The sky was slowly darkening and with it Inuyasha's heartbeat quickened. He was expecting Kilala, but he certainly wasn't expecting Myoga's cowardly ass. "Master Inuyasha! I'm glad to see you well…" Myoga couldn't say that Inuyasha looked well. He looked like bits and pieces of his soul had been shaved off. Like he was holding on to his sanity by a thread.

Inuyasha made sure to squish him at least once before telling him he had some questions and needed the flea to stick around for once. "I'm…not kidding Myoga…I really need your help this time…" Myoga went on a rant about how his father had needed him too and that he was the most loyal of retainer. Inuyasha stopped him, "He doesn't sound like he was as great a youkai as you make him out to be. In fact, since I've been here, I'm sure he was a horrible person…" He muttered. Myoga said nothing and sat quietly with Inuyasha in Kilala's fur.

Elsewhere the council was gathered together and discussing what they would be asking Inuyasha when he arrived. The door opened but they saw Lord Sesshomaru instead. "Why are you here milord?"

"Because you are set on daring to question my mate." Sesshomaru said coldly.

The tension in the room was tangible. Sesshomaru continued to refute them, his grandfather's ire raising every moment. The fact that Inuyasha wasn't there yet adding to the tension. Sesshomaru could only feel his mate's anxiety. However, a second later, he felt nothing.

His youkai began to panic because they couldn't feel their mate anymore. His youki immediately began to lash out as he practically teleported to where he'd last been. He looked around in a panic. "Inuyasha!" He shouted looking around and unable to pinpoint his mate. Alarms were raised and he took off. He didn't know which way to go. His youkai raged inside him. Where had his mate gone? He began to search frantically for the hanyou. He didn't understand what had happened.

Inuyasha was holding onto Kilala's fur tightly. The cat was flying as quickly as she could and because he couldn't see anything, he could only pray. He could only pray that Sesshomaru wouldn't find him again, especially like this. "Ugh." Inuyasha's chest began to burn. He sniffled, coughing and beginning to choke on his tears as his emotions got the better of him in his human form. He was shaking, and his chest hurt as he sobbed. He cried for the better part of 5 hours as they flew towards the mountains. He wiped his tears and tried to calm but he couldn't. Everything that he experienced was hitting much harder now than before. His chest hurt and his limbs were shaking.

He couldn't lie, he felt better getting it out, but his body was exhausted after sobbing so harshly. He was happy Kilala couldn't talk, and he didn't care about Myoga's opinion. Then he did something he never did when away from his friends in his human form. He slept. Kilala had slowed down completely, so he wouldn't fall off.

He woke when he changed back and the first thing he felt was the white-hot stinging of the mark Sesshomaru left on him. He sighed and they landed. He thanked Kilala. She transformed to her smaller size, and he tucked her in his haori to rest. He looked around and then began to run towards the mountains where the wolves resided. This is what he wanted, he felt free. The scent of the Earth engulfing him as if it were welcoming him back.

He was making good time, and it made him happy to be on his own again. He was worried about Sesshomaru finding him again which is why he needed to hurry. When he stopped for a break Myoga finally broke his silence. "Totosai informed me of what occurred Master Inuyasha."

"Okay." He mumbled.

"Are you intending to find Lady Inukimi?"

"Yep."

"Be wary master Inuyasha. Lady Inukimi, may very well attempt to kill you."

"That's alright. There's a chance she won't and that's okay."

"Master, she despised Touga. She may despise you because of that."

"I don't care. Right now, she's my only option unless you know of a way to remove an unwanted mating mark." He said looking around for a stream to drink from.

"Only Lord Sesshomaru knows where her castle is…" he sighed. "Although, if it were anywhere. It'd probably be as far from others as possible." Inuyasha nodded, that was good information, and he could understand why she'd want it that way. "Master…when Lady Inukimi severed the bond…Touga changed."

"What the fuck are you telling me that for?"

"Because magic, inu magic especially, has consequences. He…he was very different."

"I don't care. He clearly deserved it, right?"

"Inuyasha, I don't want you or Lord Sesshomaru to be harmed!" The flea squawked from where he was. However, Inuyasha froze. When he looked at Myoga the flea couldn't believe that this was Inuyasha he was speaking to.

"Once I remove this fucking curse, I'm going to do everything I can to kill him. I want to watch the light leave his eyes and make a carpet out of his pelt. If you don't want him dead, you are dead to me flea. Don't ever look for me again."

"Master Inuyasha!?" He exclaimed. Totosai had said Inuyasha was frantic and sad, but this was worse. "That isn't what I meant I!?" He quieted at the glare Inuyasha sent him. The hanyou couldn't hear his talking anymore and assumed he'd left.

When he was fully rested, he took off again. Kilala mewled and hopped to his shoulder, making him stop a moment. She licked his face and he sniffled, realizing he was crying again. "Ugh fuck…fucking annoying…" He mumbled. "I'm okay Kilala…really…" Taking a deep breath he tucked her away again before setting out again. He didn't understand why Myoga, who'd been by his side, knowing the things Sesshomaru had done to him throughout his life would say that to him. Especially knowing what Sesshomaru had done to him this time. He began to push the thoughts down and away. He didn't need the flea. He took a cleansing breath and ran faster. He needed to get there as quickly as possible.

As quickly as possible was about a week. He'd been running through the mountains and taking down any and everything that tried to attack and eat him. Even a few humans had met their end. "Holy shit is that Inuyasha!?"

Inuyasha could see the wolves that always followed Kouga around and gave a short wave before making his way to them. "What are you doing here? Nice to see you again." They then began to comment on his short hair, agreeing with the eachother that it suited him.

"Yeah, uh, I actually wanted to speak to some people from Ayame's tribe." He explained. He couldn't go into detail though. He couldn't tell people what had happened to him. The memories alone were enough to make him shudder at times. They were curious but led him back to the den since they knew he wasn't a threat to them.

Inuyasha had never been here before, he just knew where it was. As he was led in, Kilala came to his shoulder again. It smelled just like the wolves in this network of caves. "Kouga! Look who's here!" Ginta called as they descended into a more open space with several guards.

"Ugh, what do you want mutt."

"Piss off mangy bastard! I came to talk to Ayame's people." He snarled.

Kouga glared at him, "Why?"

"None of your fucking business! Is she here or did she leave you yet!?" He was feeling antsy and annoyed. He couldn't stay here for too long, he needed to leave as soon as he could.

Kouga got in his face, and they began to argue but the only thing running through Inuyasha's mind was that he wanted to kill the wolf. He wanted to kill anyone that stood in his way, but he couldn't do that in their den.

Luckily, someone went to inform the shewolf and she arrived holding a cub. "Inuyasha? It's nice to see you again!" She came over and Kouga seemed annoyed. "I heard you wanted to speak to my people. Why?"

"Y'all are from different mountain ranges, right?" She nodded in confirmation, "I need to know if anyone has seen a floating castle…it's really important that I find it as soon as possible…"

The wolves watched him blank out for a moment before snapping back to attention. It made them realize that this was probably very serious, especially if Inuyasha had come there. "What kinda trouble did you get yourself into now?" Kouga asked. The hanyou had been living a pretty quiet life since Kagome died. He hadn't seen him since her funeral.

Inuyasha only glared at him, he had no intention of talking about it with the wolf of all people. "Alright, Kouga can you gather the tribe? I'll go speak to the elders. I'm sure everyone might know a few bits and pieces." Inuyasha felt his body relax some with her statement. Kouga rolled his eyes and walked off, Ayame handed the cub to Inuyasha who was surprised and looking at her with wide eyes. "Hold on to her for a bit for me Inuyasha."

The hanyou was uncomfortable. The little girl was looking up at him with curious green eyes. He was happy his hair wasn't long anymore as he was sure the cub would try to grab and pull like most kids. He sighed and Kilala cuddled into the cub as they followed Ginta and Hakkaku deeper into the den. Many seemed shocked and surprised to see him holding the cub and one even questioned him only for Ginta and Hakkaku to step in front of him. "Lady Ayame gave the princess to him and asked him to look after her." This seemed to shock the wolves who then began showing Inuyasha an immense amount of respect.

The hanyou questioned this and Hakkaku explained, "Being entrusted with someone's cub is one thing. Being entrusted with a royal cub is an entirely different thing." Inuyasha realized that Ayame did this on purpose. He was looking down at the cub in his arms that had begun to doze, and his mind flashed to the pups he'd removed from his body. He tightened his hands a bit to keep them from shaking as he pushed the thoughts and memories away. He wasn't himself that day. Anyone…would understand that. Even though he still felt guilty about it.

The deeper they descended the more wolves he began to see. Eventually, he was brought to where they were gathering. Many seemed surprised to see him holding the comfortably sleeping little girl. There were several older looking youkai from the tribe gathered as well as the elders.

An older wolf approached him, "You are looking for a castle in the sky?" Inuyasha nodded, taking in the old wolf. Though he looked frail he was clearly extremely powerful and ancient. "You are a descendant of the dogs of the sky, is there no one in your tribe you can question?"

"No." He said firmly, feeling annoyed.

The old wolf seemed to nod. "Did you know that a few weeks ago your relative was searching for you?"

"Yeah."

"Are you not going to contact them?"

"No."

The youkai seemed to consider this again. "Does the situation have anything to do with why you're searching for the castle in the sky?"

"Yeah." Inuyasha was feeling very annoyed but keeping his cool with Tetsuaiga at his side and the cub in his arms. He wanted to kill this old man. Why did everyone feel the need to test him? He was becoming very agitated. The youkai looked like he was going to continue, "Look old man, I'm trying to find a shiroinu demoness who created a type of magic only she can use. I'm going to fucking die if I don't find her so do you people know something or not!? Or are you wasting my time on purpose!?" He growled, startling the cub away who began to whimper and then cry.

Inuyasha stiffened and took a deep breath, patting her back. "Sorry kid. Ayame." He spoke looking at the woman who came forward to help sooth her cub. The cub quieted but reached for Inuyasha again. The hanyou scowled. He didn't want to hold the child anymore.

Ayame smiled, "Do you like him Yurika?" Inuyasha scowled as Ayame forcibly gave him the child again. "Just hold her for a while longer for me Inuyasha." He glared at her this time.

The wolves in the room began talking before they began to shout out things that they knew from their tribe's time living in the mountains. "It's at a mountain peak that's always covered in clouds."

"I saw a flying white dog fifty years ago in the northeast region."

"It's an area filled with mindless cannibalistic youkai."

"You can see the castle at sunrise and sunset, but only for a moment." Inuyasha felt his entire body relax. This was the information he needed. He was happy he'd thought to come here, he was feeling extremely relieved.

"Grandmother always said a goddess lived there."

"The mountain is very sheer."

He nodded memorizing every detail they were giving him, especially the ones about its location. He'd never been to the area they'd come from, but he learned it was cold. He'd be fine so long as he managed to meet her before his human night. He couldn't risk that type of cold in that form. He continued to nod as they told him things and when it was over he was brought to a room with the elders. This made him uncomfortable.

Kouga and Ayame were there and Ayame finally took the cub back from him though she became fussy because of this. "The lord of the west sent his men here looking for you before."

"I figured." Inuyasha said, clenching his teeth and jaw. An action that didn't go unnoticed by Kouga.

"Should they come searching for you again, what should we tell them?" This made Inuyasha's eyes widen. "You saved our people before, it's the least we would do."

Inuyasha nodded feeling his stomach tighten. He took a deep breath before speaking. It made the wolf king realized Inuyasha was in deep shit at the moment. Kouga still didn't like the hanyou but could admit he owed him a favor or two. "Just make sure your people don't tell them what I'm doing. Who I'm looking for."

They nodded their understanding and invited him for a meal. He joined them and ended up drinking with the wolves he knew. Of course, he and Kouga ended up in a shouting match, but it was nice to sleep in a place where he wasn't worried about being attacked. He was happy to be able to bathe too. It was comfortable being in the spring alone, it gave him room and space to think.

Based on all that was said by the wolves, the castle was in the northern most part of the mountain range and would reveal itself for mere seconds when the sun rose and when it set. He felt relieved that it seemed like his luck was finally returning to him. If the wolves hadn't known anything then he would have wandered around searching for any clue he could get his claws on. He realized he'd drank too much when he swayed coming out of the spring. They'd already given him a place to sleep, and he practically collapsed into the furs with Kilala deciding to sleep on his back once more.

That night he'd had one of the worse nightmares of his adult life. Flashbacks of when he'd been attacked, fear of being attacked again in the future. He woke with a start, breathing heavily before nearly vomiting. He drank the water in the room and tried to compose himself. He wouldn't let this break him. He wouldn't fall apart. Kilala mewled at him with concern. He could only sigh and stand. He needed to keep moving. He couldn't relax. Not yet anyway. He was so close to his goal already.

On his way out he was given well wishes and a bit of supplies as he headed out. He thanked them and darted away, towards his goal. He planned to search for the castle for as long as it took. He would be free of Sesshomaru and get back to his life after gutting him like a fish. The silence and peace of the nature around him was soothing though, it helped keep his mind clear and focused. He was on the right path.

—

Sesshomaru was feeling exhausted. 2 weeks. His mate had disappeared 2 weeks ago. He'd simply vanished into thin air which meant one thing and one thing only, he'd been taken. Who could manage to kidnap Inuyasha of all people? There was no Naraku, he didn't have any enemies currently, and the Tetsuaiga was too large a deterrent. He closed his eyes and leaned against a tree. He should've forced him to mark him. Then he could just pinpoint him no matter where he was. His youkai hadn't been helpful either. All it would do was whine for their mate who wanted nothing to do with them and it annoyed him.

He wanted Inuyasha to just die already. He should just let him die, but he wasn't sure the effect that would have on him. Technically, the true reason he wouldn't let others know Inuyasha hadn't marked him was because those who wanted him to mate their children would target him. He…didn't want him to die…if only because that's how his youkai felt. Which he couldn't understand. His conscious self would be happier with Inuyasha dead but his youkai, his truest self was adamantly against it. The youkai had never had a kind word for the hanyou, but his youkai acted like an obsessed and scorned lover at the same time where the hanyou was concerned. "I should've killed him."

If the council hadn't been speaking of trying to find the hanyou a mate on their side then Sesshomaru would have never felt the need to kill him. Inuyasha stayed to himself. Stayed out of western youkai politics and stayed away. The council had been going through the different families and wondering whose child the hanyou was so they could hopefully arrange a mating to keep the hanyou in the west and use his strength. It would have ruined everything. It was still ruining everything. If only he was dead. It would be better if he was dead! He absolutely despised his youkai and whatever strange attachment to Inuyasha it had.

He bit his lip, he hated himself and whatever strange attachment to Inuyasha he had. He sighed taking a seat. Did he really have such a large hang up about killing Inuyasha? Even though, all of his problems would be solved if he died. No one would be asking about her if not for him. He thought about the hanyou from before and in recent times. He figured if he gave it a few decades the hanyou would eventually calm down. If the hanyou marked him before then then so be it, and he would let him run off as he pleased. His youkai just refused to let him go otherwise. It was frustrating.

When he'd woken from when it'd taken over, he felt like complete garbage and was hoping the hanyou hadn't ended up pregnant again. He didn't want a repeat of last time. If he was honest, it would be better if they both just died. That would really fix everything. Two beings that shouldn't exist, finally ceasing to. Sometimes he wished he wasn't as powerful as he was. Maybe he would have already perished by now if he wasn't. He was tired.

He took in the nature around him as he cleared his thoughts and meditated. He'd never understand why his youkai just didn't stop him from killing Inuyasha. Why would it mate him? That…could've come later…he would've been reluctant, but he could've done it properly at least. He didn't…want to be like him. Anything like him. He wanted everything to end with him. He took a deep breath before focusing on Inuyasha. He was annoyed and frustrated, confused and anxious. At least he didn't seem to be in any danger, it was the only thing keeping his violent youkai even remotely calm since his disappearance.

He thought about the memories from when their youkai were interacting. With his conscious mind he could see how uncomfortable and unwilling Inuyasha's youkai had been. It was frustrating. The way it whimpered and asked him to stop, the volatile creature that slaughtered everything in its path as it raged, quietly begged him to stop. Telling him that he was hurting him and asking why it's mate would hurt him. It made his stomach tighten painfully. "…no matter what I do…I'm no better than he is…" It was obvious from his youkai's behavior…that deep down…they were exactly the same. A thought that frightened and disgusted him.

The only hope he had for his youkai…for himself…was that it would likely keep the promise it made. He wasn't like Inuyasha, he and his youkai were one and the same. He couldn't separate it from his consciousness like Inuyasha could.

He sat in that forest for hours, clearing his head and trying to calm himself if only a little bit. He exhaled slowly. "I should just kill everyone." That's what the youkai really wanted to do. He wanted to kill the council and most of those who worked for him, the sly bastards. They wanted him to go off to a war so they could control everything, but he knew the west would fall to ruin if he allowed it. He wanted to return to wandering, but the disarray they'd caused made it impossible to continue doing so.

Too many people were suffering and too many thought they would be able to encroach upon his lands. He stood and looked at the sky. Something needed to give, and he was unsure of what would first. Sesshomaru was extremely frustrated and if he was honest, he blamed the council. If they hadn't been pushing to meet him, he could've paid more attention to Inuyasha. He sighed as he headed to another meeting, his youkai raging since he didn't know where his mate was. When he arrived, much to his displeasure, the council was there. His advisers looked extremely annoyed with them. The council members were all ancient youkai, so the advisers weren't much of a threat to them.

"We see you have yet to find Lord Inuyasha." One of the council members spoke.

Sesshomaru said nothing and glared at him while looking at all the documents his advisers had gathered. They were searching for Inuyasha strategically. Starting with his enemies and combing the lands. He read through everything, frustrated that it was leading to another dead end. "Milord, we'll fine him I'm sure of it." Kotono tried, seeing how annoyed his lord was.

"You should have just locked the beast in the dungeons instead of the family wing. That certainly would have forced his compliance." A councilman huffed. He soon found Sesshomaru's whip around his neck as he attacked him. Everyone watched as Sesshomaru began to torment the youkai. I was uncharacteristic for the youkai to have such a charged response to the words of another. Typically, he didn't even bother dirtying his hands. Only when he was begging with every fiber of his being for forgiveness did he let up. Sesshomaru's youki filled eyes found his grandfather, glaring at him. He was daring the youkai to say something against him.