The hut's entrance slid open with a soft creak, casting a transient shadow across the room. The dim light inside caught on the sharp edges of a well-worn blade, its gleam momentarily illuminating a fierce set of amber eyes. The man — or more accurately, the hanyo — moved with a caution that belied his usually brash nature. His footsteps were light, deliberately softened, as if hoping not to alert anyone — or anything — inside.
With a swiftness born of countless battles, he surveyed the surroundings. Every fiber of his being was attuned, searching, waiting for the familiar scent, the gentle voice. But what greeted him was silence and emptiness. Kagome was not there.
However, another scent, familiar yet unexpected, clawed at his senses — his brother, Sesshoumaru. From the fresh traces, it seemed they missed each other by a mere hour or so.
Heaving a sigh that hinted at weariness, frustration, and a touch of dread, Inuyasha confronted his reality. He'd been away far too long. The weight of his absence, meant to be a short mission, bore down on him even more now.
During his time away, what was to be a routine demon vanquishing quest became a journey filled with unexpected encounters. Deep in the forests, he had stumbled upon a demon-slaying crew, unlike any he had met before. They hailed from distant shores and brought with them tales of an impending threat.
They warned him of a formidable monster, a behemoth of untold power, soon to set its sights on Japan. Its intent was clear: to subjugate and conquer the entire island. With an intrinsic sense of duty and a fervor to protect his homeland, Inuyasha promptly pledged his assistance, not fully grasping that this commitment would lead him on a prolonged odyssey across the seas.
In the heat of the moment, the thought of his beloved Kagome was pushed to the recesses of his mind. His unwavering faith had always been that she would understand, that she would patiently await his return, her heart ever forgiving.
Shaking his head to push away the memories, Inuyasha's eyes landed on a note pinned to the wall. Its crudeness was evident, the simple strokes and limited vocabulary hinting at haste. But he could make out the words: "Your. Wife. With. Me." A swirl of emotions enveloped him. Concern, confusion, but most of all, relief. For all their differences, he knew that if Sesshoumaru was with Kagome, she was safe. But why was his estranged brother the one to be with her?
His thoughts were interrupted by a voice, soft yet insistent, calling him from outside the hut. Drawn by the sound, he stepped out. A yaoguai stood before him, her winter blue eyes sparkling with a mix of urgency and determination, her ebony hair elegantly cascading down her back, clad in a traditional qipao, its intricate embroidery depicting mythical dragons swirling amidst clouds. There was a strength to her that was unmistakable in her poised stance.
"Inuyasha," she began, her voice carrying the inflection of a distant land, "We must make haste. The ship will not wait past sundown, and we need to return."
She paused for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Japan is but a part of the equation. This threat, this monster, it endangers more than just your homeland. The entire world hangs in the balance."
Inuyasha's heart raced. As much as he yearned to seek out Kagome at Sesshoumaru's fortress, he knew he was already treading on borrowed time. Every moment counted in the face of the looming danger. With one last glance at the hut, he nodded. "Lead the way."
A/N: This was never part of the original script for this story, so I will not be expanding on the Inuyasha subplot any further. But I think it has been driving you guys insane to not know where the heck Inuyasha has been. :D I've known since chapter one that Inuyasha was sidetracked during his demon hunting trip and was carried away by another "adventure" as Kagome put it. Today will be a double chapter update because this chapter was so short!
And no, Inuyasha was not aware that Kagome was preggers. That happened literally just before he left. But Sesshoumaru doesn't know that. He has a habit of assuming the worst of his brother. :P