The managers of Nijo-jo Castle listened very carefully to the serious concerns of the young, handsome monk. The crow spirit had put fear into the people of Kyoto gathering at the gates to get a glimpse of the surviving Inuyama princess and the Musashi priestess. Kagome elbowed her husband when he grumbled about the conman.

"The man is a grifter with no conscience."

"It is the only way he knows to provide for his family. Give him a break, Inuyasha. He has two babies!"

Hojo had opened rooms for their use so they could freshen up. The princess had caught wise to Miroku's antics. She smiled into her sleeve when the household manager agreed to pay him an extraordinary fee for protective sutra to ward off terrible spirits that could attack the residents. The manager led Miroku around the castle so he could apply spells for safety, wealth, childbearing, weather -

"The monk is very charming," the princess whispered.

They were walking the path around the beautiful Ninomaru Garden together. Inuyasha, Shippo and Kilala were reclining on the grass to enjoy the morning sun. Kagome was considered a suitable chaperon for the bride-to-be so they were alone. She stopped to consider the sculptured pond with three islands: the island of eternal happiness, the Crane and the Turtle. The water sloshed against the stones to create peaceful sounds.

"You like Miroku?"

"Your friend is quite handsome and very kind. Is his wife a beautiful woman?"

"Sango is really pretty and strong. She is the only one who can knock him straight when he misbehaves. I wish she could have joined us but she is home with newborn twins. They are the cutest little babies. I feel bad we delayed their thirty-day." Kagome's gut twisted with guilt. The princess nodded. Miroku likes women – he likes to flirt and give compliments.

Inuyasha was not thrilled about having tea in the Golden Tea Room but she pinched him into submission. They joined the princess and Miroku in the portable structure gilded from floor to ceiling in shining gold! The others were not invited into the very tiny space. The kettle, the cups, the mats and the spoons were ALL gold. Hojo was very excited to make the princess feel welcome to the castle after her ordeal. Kagome internally screamed with joy at the opportunity to drink Chinese tea from the Feudal Era in the chashitsu with her husband before it would be destroyed.

"Would you like to stay for the wedding? There are going to be many guests. I am sure no one would mind a few more. Having a famous miko pour the sake would be a great blessing!" Akitoki beamed. "The appearance of a kirin is a wonderful sign for the new shogun. Many are saying there will be a new era of peace! It bodes well for the renovations at Chiyoda Castle."

The dog-sized creature with a dragon's head sat at her side. Her gentle little friend showed no signs of aggression. It was occupied by its own reflection in the gold floor. Kagome and Kiyohime giggled when she tried to shake its horns at herself and got spooked.

"Kagome needs to go home," her husband answered.

"Inuyasha, how rude! Hojo is our friend. I would be honored to pour the sake if the princess agrees." The stubborn hanyou glared at her but Kiyohime smiled. His cousin is nervous about marrying a complete stranger all alone! Of course she wants friendly faces at her arranged wedding.

Her husband waited until after tea to pull her into a corridor.

"Kagome…"

"I want to stay for the wedding, dog boy!"

"Why do you have to be so stubborn? I am the husband, we are going home!"

"I want to meet Tokugawa Ieyasu!"

"Who?"

"The founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, one of the three great unifiers of Japan? Can't we stay? We will never have this opportunity to meet him again. C'mon!" Kagome clasped her hands together in prayer. Inuyasha's scowl lessened slightly when she pouted. "Please?"

"What about the...y'know?"

"Pregnant women attend weddings!" Kagome rolled her eyes. Inuyasha spluttered but she grasped his fingers gently to calm him. Of course that would be the first thing Miroku thought to suggest. He has babies on the brain! If I had my yellow bag with my medical supplies I could take a test to prove it. Inuyasha couldn't even meet her eyes. At least she knew there was zero chance her husband would forcibly swoop her into his arms and carry her back to Musashi. The poor guy was too embarrassed to say the word. "I promise we will go home after the wedding, the morning after! Okay, husband?"

"I don't care about some stupid noble. If I don't like something, we are leaving. No whining!"

"Oh, thank you!" Inuyasha was tense when she hugged him. Tokugawa Ieyasu! I wish I had my camera. Grandpa will lose his mind if I bring him back a second unifier relic. She did a happy dance just thinking about her family's reaction to having a picture of Tokugawa in their living room.

"Did you hit your head? What's the matter with you?"

"Hehehe, Tokugawa!"

They were touring the castle together when Inuyasha stopped her. The next moment Inuyasha pushed her against the wall and covered her by pressing his right forearm above her head. The squeaky wood floors shifted. Dust shook loose from the upper beams. Metal candle adornments fell out of their posts. She could hear people yelling outside. A tree crashed through the roof. Inuyasha did not listen to her when part of the ceiling cracked over his shoulder. It was only a few minutes until the shaking stopped but the damage was done. A nearby window frame had collapsed. Part of the beautiful corridor was bathed in sunlight.

"Kagome are you okay?"

"I'm good! What about the others? Shippo!" She was glad when Lin shook herself out of a pile of debris unharmed. Inuyasha lifted the window post free so they could climb through. It sagged heavily when he released it. They both breathed easier in the sunlight. Dust filled the air but there were no car alarms. Her husband kept hold of her hand while they navigated around the poor pine tree pulled out of the ground. Miroku had Shippo in his arms by the garden bridge. Kohaku was going back and forth to help people move away from the fallen part of the building. Inuyasha bounded away to help the teenager lift the massive support beams trapping some people in the kitchen.

Kilala landed on the grass with several humans clinging to her back. Once they unloaded the fire-cat took off into the sky to find more humans in distress on the second level. Kagome immediately took charge of the scared children looking for their parents. Miroku went to join the men in the rescue efforts. There was a group trying to get hold of the panicked horses that had busted through the stables without getting kicked.

"Where's the princess?" Shippo perched on her shoulder. "I hope she got out. She's nice – not like Inuyasha."

The nobles gave Inuyasha funny looks but they were grateful for his strength. Four men failed to lift the beam that he easily lifted over his head. The support was heavy enough to shake the ground when he set it down. Cooks and maids and more escaped from the palace kitchens. Inuyasha was the only one fast enough to catch up to the wilder horses and lead them back with ropes. Shippo used his foxfire to burn through taut rope holding a damaged door in place. Kohaku was the only one lean enough to squeeze through the gap Inuyasha created in a stone wall to save the crying child inside.

"Where's my mommy?" The little boy crying on her neck pulled too hard on her hair. He refused to let go so she carried him to the well. Thankfully it had survived the disaster. She tipped fresh water from a half-broken clay cup into his parched throat. The toddler still cried for his mother. The relative quiet of the aftermath shocked her. Kagome's ear searched for the piercing wail of sirens or ambulances or megaphone warnings echoing through a city of tall glass buildings.

Something is wrong.

Kagome pushed the little boy into an attendant's arms. She ignored Miroku's questions to pull Inuyasha from the rubble. Together they rescued a surviving bow and arrow from the broken armory. He ran after her while she tried to identify her sense of déjà vu. "Doesn't this seem familiar? An earthquake, at a castle, with a missing princess? Where is Kiyohime?" Kagome stopped. Inuyasha's brows came together. She stopped to focus her energy inward to sense for demonic youki.

Gotcha!

Inuyasha was faster on foot than most horses. She clung to his back while he sprinted after the carriage trying to escape the boundaries of Kyoto.

"She is definitely in there! Who is the guy?" Inuyasha asked above the wind. There was not enough demonic energy to suggest a demon had kidnapped the princess. Perhaps a puppet? If someone let down the barrier surrounding the city to attract that demon bird maybe someone wants her dead! Her husband leapt high into the air. She took the opportunity to shoot an arrow at the carriage's wobbly back wheel. The horses screamed when the carriage fell harder to drag into the dirt and snapped the reins. It was enough to stop them.

Inuyasha set her down before he hauled the dark-haired human out of the carriage in full view of the public. Kagome was grateful to see Kiyohime descend a bit pale but unharmed. She pulled the princess clear of the males. Her husband slammed the kidnapper harshly against the wood.

"It is the shogun's advisor," Kiyohime whispered. The poor girl trembled.

"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha looked truly dangerous. She nearly fainted when she realized why he felt threatened. The dark-haired mortal man was dressed richly but that face. He wore the same face as the demon who had attacked on their honeymoon, sealed by a sacred sutra in the basement beneath Matsumoto Castle. It was a handsome enough visage. The human aristocrat flinched under Inuyasha's intense wrath.

"Answer me, bastard. Who are you?"

"Shō Ryūtoku of Ryukyu," he whimpered. "W-who are you? Please don't kill me."

"Why were you kidnapping the princess?" Inuyasha's fist pulled the guy's collar so tight he could hardly breathe. Kagome touched his shoulder. His hold lessened slightly so the man could take a horrible raspy breath. Inuyasha bared his teeth when the aristocrat looked her way.

"The lord in Satsuma has plans to control all trade with the mainland! We cannot defeat his army. The princess will save my people," he pleaded. "Enough gold and rice to raise an army and save my kingdom from pillaging invaders! You must let me go."

"So you can sell the girl to some warlord?"

"It is one life for thousands!"

"Did the shogun ever want to marry her or was that a lie?"

"There was no offer," he admitted. "The shogun is occupied with renovations to Chiyoda Castle so that he may move the capital. He has no plans to return to Kyoto this season."

"Who wants to buy the princess – a demon?"

"H-he wants a princess with the Blood from a dishonored family," he cringed. The man flinched when Inuyasha drove his fist through the wood by his head. Kagome helped the sheltered teenage girl before she could faint. Forced marriage to a demon?

"Is it that pig, Chokyūkai?"

"W-who? It is no demon! It is the great Yatagarasu, divine messenger of fortune. He would not harm the princess but he wants to lead her family back to their rightful place," Shō pleaded. "He wants the restoration of the Kamakura to overthrow the pretenders! The Yatagarasu is a friendly guide to the people."

"Oh, sure! What kindly god doesn't bribe a fool to kidnap a girl against her will? You IDIOT," Inuyasha rattled him. "Where were you supposed to take her to meet this demon?" Kiyohime DID faint in her arms so Kagome lowered her to the road. She reminded herself that the princess had traveled many leagues for the opportunity to marry a high noble, not marry a demon! Kiyohime had been looking forward to a future with a husband and children.

I have you, princess. We'll keep you safe.


Nijo-jo Castle was stable but in disrepair. Kagome was proud to witness Inuyasha treating the princess very kindly after her shock. She bowed deeply with flushed cheeks. Kohaku had volunteered to stay behind to protect Kiyohime in their absence. Kilala climbed into her soft lap and purred loudly. She even giggled when the neko-youkai twisted on her back cutely to ask for a tummy tickle.

"If there is any trouble while we're gone, Kilala can take you home. She is a good friend. You will be safe." Inuyasha bowed his head for the first time in Kyoto. The princess nodded. Shippo transformed into a decent copy of the girl. She marveled at how well he could wear her general form if not her soft, gentle voice. The half-demon narrowed his eyes when Shippo pushed his hip out and spoke in a weird falsetto.

"Hey! It is easier to copy Kagome. I know her better. Why don't you do it, Inu-ya-shaaa? Oh...because dogs can't do magic!"

"Why, you!"

Kagome clambered onto Inuyasha's back without permission before he could insist she stay behind too. Who else could see the demon's energy from a distance? Miroku was their best weapon to defeat a malevolent spirit. Kohaku could wrangle the bird spirit if it returned to Kyoto to attack.

"Are you crazy? Get off. There is no way in hell you are going into battle!"

"Let's go! You don't want to fight a crow at night do you? The sooner we defeat it, the sooner we go home." The low-key growling in his chest did not deter her. "Listen up, dog-boy. I am not staying behind while you go after that thing! You need me and you know it. I have a weapon this time!"

"No!"

"Fine, baka. I can just wait for you to leave then I'll follow on horseback. All by myself."

Inuyasha relented and supported her knees with his forearms. She shifted higher on his back before he took off. Miroku and Shippo had a small head start but Inuyasha blew past. Lin was forced to transform to keep pace. Her husband was aggravated with her but they were partners. She was not going to let him battle a spirit without help! Tetsusaiga would be useless against a non-corporeal enemy. Inuyasha could hardly battle Yura because he could not see the hairs.

"Listen, Kagome. If anything happens, get on Lin and run away! You have to be smart. That bird wants your head!"

"It wants Kiyohime! What does a demon want with your cousin?" Kagome glanced back. Shō Ryūtoku was not happy about being tied to Shippo's transformed back. He had begged to stay in Kyoto but he was untrustworthy to stay near the princess. The cute horse-fox transformation was a pale imitation to Lin. The kirin galloped on the air above the grass. The white fur moved fluidly in the wind while her head charged forward. The gold-and-green shimmer was not designed for camouflage in the forest. Inuyasha slowed down when she made a noise.

"Isn't she pretty, Inuyasha?"

"Fucking beautiful! Focus. Do you sense anything? We need to kill this thing before it regains its strength." Inuyasha avoided boulders in the field by running smoothly across them. Kagome ducked her head to avoid a low-hanging branch. The grass was thinner and there were numerous caves in the area that would be perfect for an ambush. She closed her eyes to focus on the tug of energy. Inuyasha jumped higher on the rocky outcropping while she searched the caves for a significant presence. Shippo transformed with a loud pop into a version of the princess with shorter hair. He swooned and complained about the heat.

Kagome gasped when something found her. Her arms tightened around Inuyasha's neck. Clouds filled in too quickly to be natural. Inuyasha retreated to the pale grass to dump her with Miroku. A dark smoke drifted down the rocky hill towards them. Lin pawed the air aggressively. The enormous black crow extended its wings. Inuyasha waited until Miroku threw several sutra at the bird to strike with the Tetsusaiga. She panicked when Inuyasha and the blade simply passed through the half-formed spirit.

"Inuyasha!"

Kagome sensed the arrow before she saw it. A black arrow struck the crow in its luminescent yellow eyes. Blue energy crackled around the tip and mingled with the smoke. The spirit was forced into a solid form. She knew it was Hou Yi before he reached the hill. A second arrow was drawn with masculine ease. The hunter loosed the second. He ignored their party while he focused on the blinded crow. Lin put herself between her and both threats so she could not draw her normal bow.

How did Hou Yi survive?

A third arrow pinned the spirit bird to the mountainside. Tendrils of black smoke drifted down from the body but it did not move. The arrogant human easily slid down the hill to face Inuyasha. The half-demon rolled up his sleeves.

"Inuyasha!"

"I'm glad Kagome didn't roast you! I almost missed my change to kill you myself. Too bad you don't have a sword like a real man."

"Surrender the girl or die." Hou Yi aimed his bow at Inuyasha's forehead. His face showed no signs of hearing the insult. Kagome tried to squeeze past Lin but she refused. Her husband did not understand who he was dealing with. Hou Yi never misses.

"Kagome is my wife! I would never let you hurt her to make some potion! What is wrong with you?"

"You want fènghuáng. Better a quick death than long suffering with góu zaĭ zi."

"Fènghuáng is their word for Suzaku, Inuyasha." Miroku blocked Inuyasha. "If you intend to kill a man and his wife in cold blood, at least tell us why. What would bring you to our island to kill an innocent human girl? Why do you want the Red Bird?"

"I must have the blood of fènghuáng to create elixir and become true xi'an. It is only way to break my curse and reunite with my Chang'e." Hou Yi couldn't help but look upwards. The shadow of the moon was gone. "The fènghuáng tricked my wife to drink the elixir. I have not forgotten."

"Kagome is not a damned bird!"

"Ka-go-me, Ka-go-me, the bird in the cage - " Shō Ryūtoku ceased singing under Inuyasha's glare. It was too late. Kagome buried her forehead against Lin's side when she felt the reiki surge in her fingertips. The tune was enough to bring tears to her eyes. "It is only a children's song?"

"Kagome!" Tiny hands touched her hair. Shippo was perched on Lin's back. She tried to smile at him but it hurt. Memories of children singing filled her ears. It is just a stupid song! We removed the protective kagome. Why does it still hurt?

"When O when will it come out?"

"Stop it!" She pressed her palms against her ears. Miroku circled around to support her. Inuyasha hit the singing idiot over the head hard enough to leave welts. The damage was done. She could hear the song repeating over-and-over in her head. She was hyper-aware of the monk supporting her. He called her name. She tried to cling to the lessons he had practiced with her to regain self-control. The Heart Sutra was beyond her. Meditating inward was painful. Miroku kindly wiped the tears streaming down her face.

"If you want to battle, mogwai, I accept!"

"Miroku, don't let them fight! Please. Hou Yi only misses his wife."

"Kagome-sama, he wants you dead. Of course Inuyasha will defend his wife. Can you walk?" She opened her eyes. Hou Yi would not even look her way. Inuyasha was waiting for them to leave the battlefield. I know there is a loving heart in Hou Yi. He doesn't have to die!

"Hou Yi, please put down the bow! You don't need to fight Inuyasha. I totally empathize with your heartache. Maybe we could help you reach your wife?"

"Bouzu, get her out of here!" Inuyasha held Tetsusaiga higher. The monk's staff crossed her chest to stop her. Idiot! Why does he have to be so stupid? What does he think would happen to us if he died? Look what happened to Hou Yi!

A sickening squelch interrupted the standoff. The shadow bird lost its form to escape the holding spell pinning its body to the stone. Shō Ryūtoku was helpless to escape when his body was enveloped in the shadowy tendrils. A funnel of black smoke violently enter his body through a screaming jaw. The volume of smoke was more than a human body could hold but it disappeared. The body staggered back with a new aura.

Oh, no.

Inuyasha glanced at her to confirm, she nodded. Kagome barely remembered the altercation but she remembered that aura. Hou Yi trained his arrow on the possessed human body. The right arm drooped gruesomely low while the crow settled inside its new envelope. His eyes had turned yellow.

"Shō?" Miroku called.

"Delicious," the voice answered. It was a terrible laugh. Kagome buried her face in Miroku's shoulder when she sensed what had happened. The crow had hollowed out the man's insides to possess the body. There was nothing left – not even his spirit. "Did you say fènghuáng?"

Hou Yi fired an arrow without warning. The crow spirit caught the speeding projectile in his fist. Darkness consumed it. Horrific eyes were placed over a smile that spread too far. Shippo clung to her ankle. A horse's flank blocked her view. The kirin snorted blue fire. Her hooves stamped the ground. "Ah. Thank you, beast. A yellow dragon only appears to protect their chosen. This mortal failed to deliver the woman I desired but brought me a Red Bird. Foresight is a crooked path."

Kagome didn't listen when Inuyasha yelled at the creature. Miroku's forehead was creased.

"Why would I want to bathe in her blood, when she is only valuable alive?"

Hou Yi was annoyed by that answer. Kagome allowed Miroku to grasp her hands. The crow's flippant attitude immediately changed. He charged past Hou Yi and his spinning bow. Inuyasha severed his abnormal arm but it barely slowed him down. There was no blood to be spilled, only oily black tar. Miroku supercharged the jade bracelet around her wrist with reiki. She listened to the chant. Lin opened her jaw to surround them in a circulating wall of impenetrable flames in many colors.

Inuyasha!

"No! I will have your flesh, monk. I WILL find her!"

Miroku pressed his hand to her stomach. She felt the spell. Awareness of the tiny spirit she was carrying silenced her. Tears came to her eyes when she understood. The crow spirit raged. The possessed body disappeared in a column of black tar. Warm, natural sunlight returned to the hillside.

"Kagome? Kagome!" Inuyasha drove Tetsusaiga into the ground. She practically jumped into his arms. Shippo clung to her shoulders asking what happened. Golden characters floated on the skin of her jade bangle that gave her a good feeling. "What did you do to drive it off, Miroku? What's the deal?"

Hou Yi studied the puffy white clouds where the crow had disappeared.

It was very comforting to hug Shippo to her chest with all his little boy questions. The half-demon was more interested in her bracelet than chastising the innocent kitsune. It was definitely a one-of-a-kind piece of jewelry. Unlike her sakura pendant, Miroku warned her not to remove it.

"Thank you."

Her flirty friend shrugged but he was obviously pleased.

"Hey! Where are you going? We are not done!" Inuyasha charged after Hou Yi. The archer paused. "I don't want anymore trouble from you."

"I will seek my elixir elsewhere. I have no use for the girl. Cherish what you have, mogwai." He glanced back in her direction. His face softened slightly.

"Wait!" Kagome skipped forward. Inuyasha gripped her arms to stop her approach. Hou Yi stopped. A light bulb went up in her head. She turned to address Lin. The enormous dragon face might have been intimidating if she wasn't so playful. Her head tilted off to the side. "Could you take him to Chang'e? You can fly, can't you, friend?" The clouds billowing around her hooves shifted when she pawed the ground nervously. The animal obviously understood her but pulled back. They have been separated for so long! Hou Yi is so desperate to join his wife. There is no telling what he might do if we don't help him.

"Princess?"

"A kirin is a celestial animal! You could take him. Please?" Kagome pointed at the startled archer and towards the shadow of the moon in the blue sky. Lin did not want to leave her. The animal pushed her large nostrils against her shoulder. Hou Yi seemed taken aback. "You can, can't you? He misses his wife. You are the only one who can help!"

"Why would you help him? He tried to kill you! Kagome," Inuyasha warned.

"Everyone should be with the person they love. True love is forever. Do you want to go?" Kagome addressed her kidnapper. She was surprised to find him kneeling.

"Forgive me, Princess. I do not deserve your kindness. I would be honored." Hou Yi bowed. She was surprised when he offered her his bow. It did not matter to him that she could not draw the string. The bow itself was an intensely magical artifact. Even Inuyasha fell silent when she took his arrows. "Many years ago my apprentice Fengmeng wanted my beautiful Chang'e. When she refused him, he attacked her. So she drank the elixir and became xi'an. May these arrows help you in your battle against the crow. They should have power against the spirit. The feathers are darkened from the blood of a fènghuáng many years past."

"Thank you...but why do you think I'm a bird? I'm a human girl. I don't have feathers."

"The fènghuáng is an ancient healing spirit, Princess. Be careful. I will not be your only enemy." Hou Yi rose. Lin hesitated but she hugged her goodbye. Hou Yi easily mounted her scaled back. The clouds around her hooves flared when she galloped forward. Kagome was crying when she disappeared against the perfect blue of the sky. She made an earnest prayer to Kamimusubi that the lovers be reunited.

"That was a nice thing you did." Inuyasha's arm covered her shoulders. She leaned against his side. Kagome let him lead her towards the road. The tiger bone in her hands had a strong, comforting aura that soothed her. Wherever he was, Hou Yi was alive.