Authors Note: Sorry I haven't posted much here, but as you may already know, there are a few issue with postings and notifications. I've been trying to hold out until it was fixed, but I think at least posting and notifications have been resolved so wanted to get more chapters out (if I can get them published.) I've been posting more regularly on AO3 until everything gets fixed here. Hope you all have a great weekend! :)

xx

Sango tried to shield them from the blast of power, however futile. It traveled through her body, forcing her to a knee. Beside her, Kaede bore the impact with barely a blink. Her fingers dug into the smooth surface of Hirikotsu, and she could swear she felt it thrum in her grasp in response to whatever had just happened. Born of demon bone, it didn't surprise her.

Kaede stepped towards her, and instead of helping her up, stood between her and Tsubaki and slipped something from her pocket. Now only inches from her face as she knelt in the dirt besides the priestess, obscured from the dark miko's view, Sango was able to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a necklace before it was pulled back and hidden in a calloused fist. Kaede's voice was barely above a whisper as she kept her eyes on the tree. "If we are not successful, these will be the only hope we have left."

"What-"

"I will get them around his neck. When I command it, ye will say a word, a word to stop him! Any word ye say will be the command he must abide!"

Sango was desperately trying to process what she was hearing. "I don't un-"

Another scream, and Sango watched helplessly as the wild, crackling pink light intertwined with shadow and crept along the shaft of the arrow. The silver glow of the woman's eyes as she chanted sent chills down her spine, and from her place among the trees, it looked as if they weren't eyes at all, but metallic, burning holes where eyes should be.

She had never seen a dark miko and didn't have the power, exactly, to feel Reiki...but even she could tell what it was as it spiked from Tsubaki. Wild and violent and wicked. It lashed at Sango, and she summoned every ounce of power to stand against it.

Another sudden percussion thudded around them as the spell shattered, and they were thrown back into the tree trunks behind them, Hiraikotsu flying from her grasp. Sango scrambled to her feet, first to a blood covered Kaede and then to her weapon, never taking her eyes off the pair on at the tree. His eyes were open now, a shock of gold and black and then he was fully awake. He was wild, feral – screaming and spitting. His claws swung and caught Tsubaki in the bicep, tearing her robes and biting into flesh. His eyes bled as red as the blood that trailed down the dark miko's arm and pooled at her feet.

To her credit, Tsubaki didn't scream, didn't even flinch, and did not allow the terrible pain she had to be feeling show on her face. Her fist remained firmly grasped on the arrow as she addressed the boy. "Demon! Inuyasha! Son of the Inu no Taisho! Hear me, do you still seek the jewel of four souls?"

His eyes spun wildly as he tried to focus on the woman in front of him, apparently struggling to rouse from his long sleep. "Y-yes." He lurched forward towards her, but caught, still held to the tree by the arrow through the chest.

"Then come with me to retrieve it, and to collect the debt owed to you by the woman who damned you to this eternal sleep. You look upon the mighty Tsubaki, the great one with the power to awaken you! Now rise, and join me, to your fate!"

Sango braced herself, waiting for him to speak, affirming their dark union. Waiting for him to force her hand, so that she could end them both, despite the blood that would stain her. She would endure it, as Lady Kaede had endured it.

His lips curled as his eyes finally started tracking to the woman before him, like he finally realized where he was – who he was. He glanced at the arrow, Tsubaki...then over to Sango and Kaede, seeming to not see them, and back again. A few moments passed before he gave her an answer.

"What the hell are you yammering about, lady?!"

Now, Tsubaki looked as stunned as heavy silence lasted only a few seconds, before Inuyasha's clawed hand found the arrow deep in his chest and twisted, shattering it while still in the miko's grasp. He slashed at her, grinning, as she leapt back, narrowly avoiding the blow.

The woman was in a rage, screaming. "You will obey me, you hanyo filth, or the arrow I put through your chest will send you to sleep permanently!" Sango's arm pressed against Kaede's as she watched the fight play out, unease coaxing her muscles to move. To run. But that necklace...

What was that necklace about?

Inuyasha's eyes lit, and he laughed, actually laughed at the woman's threat. In a blur of limbs and claws and hair he launched himself from the branch and into the air after the miko, who seemed to rend the air itself with her movement. "Where ya going? I thought you had some bloody death to deliver, lady! Well here I am!"

Tsubaki reappeared beyond the clearing. "How dare you! This isn't over, you half-breed filth. I'll put you back where I found you. And you!" She pointed towards Kaede and Sango, and Inuyasha's gaze snapped to them as if he was only now aware that they were there. "I'm coming back for you, too, old woman. This is only the beginning!" With a flash, she disappeared into the darkness.

Kaede didn't take her eyes off the boy as she whispered to Sango, "Go, child. Distract him."

Sango didn't waste a second acknowledging the woman's words. She was already up and sprinting across the soft earth towards the tree, Hiraikotsu in hand. As she hoped, like an animal – a predator – Inuyasha's eyes tracked immediately to the movement and he was on her like prey. He was fast, faster than she expected, running in great leaps that closed the distance too quickly. She couldn't help herself. "You murdering bastard!" Though she was told to stay her hand and wait for Kaede to use the beads, she heaved Hiraikotsu at his head. As expected, he dodged it and continued his pursuit...and as expected he did not perceive it's return as it cut a swift arc behind him. The impact sent him flying, though unfortunately didn't decapitate him as Sango had hoped.

No matter, she had time.

The tree next to her looked sturdy enough, and used his distraction to study it's trunk and branches where it climbed to the heavens. She could scale it, and if he gave chase it would give Kaede plenty of time to do what she needed. She leapt up to the branch closest to her and made to climb to the second when his voice drove her to stop and turn.

"What the hell!" She was about to retort when she realized why he said it, saw him bent on the forest floor, clutching at his neck. "What the hell is this? What did you do to me?!" He was looking at her, but she was as clueless as he.

What was it Kaede wanted her to do?

He snarled in annoyance before he released the strand around his neck and launched himself at the slayer, teeth bared.

"The word!" Kaede screamed, "Say the word!"

Her thoughts raced as she unsheathed her dagger. Word, word. What to say to him? How to get him to stop, to stay down?

Stay down.

Stay down!

"Down!" The word was a half scream, betraying Sango's nerves, but the effect was the same. The white-haired demon streaked to the ground, cursing and howling as his back slammed to the grassy earth. Pure shock flashed in his golden eyes, which simmered into rage as he rolled to his hands and knees, preparing again to lunge at her.

This time, she took no chances. She leapt from her spot on the branch and rolled, launching into a run for straight for him, one hand in her pouch and the other on her filter mask. "Inuyasha! Down!" At his name and the command, he was falling to the ground - but not alone. Sango barreled into him, straddling his chest and using her knees to pin him by the shoulders to the soil. He bucked and swung, but she subdued him, a blade to his throat.

She smirked down at him. "Don't make me say it again, boy."

He twisted beneath her. "You wench, I'll kill you! Get off me!"

"Kaede!" Sango called; her voice muffled by her mask. "What would you have me do with this beast Kaede-san?" She pushed the dagger harder into his throat and he stilled. "Should I put him down?"

Kaede lifted her bow, the bow of her sister. The bow that had shot the arrow that held him to the tree where he was supposed to sleep eternally. Why didn't she kill him, that day? She thought for a moment on it, then answered, "Nay."

From the ground, they both shot her confused looks. Quickly, Sango jammed a poison laced cloth into Inuyasha's unsuspecting face, and in moments, he was out cold.

Removing her mask, she dismounted the beast and, shifting Hiraikotsu, hefted him by the arms onto her back.