his peripheral vision. A mass flew from a distance at them before coming into view. Sango stepped forward and waved watching her brother come into town on the back of Kirara with Shippo bringing up the rear. The pair waited expectantly for word when the trio dropped to the ground before them on the hilltop.

"Guys!" Kohaku greeted before the large fire-cat demon landed solidly getting her bearings before he dismounted swinging one long leg after the other. The glowing sunset shined off his newly minted shoulder plates. He was now taller than before with more muscle on his lean figure. Even his voice had deepened with a few gruff sounds indicating that he was well into puberty. He donned his black village slayer's uniform with his massive new weapon hoisted on his back. Pride swelled in Sango's heart at seeing her brother grow into being the great demon slayer standing before her.

Shippo hopped off the back of the cat too and onto the ground to stand next to Kohaku waving with a cheeky grin. "You guys won't believe the stuff we crossed on the way here!" He stated. Little Shippo was still small but now showed a bit of growth in height. However, he had well over another ten years before anything major happened. They both walked down the hill towards the pair.

Kohaku looked towards his family with a serious expression donning his face at the mention of the subject. "I came to stop by and give some news about what's been going on with the recent attacks lately." He stated shocking the two who were just discussing the change of events.

"What did you see?" Miroku asked pushing the jovial greeting he was about to bestow to the back of his tongue.

Kohaku walked up to them while petting the soft fur of Kirara's. "Demon outbreaks have been frequenting the lands as of late. And not just demons but more human related crimes have increased as well. I went off and investigated as far as I could, and I've noticed the attacks are patterned along the western border and coming this way from the North." He shook his head at the rest. "But that's all I could find. I'm stopping more these days because of the human attacks than anyth-."

"Yo!"

Everyone turned to see Inuyasha and Kagome run from the tree line to their destination. Inuyasha had Kagome perched on his back as she waved to them while hanging onto the demon beneath her. Everyone waited patiently for their arrival before speaking again. When they made it, Kagome slid off of Inuyasha and he followed to stand next to her. Kohaku waved to Inuyasha and smiled. "Long time no see Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha nodded and smirked before folding his arms across his chest and tucking them into his big sleeves characteristically. "How are you doing kid? I see you ran into the little runt on the way here." He mocked.

"Hey!" Shippo yelled out barring a tiny fist. Kohaku nodded. "You guys should really consider putting up a barrier around the village until these attacks die down." He warned looking about them all. "Something about all of this is strange."

"What did you find?" Inuyasha asked.

"Odd things." He answered and repeated the information he gave to his sister. "Demons are attacking and random in a mindless motion. But get this, major fighting between humans and demons have been going within miles of each other." Also, there have been odd sinister demons recently that I'm finding in strange places.

"Shadow demons?" Sango asked gripping her weapon tightly in her hand.

Shippo nodded. "Before I met up with Kohaku on my way home, a shadow demon tried to attack me out of nowhere. Kohaku happened to be passing by and he slayed it."

Kohaku nodded before continuing. "It looked really creepy and when I destroyed it, it vanished into the air into puffs of black smoke. It's the oddest demon I've ever seen. And it just looks at you with red eyes before attacking."

"We slayed more of them today." Inuyasha stated as everyone turned to him with questions. "At first one or maybe two would show up once or twice throughout the week. Now more of them are showing up in herds."

Kohaku nodded. "I've killed quite a few of them and they all died the same."

"I'll work on building a barrier today then." Kagome shook her head. "I have a bad feeling about all of this." She voiced looking at her companions.

Everyone nodded in agreement thinking about their plan of action. The wind blew again ruffling the grass and taking a few leaves with it. Birds called out and began flying away all at once in herds against the painted evening sky. The bare crescent shape moon peaked through the sky. The air began to grow still and settle on their skins with ominous vibrations. The hairs on Inuyasha's arm began to stand on end and his ears moved on his head in the direction behind him. Turning his body with a scowl on his lips, he breathed in the blowing air separating the scents as they registered with his senses. Slowly he reached for his sword before looking out at the horizon taking a step forward.

"Do you feel that?" Sango asked gripping her weapon tightly in a fist lifting it somewhat at an angle to dismount into the air. Kagome felt anxiety and she quickly picked up an arrow and took the bow from her back slowly. She walked over to Inuyasha who picked her up on his backside and rushed off towards the offending smell. Miroku took to his staff and began pulling out sutra's before chasing after them. Kohaku readily jumped onto Kirara baring his weapon before the cat took off in the direction of the source with Shippo preparing his fox magic.

Everyone went out quickly towards the forest rushing to see what was coming at them with such haste. When they all made it to the edge of the village, the sound of snickering and growling grew louder. Kagome released a bow that blazed through the tree line and hit something as it yelled in fiery anguish. Pink miko energy lit up the area annoying the creatures in the shadows drawing them out. Suddenly, many red eyes had shown coming towards them snarling as they came. Everyone raised their weapons watching them before the creatures burst through the tree line with raised claws ready to attack.

"Shadow demons!" Kohaku yelled before releasing his weapon along with his sister's. The two warriors threw their weapons and sliced a few that were unfortunately unable to escape their paths. Each creature was sliced in half before disbursing in a puff of black smoke into the air around them.

"Tessaiga!" Yelled Inuyasha. His sword was engulfed in blinding yellow energy before it released onto the devilish swarm. The powerful blow erupted and took out many of the shadow demons as well as parts of the forest behind them.

Kagome shot a few arrows and took out a portion of the shadow figures. She looked to see the damage that Tessaiga was doing to the land and she opened her mouth to say something until she was cut off.

"Look more!" Yelled Miroku, who took out a few of his own before hitting a few on the head with his staff. More shadowy creatures with red eyes gleamed through the forests and moved forward despite the powerful energy aimed towards them. Their clawed fingers dug into the ground as they rushed forward at them.

"I'll go check on the children and warn the village!" Yelled Sango before she turned to run when suddenly the sky grew instantly dark. She looked up watching the swift movement of clouds billowing into the area from different directions. Flabbergasted, she watched the ominous display above her with trepidation. The Inutaichi continued attacking the foe taking note of the changing weather above them. The wind picked up blowing themselves to and fro as they carried on the attacks. The dark clouds lit up with crackling lightening before thunder boomed in their eardrums. They all reflexively ducked at the sound before peering up at the sky and defending themselves against the hoard. Lightning struck directly in front of them right onto the shadowy demon jumping out to attack them. Immediately upon contact, it vanished. Inuyasha grabbed onto Kagome's waist and jumped a few feet back.

"Lightening doesn't strike in the same place twice." Kagome calmed before more bolts of violent energy struck the earth's surface hitting the targets and landing in the same area it did before. Grass and dirt kicked up. The trees waved back and forth and seemed to shrink back.

Blinking she looked up at the sky and through up a barrier. "I guess I was proven wrong."

The group huddled together flanking each other's backs as they tried to pinpoint the source of power that seemingly was helping them defeat their dark foes. It was too hard to tell with the dark clouds and lightening bursting at odd intervals around them.

"Whatever is happening, nature seems to be on our side!" Miroku yelled over the crackle and boom in the heavens.

A loud scream echoed around them.

"Rin!" Kagome yelled releasing an arrow into another victim. The black smoke appeared upon contact and vanished. Her head whipped around to see little Rin run as fast as her little feet would carry her towards their direction. She seemed to be coming from the creek holding her basket. Her eyes were wide with fright and her legs pumped underneath her to make it to safety. Behind her were shadow creatures bearing claws and chasing her down.

Inuyasha quickly ran out into the area but before he could reach her, the heavens roared, and giant bolts of lightning struck down the shadow creatures. Their bodies evaporated into smoke like the rest. Inuyasha slid to a halt and jumped back as a demoness fell from the sky and landed gently in front of him and picked up Rin. His sword was out and pointed dangerously in her direction ready to strike.

Rin gasped at the sudden movement and looked up at the strangest woman she had ever seen. Her eyes were wide, and her body shook in fear of being so close to the woman. The woman's long white ponytail blew in the wind contrasting against the brown skin that she had only seen on toasted almonds. The woman held her hands out and twirled them in the sky. Soon more bolts of lightning rained down and struck the shadow bodies before them. Rin gasped at the raw charge of lightening that pricked her skin. Rin looked up into giant blue gems and shrunk into her hold. She wanted to scream for help but felt paralyzed. The name of the savior she really wanted lay on her tongue but the odds of him coming was slim due to their recent arrangement.

An electric blue light erupted catching everyone's attention. It moved powerfully through the forests and struck the rest of the shadowy demons. Everyone watched the powerful attack precisely hit the targets instead of destroying the forests and rice fields in the distance. The energy flexed over their skin and everyone braced themselves.

Inuyasha sniffed the air with his sword still aimed at the woman. He could sniff his brother's arrival and decided to focus his energy now on the woman holding Rin. "Put her down and explain yourself." He growled out. "And make one false move and I'll slice your head off." Kagome and the rest ran over to them holding up weapons ready to rescue the little girl at any moment's notice. Inuyasha raised his deadly weapon higher towards the strange woman's direction. Her nose lined up to the tip of the weapon aimed in her face now.

"I mean you no harm." The woman spoke in an odd tone of Japanese. Her palm was held up in defense while still holding a very frightened Rin. She looked into Rin's wide brown eyes and smiled gently before placing her down safely on the ground. "And please aim that weapon of yours elsewhere. I did not come here to fight."

A flash of white was seen and in a blink of an eye, Sesshomaru was there before them. His body shielded the strange woman and Rin from the weapons aimed by Inuyasha and his pack. Inuyasha looked shockingly at the turn of events. The woman behind him stepped into a defense stance in case she had to get away. Rin stood behind him with a watery smile seemingly fighting herself from reaching out to the Inu demon king unsure of how to respond. Energy swirled around the field as everyone stayed in battle mode unmoving and waiting to see what the other would do. The sky continued to rumble, and the earth shook when another bolt flashed and killed a stray shadow creature.

Kagome looked at the oddly dressed woman noting her skin color and dress. Everything about her was foreign and different. Her eyes widening taking in the information and coming up with a plausible explanation. She had only heard of such people in her textbooks in the future. She clutched her arrow tightly feeling the danger yet wanting her questions now forming in her mind answered.

"Impossible." Kagome whispered as everyone looked to her with concern.

"Stand down, Inuyasha!" His brother spoke coldly cutting through the chill in the air and staring into the eyes that he too shared.