Megumi tries not to look at Shippo, dressed in the shortest skirt he has ever seen. The top, if it could really be called that, shows off Shippo's midriff. It's a little chilly for such attire, but as Shippo so eloquently put it, "Hoes, don't get cold."

He doesn't know if he wants to barf, claw his eyes out, or abort the mission and tell Maki to figure it out on her own.

He didn't sign up for this…trauma.

"Kagome-san would never wear that," he mumbles, approaching the entrance to the Zenin estate. Did Kagome-san know Shippo would pretend to be her dressed in such revealing clothing?

"I bet Mama wears something like this for Dad all the time." Shippo stands up on his toes and sticks his butt out. "She probably hit him with the come and get it. No wonder she's knocked up."

"I'm gonna barf."

"Good. That's good. Keep that energy. It'll make it more believable." Shippo runs his hands together, but the sinister smile is so many levels of wrong on Kagome-san's face that Megumi is getting whiplash.

That's not Kagome-san. That's Shippo. Maybe if he repeats it over and over in his mind, he won't feel like a teenager discovering his parents have sex.

Oh Kami.

He's definitely gonna puke.

"Ooh Zenin-san!" Shippo calls sweetly, flipping his black hair back before toying with the edge of his white skirt.

Virgin white. That's what Shippo told him before they left Sesshomaru-sama's estate. Megumi swallows the bile and grits his teeth.

Virgin white.

Why is that stuck in his head?

"It's about time ya learned how to address me with the proper respect," Naoya says, leering at Shippo's legs.

How far is Shippo going to take this? The fox glides over to Naoya like a trained dancer and runs his hands down Naoya's chest.

"I was such a fool before," Shippo sighs. "I thought Satoru was the strongest, but I was wrong. Can you forgive me?" Shippo's hand trails down.

Naoya blinks and then grins. He reaches down and grabs a handful of Shippo's butt, squeezing it like he wants to take a piece of it with him.

Megumi looks up at the sky. It's rather nice out, all things considering. "Where are Maki and Mai?" He asks, still looking up at the clear skies. Today feels like it should have been an overcast day. Grey. Depressed. Kind of like how he is feeling right now, having to watch this scene play out.

When Gojo-sensei gets out of that box, he is going to beat his ass himself and put him back for having to suffer through this.

"In the pits." Naoya sneers at him. "What's with the face, Megumi-kun?"

"Bothers me to see Kagome-san pressing up on you. Thought you were loyal to Gojo-sensei?"

Shippo sighs. "Oh Megumi-kun, you do not understand. A woman can only do so much. Satoru promised to take care of me. Said I never had anything to worry about. But that's not true." Shippo bats his eyelashes at Naoya. "What I need is a real man. A real sorcerer to put me in my place."

Shippo leans in closer and slides his hands, so they rest on Naoya's shoulders. "You're that man, right? Can you put me in my place?"

"Wanna hear ya say it," Naoya breathes, focused so intently on Shippo, that someone could attack Naoya right now and he wouldn't notice.

"Under you." Shippo giggles.

He can't do this any longer. Megumi storms away. The image is seared into his brain.

"Men like Naoya think with their dicks," is what Shippo said to him before they left. "Doesn't matter what Mama did in the past. A little flattery and a wink is enough to have Naoya crawling on his knees."

He didn't want to believe Shippo was right… but he glances back and wishes he hadn't.

Where the hell are the pits? Anything is better than that cursed scene behind him. He presses his lips into a firm line at the sight of Jinichi-san. The tall, muscular Zenin with the wild hair that he refuses to call uncle.

"Where are the pits?" Megumi cracks his neck, barely reacting when Buyo Jr. and the cat shikigami jump out from his shadow and land on his shoulders.

"Interesting shikigami, you got there. They don't look like a part of the ten shadows technique."

"Because they aren't." Megumi keeps his face blank. The air is off. Though he figured this was a trap before he arrived. They must not like the idea of him being clan leader. "Where are the pits? I'm here for Maki and Mai."

"Heard ya tryin' to let Gojo out the box." Jinichi-san places his hand over his sword. He moves closer. Jinichi-san's breath is sour. Like rotten grapes mixed with sake.

So that's their angle. Buyo Jr. hisses. The cat shikigami jumps down and transforms into its more humanoid form. It waves a hand and Jinichi-san goes flying into a building.

Well…okay then? Still doesn't solve the issue of where the pits are.

"Buyo, can you smell Maki?"

"Meow." Buyo Jr. fluffs up his fur and jumps down, transforming into his bigger form. Is it just Megumi or was there a bit of attitude in that meow? He shrugs and pulls out a sword. Jinichi-san will come after them, but he needs to find Maki and Mai first. Something isn't adding up. Why would either of them try to kill the other?

Buyo leads them into a building and down the hall. The stench of blood is strong. The hairs on his arms rise. There's a lot of curse activity here. Is that what the pits are? He gnaws on the inside of his cheek. He'll thank Gojo-sensei first for preventing the sale of him all those years ago and then he'll kick his ass.

Megumi kicks open the door. The metallic smell smacks him in the face. He nearly doubles over. Curses surround Maki and Mai. They lie there in the middle of the floor, barely moving. The only thing keeping the curses at bay is Miroku-san.

Shit.

There are too many curses to count. Even if they are weak, the sheer number of them is a problem.

"You too, Miroku-san?"

"It's nothing personal, Megumi-kun," Miroku-san croaks. "You know the rules. You know the consequence of trying to free Gojo Satoru."

"Let them go," he replies, gripping his sword. He has the high ground, but Miroku-san is strong. Has to be to keep all those curses at bay.

Buyo Jr. snaps his teeth at Miroku-san, his tails twitch with agitation. The cat shikigami shifts, ears pinned back.

Miroku-san tilts his head to the side, staring down the cat shikigami. There's a tenseness to his shoulders. "I'll make you a deal. Pick one to save."

"I'm not choosing between them." He steps forward, but Buyo Jr. steps in front of him. "There's a sorcerer out there planning a culling game and you want to fight?"

"So, you won't choose?" Miroku-san sighs. "How boring." He snaps his fingers, and the curses descend. Maki groans, struggling to get up, but Miroku-san kicks her in the side, pushing her closer to Mai.

Shit. He doesn't need this. He needs to be focused on the culling games. On rescuing Tsumiki. Not dealing with a clan quarrel.

He summons rabbit escape. The bunnies rush forward with Buyo Jr. aiding them against the curses. Miroku-san flashes out of sight and backhands him.

Shit.

Shit.

Shit.

Where the hell is Shippo?

Miroku-san's arm changes, mutates, and turns into a sword. He rolls to the side and blocks. Where the hell did this strength come from? Or has he always been this strong? Miroku-san's face changes, his body gets bigger, the energy becomes more visceral. Darker.

This is a demon. Is this Naraku? He resembles the sketch Gojo-sensei drafted.

"Impressive. But not enough," Naraku coos. His red eyes are more vibrant than the bloodstains on the floor. Arms, like spider legs, sprout out of his back. They itch closer.

He can't die here.

He pushes back, pushing everything he has into it. Naraku skids back and then dodges an attack from the cat shikigami. Something wet trickles down his face. Blood. Megumi wipes it away with the back of his hand.

Boom!

Jinichi-san bursts into the room. His eyes wild. Scratches adorn his body like decorations. "Oh Megumi-kun!" he shouts, stalking towards him and then frowning. "Who the hell are you?"

Naraku rolls his eyes. "You had one job." His spider-like limbs stab Jinichi-san in the chest, spearing him like a kabob. He pulls him in closer. The limb bubbles and Megumi's eyes widen in horror.

Is he eating him?

He needs to get to Shippo, now. "Buyo!" Megumi runs, slicing away at the limbs that try to grab a hold of him. The cat shikigami holds out its hands, keeping the curses at bay, while Buyo Jr. and the rabbits follow him with Maki and Mai. Megumi pumps his legs to go faster. No one told him there was a demon here!

If that is Naraku, then that's the same demon that wiped out the Gojo clan.

He runs until he's out of the building. Where is Shippo? Now would be a great time for the fox to show up.

"Megumi-kun," Jinichi-san gurgles from behind him. Naraku's low, deep chuckle sears into Megumi's psyche.

Naraku is toying with him.

"No point in running. Even if I don't get to you. There's no way you can fight off all these curses."

Megumi presses his lips together. More curses surround him. No, these are demons. A bead of sweat drips down his brow. Demons in front of him, curses behind him. The rabbits separate and attack the demons, trying to fend them off.

"Just go," Maki says, wheezing. Her glasses are cracked. The burns on her face appear more angry than when she got them.

"I'm not leaving you."

The ground rumbles. His eyes widen as something pierces Mai through the gut. Her screams are so pain filled, he wants to cover his ears. Wait, why isn't going after him? He blinks. A bubble?

The cat shikigami growls, trying to flap its wings, but the wings are small. Buyo Jr. knocks the cat shikigami from behind and it lands on his back.

What are they doing?

There's a bright light and some demons combust.

"Oh, I know you aren't having fun without me," Shippo quips, dragging Naoya behind him. "Naraku? What a sight for sore eyes. Why I haven't seen you in centuries. Whatcha doing here?"

"Who are you? The fox?"

"Does it matter?"

Megumi's eyes dart between the two. Mai isn't breathing. Maki struggles to claw her way to Mai.

Naraku shrugs. He turns to the side and grabs a hold of the curses remaining.

No, he isn't eating them. He's absorbing them.

And Shippo looks not at all concerned. Why isn't he concerned?

"Shippo," Megumi says, but the fox ignores him, still dragging Naoya behind him. Megumi blinks. There's blood concentrated around Naoya's groin and his mouth…. Oh, he's going to barf. His throat constricts. His eyes water.

That's fucking sick.

"Still chasing the bottom feeders, are you?" Shippo shakes his head. "You know, for someone so strong, you always run away from a fight." The illusion fades and Shippo stands there with his tail swishing behind him.

Naraku's jaw clenches. "Seems your mouth has grown bigger than your strength." He lashes out. Shippo throws Naoya in front of him, using him as a shield.

Megumi snaps out of his stupor and rushes over to Maki and Mai. "Is she breathing?" he asks, while pressing his fingers to Mai's throat, searching for a pulse. Arrows rain from above, but they hit the bubble and dissipate.

"She's gone," Maki says, but her voice is distant. "Even after she tried to kill me, I didn't—" Her voice breaks.

"Did she attack you or was it Naraku?" He jerks his head toward Naraku and Shippo.

…Is that a spinner?

Megumi sucks in a breath. He needs Shippo to take this seriously.

"Sesshomaru-sama has a sword. We can take her to him."

Maki shakes her head. "She took everything. The little curse energy I had. She took it with her." She stands and tosses her broken glasses. "One of us was always fated to die."

"But Sesshomaru-sama can bring her back."

But Maki isn't listening to him. A sword appears in her hands. Mai's body fades away like the bodies of those demons. She is just gone. No ashes. No bones. Nothing. Megumi stands, tries to keep Maki in the bubble with him, but she's fast. Much faster than before.

"Wait!"

She ignores him, charging after Shippo and Naraku. There's no discernment with her blade. She attacks both. An arrow hits her in the shoulder.

Shit. Shit. Shit. What the hell is she doing? Has she lost it?

Megumi beats against the bubble. "Let me out."

The cat shikigami shakes its head.

Seriously!

He snarls, cursing the shikigami and Buyo Jr. He doesn't need protecting. He can fight too. The ground shakes again and the thing that attacked Mai emerges. In its mouth is Obi-san, or what is left of him.

"Maki! That's Shippo. He's on our side!"

Maki rips the arrow out of her shoulder. She turns her head, barely acknowledging him. "He's like the other. Choose."

Choose?

Megumi grits his teeth. He really doesn't have time for this.


A/N: Sheesh this chapter was harder to write, but action scenes are a weak point for me. Might have to give Megumi another gacha shikigami egg for his trauma. Next update will be either A Thousand Days or Wish I Could. I've started on both, so expect an update sometime next week provided I don't get sick.

Stay healthy! Stay Warm. If you have to get out, take your time because you only make bad decisions when you are in a rush. take your vitamins and try to get as much rest as possible.

Here is a snippet below of the fox story I'm working on, if ya interested:

So this is how it ends.

The ground slips away and I'm falling. My hands shoot out to the sides of me. Shit. There's nothing to grab a hold to. Nothing to slow me down.

There is nothing but pitch black darkness until I'm falling towards the light.

Oh fuck no, please don't tell me I'm falling to hell or somewhere awful. My eyes squeeze shut.

Don't die. Don't die. Don't die. I chant over and over.

Crash.

Ow. My butt hurts like a motherfucker. Wait. Why is the ground moving…again. The ground moves. My heart thrashes in my chest.

This isn't the ground.

I gulp. This thing, whatever it is, has horns. Sharp. Looks like they can impale me like a sheet of tissue paper.

"Hey there, big guy. Nice guy?"

It lets out a shriek that pierces my eardrums something fierce. It shakes and I'm falling over. My hands grapple, but its skin is so smooth that I topple over like water.

I'm gonna die. Here lies Megan: she had no family, no friends. She leaves behind an ex boyfriend that cursed her name and took every penny she saved. And she was a dumbass for falling through that hole.

My side aches, but I can't lie here. The thing, whatever it is with its big horns, smooth as rubber body, and a snout, so long it resembles an ant eater. Which fitting. This thing is massive and I'm clearly an ant in this scenario.

Get up! Run! Blood pumps through my legs, howling with every strain. Don't look back.

Crap.

It's so close that one trip and I'll be a goner for sure.

Why couldn't it be like an herbivore? Those fangs are massive.

Crap. Double crap. The tree branches scrape at my clothes. The vegetation is all wrong. It's not green, not really, but almost so dark that it may as well be black.

I pump my legs faster. Come on! Need to find shelter. Somewhere to hide. Can't die here. I'm a fighter.

Never back down.

Crash.

Oh, fuck me sideways, what was that?

"Human?" The voice questions.

I shiver. Whoever this guy is, his voice is like sin on wheels. The creature screeches and I need to get up. Keep running.

"Stop. What is a human doing here?" He grabs my arm and I jerk back.

Oh?

His eyes are purple. Like an amethyst. His hair is as pitch black as the trees…and are those dog ears?

"What the hell…" I try to jerk my arm back, but his grip is so tight it's like trying to break free from a snake's grip. "Let go, dog boy!"

"Dog?" He sniffs, his large ears twitch and then swirl towards the direction of that thing. "I am a fox."

"I. Don't. Care. Let me go."

Crappp, it's here. I squeeze my eyes shut. Maybe if I don't look, it won't hurt. Warm air blows across the back of my neck.

This is it.

I would have fared better against those wanna be thugs.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying not to think about the pain. Be quiet."

"Perhaps I should feed you to the klarvak."