"Unforgivable! I'll kill him! Isn't that what you're thinking? Don't make me laugh! You're a half-demon, Inuyasha, are you not? Demon blood courses through your veins, yet you still take pity on humans?" The purple abomination looking like a mixture of ogre and overly muscular rat was towering over him. Goshinki was mocking him as the two kids hid behind Inuyasha's back clinging to the bloodied clothes of their parents Goshinki had devoured.

"Shaddup! I'll kill you!" He decided to use the wind scar although the attack was still not his. Not fully under his control. He needed time to smell the wind and sense where to cut through. Dammit.

To Goshinki, it didn't matter. He sensed Inuyasha's intent, he could read his thoughts so he waited. Countering the attack he knew about was simple; he stepped forward, through the line Inuyasha wanted to cut through and destroyed the wind scar. The huge sword in the middle of a swing was an easy target.

"Okay! Then I'll just slice you in half!" Inuyasha shouted.

But the demon caught the blade in its jaws, and bit down on it. "Without the wind scar, Tetsusaiga is just another dog fang!" He enforced the pressure and bit through the sword, breaking Tetsusaiga in two, like it was a toothpick.

Shocked, Inuyasha was completely exposed to Goshinki's claws and his wounds were reopened.

"Inuyasha! Noo!" Kagome's voice was filled with terror and fear for her loved one.

"Oh Inuyasha." Goshinki laughed. "Are you dead, perhaps?"

Kagome didn't care about the demon, she ran towards Inuyasha. Miroku tried to stop her, but he just got hit by Goshinki. The demon didn't bother using his claws to cause a serious wound, he merely knocked the monk out.

"Don't rush to your deaths. I'm going to devour you one by one anyways." He chuckled. "And you, Kagome, shall be my first." The girl was staring at him, praying for Inuyasha to get up and save her. "Foolish girl, Inuyasha's already…" What's this?! Inuyasha's mind!

Goshinki panicked as Inuyasha rose from the ground and slashed off his right arm with only his claws.

"Is there something wrong, Goshinki?" Inuyasha asked, his voice hoarse, demonic. "I thought you could read my mind."

The wound on Inuyasha's torso was closed, only a pink scar remained. Jagged demon markings appeared on his cheeks and his eyes turned red and green. His youki resembled that of Sesshomaru.

Everyone from his group was shocked. This had never happened before.

"I don't understand… Inuyasha, why have you transformed?" Goshinki asked, blood dripping from his stump.

"Keh, who knows?" Inuyasha grinned, conscious enough to talk. "You should be less concerned about me and more concerned about your judgement day."

Goshinki was scared. What's going on? Inuyasha's mind is completely different from just a minute ago. There's no sadness, no fear, no confusion… not even anger! He's delighted at the thought of killing me! He had to attack. "I'll rip you apart with my fangs!" He charged at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha jumped, he was ready for the demon. "The demon blood that flows through my body-"

"Silence!"

"-isn't like yours! I'm in a class of my own!" The hanyo finished and sliced through the demon, which had been winning up until that moment. "Heh," he looked at Goshinki's corpse, or what remained of it: "Goshinki, I enjoyed that."

"Inuyasha… Inuyasha, what happened to you?" Kagome asked, scared of those words Inuyasha had said. She was slowly approaching him, knowing it might be dangerous.

He ignored her, staring at his bloodied claws. I feel the blood rushing through my body. What is this? This feeling? I… He looked at the corpse again, I haven't had enough killing! I want to…

"Inuyasha?"

He snarled at her. "Stay away from me! I don't know what I'll do next."

"What's happened to you, Inuyasha?" Shippo asked too.

"The demon in him, it's gotten stronger. He's almost like a full-fledged demon now." Miroku supplied.

"Inuyasha… The enemy is gone." Kagome was careful, but not afraid. She trusted him.

"Kagome!" Miroku warned her.

"Don't get near me!" He stepped back.

"Inuyasha…" She was just a step away, ignoring the warnings of her friends. "Inuyasha," she outstretched her arms, as if wanting to hug him, then she said: "Inuyasha. Sit!"

The beads of subjugation shone and the hanyo hit the ground head first. "Urgh! Will you stop doin' that?!"

"Ah, he's back to normal." Sango said and all three were blinking at Inuyasha in surprise.

######

Sesshomaru turned his head north. The evening breeze brought new scents to him. A lot of blood was spilled. Inuyasha… His blood. He frowned. He changed?

"What is it, Milord?" Jaken asked curiously.

"We're changing course." Sesshomaru said and turned north, picking up their pace, but not rushing.

Hotaru was staring in that direction with a hand over her heart. "It's different than the night before. Many people died there." Inuyasha's youki feels… She glanced at Sesshomaru, unable to decipher whether he was curious, worried or indifferent. She was worried.

They continued walking the whole night. A-Un carried Rin when she slept. He offered them to switch, but Hotaru refused. One sleepless night never killed anyone and she didn't want to have nightmares while riding A-Un's back. The vivid scary nightmares were a new thing and she was petrified, she might accidentally purify or hurt the gentle dragon in her sleep.

The first sun rays woke Rin up. And from then on, she continued on her own feet, skipping and hopping ahead of them to warm up in the chilly misty morning.

"Ah! There's a hill! Jaken-sama, I bet I will be there first!"

"There is a dead demon up ahead." Sesshomaru said calmly.

She glanced at him, laughed and slapped Jaken's shoulder. "You're IT!" She called and bolted ahead.

"Hey! WAIT!" Easy to manipulate into her whims, Jaken ran after her.

They dashed up the hill, leaving Hotaru and Seshsomaru behind.

"Hn."

"Not scared in the slightest, she really must trust us." She shook her head and looked at Sesshomaru over her shoulder. "We shouldn't be left behind."

So do you. He thought when he stared at Hotaru's figure walking in front of him. Places like the one ahead were unpleasant for priestesses, yet she didn't complain.

"I win!" Rin declared when they reached the peak of the hill and the first ruins, her voice echoing in the surrounding trees.

"I lose." Jaken whined. "Ah, fool! This was not a race!"

"Ah," Goshinki's corpse was lying on the ground a few metres ahead. "Look, Jaken-sama. Just as Sesshomaru-sama said, there's a dead demon!" Then she looked around and froze. There was dried blood on the ground and some torn clothes, but no bodies, except the demon's. The air was heavy, filled with suffering and remorse. She turned round and round and noticed fresh graves decorated with simple wildflowers. "The villagers are buried." She said in a quiet voice. The gravity of this place hitting her, even as a child, she could perceive the grim atmosphere.

"They buried them, how many graves does it make?" Hotaru patted her head and walked towards the graves and knelt in a silent prayer. Rin silently joined her in paying respect to the dead.

Jaken was walking around and staring at the demon corpse that was almost completely destroyed. "My godness, who could have done this?"

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru answered, walking up to them at a leisure pace. He took in the sight of the battlefield, picturing the fight just from the scent, tracks and footprints. "Inuyasha did this. Although… I doubt that he was able to escape unscathed."

Then he walked towards the demon's corpse and picked up Goshinki's severed head to have a closer look. He needed to make sure. I can smell it on the demon's fangs… The scent of Tetsusaiga. Just as I thought, these fangs broke Tetsusaiga in half.

"Sesshomaru-sama?" Rin glanced at him warily, eying the Goshinki's head.

Hotaru returned to them from the graves. "That demon is…?"

"A part of Naraku. An incarnation it seems." The scent in the wind tells me what transpired here, but one thing baffles me. The smell of Inuyasha's blood has changed. It was not the smell of a half-demon. Inuyasha's blood has the same scent as my blood and our father's.

"So he can create other demons as his servants. Hmmm…" When she focused she could see traces of energies and auras left in the battlefield and together with tracks it gave her a clear picture of what happened there. "Inuyasha's youki chan-"

"Meow."

She turned around. Her eyes widened and a wide happy smile settled on her lips. "Kitty-cat!"

Kirara walked out from rubbles and hopped up into Hotaru's arms. She nuzzled her face against Hotaru's. 'I was waiting for you.' She showed her glimpses of the fight, Inuyasha's berserk mode after his sword had been broken, Sango's injuries and even the fight with other Naraku's incarnations from three nights ago. "So I was right…"

"Is this Kirara?" Rin poked the cat's back and Kirara's fur bristled before calming down and greeting Rin.

"Yes, it's Kirara. And she wants me to come with her. They have injuries that might need my assistance." Kirara jumped off her arms and transformed.

"Whoa." Rin's eyes widened.

"Hn."

"WHAT?!" Jaken shrieked and took a step towards her. "YOU ARE LEAVING TO WHAT?! HELP INUYASHA?! Don't you know we hate him?!"

"You might, I don't. I travel with you, but I'm not a blind mindless follower nor a servant. Inuyasha did me no wrong and Sango is like my little sister." She defended herself briskly, frowning at Jaken. She decided to follow Sesshomaru, she respected him, but she didn't give up her sanity. "I already told this to Sesshomaru as well."

The imp spluttered incoherently, enraged by her selfish request and lack of obedience towards their lord. "YOU, YOU, YOU… YOU DIM-WITTED TRAITOR!"

"Silence, Jaken." The imp shrunk under Sesshomaru's deadly glare. Then he turned his eyes to Hotaru.

She bit her lip and shifted her weight but she didn't step back and remained stubbornly staring into his unreadable golden eyes. If she made him feel betrayed, she was sorry. No matter the hatred Sesshomaru had for Inuyasha, it was not hers. She was not backing down, she wanted to see Sango.

Disliking the idea, he didn't say anything for a while, but his eye twitched irritably. Strong willed. Independent. "Do as you wish."

Interesting. "Okay." She replied carefully.

"When are you coming back?" Rin ran up to her with adorable puppy eyes.

"The moment they're up and fighting again, I'll ask Kirara to carry me back. I hope it'll be by the new moon."

"WAIT WHAT?!" Jaken jumped towards her. "YOU'RE LEAVING THE KID WITH US?!"

"Yes." Hotaru was looking at both of them. "My spiritual powers fade around the new moon. I won't be able to use them outwardly, or maybe at all. Inuyasha is unstable and sword-less, Sango's injured and the rest are not exactly the top fighters in their group. In the following couple of days she is safer with you and A-Un than with me."

Rin nodded. "Please come back to me." She pulled at Hotaru's sleeve until the priestess leant down to receive a kiss.

"I will." She said a pang of guilt and sorrow spreading in her chest as she said those promising words. Promises can be dangerous.

She and Sesshomaru nodded at each other in understanding. "Until our paths cross again." She said with a smile and turned to Kirara.

Now he knew that the phrase she so naturally used wasn't a goodbye, it was never meant as a goodbye. It was a hidden promise. Hidden like those crows.

"Let's go." He threw Goshinki's head over his shoulder and holding it by a horn he started walking away.

"Eh?" Jaken blinked at him. Then at Hotaru, who was paying them no attention anymore, then back at him. "That's it? You allow her to- uhm… Are you taking that?" He pointed at Goshinki's head.

######

Hotaru saw the group resting and talking near a stream, and they all noticed Kirara returning. There was one more member she'd never seen before a three eyed cow. Who might you be?

"Our paths cross again. You've been busy." She jumped off Kirara's back with a smile. "I saw the battlefield. Thought you might need a hand."

"Hotaru-san!" Sango scrambled to her feet wincing in pain, but she had to go hug her friend.

"Hotaru-sama!" Myoga jumped on Inuyasha's shoulder. "Have you reached Bokusen-Oh-sama?"

As the wind changed direction, Inuyasha abruptly stood in front of Sango in a defensive stance and slapped Myoga away. He was growling at Hotaru, his claws ready to cut. She tensed, grabbing her staff more securely.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome was on her feet approaching him. "What are you doing? It's Hotaru-sama! And Sango-chan's still injured. She's here to help, not harm us."

"Keh! Why do I smell Sesshomaru on you? Did he send ya?!" He shouted then grinned. "Too bad. Tetsusaiga was broken."

"I felt as much." She said, staring at him levelly. "...and that the broken Tetsusaiga is not your only issue."

He almost took a step back under her stare, shifting his weight, but didn't lower his claws. "So what does he want?" His chest was still vibrating with a low, unconscious, growling.

Hotaru sighed and ran fingers through her hair. She forced her body to relax and placed her case on the ground. "Sesshomaru did not send me. If he wanted to attack you, he would've done so on his own. Don't you know him better? He's too proud to have a human, or anyone else, do what he believes are his biddings."

Inuyasha opened his mouth, then closed it and tilted his head. She made sense. He relaxed, but remained glaring at her.

"I'm glad that you understand."

"Uhm, Hotaru-sama. But why is Sesshomaru-sama's scent on you?" Myoga jumped on her shoulder and bit her neck.

She slapped him on instinct and let him fall to the ground. "Well, strange as it may be, I'm travelling with him for now."

"WHAT?!" Inuyasha almost fell over. "You're WHAT?! Are you NUTS?! Wait… he allowed it?!"

"Aa-ah~ would you stop yelling at me?" She frowned at Inuyasha. "I did you no wrong and I decided on my own. It's pragmatic. He didn't kill me and my chances to survive and actually get my memories back are higher this way. That's all. I take no sides in your messed up brotherly relationship."

Everyone was staring at her in disbelief.

"Oh, come on." She sighed. "I apologise for my harsher tone, I didn't come here looking for a fight… I simply wanted to see Sango. That's all. I didn't grow another head."

Miroku blinked and shook off the shock first. "No, but it is very unusual that a demon like Sesshomaru, who hates humans, would allow a human to join him."

"I wonder why as well, but… I never had any terrifying experience with him." She shrugged. "So I don't think he is as bad as you were made to believe. You're all still alive after several encounters too." That got them all thinking.

Inuyasha wasn't impressed. Or maybe he realised there was something more to her words. "He'll kill ya." He warned.

"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Although I don't think so.

"You wouldn't have told us if Inuyasha didn't smell him on you. Right?" Sango asked.

"I wouldn't want you to worry." She smiled sadly and turned to Sango. "So no, I wouldn't have told you. For the time being."

"You can be a fool, Hotaru-san. But you're the only family I have left; you should tell me these things."

"I should be taking care of you. Not the other way around." She pulled Sango into a hug and squeezed her tight. "I'm glad to see you again."

"Urgh, my ribs-"

"-are cracked." Hotaru pulled away. "Now, show me, the new moon's close, but I might be able to do something about it." She glanced at Inuyasha. "I see you are all healed."

He nodded in agreement.

"Good, it wasn't pretty. Kirara showed me the wounds after you were hit by your own attack."

"Yeah, it was bad, but I ain't soft." Inuyasha huffed, then grabbed a bundle of cloth with his broken sword and hopped on the cow's back. "I'm going to Totosai. See ya!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome shouted after him, but he flew away on the cow quickly. "Sorry for his rudeness, Hotaru-sama."

"No worries. He has a point." She sat down near a fire where they were baking fish Inuyahsa had caught previously. "Tell me more about Naraku's incarnations, while I treat Sango."

######

Sesshomaru and Jaken were walking through a deadly bubbling marsh filled with poison, bones and rotting flesh. The stench was abusing Sesshomaru's sensitive nose, but as he learnt, this was the place where the swordsmith he had been looking for resided. And he needed him to commission a sword. A little further into the deadly marsh they discovered a small hut with the demon inhabiting it.

The humanoid demon with a balding head and tiny horns was sprawled on the ground, drinking sake. He looked up at Sesshomaru, "hicc, who the hell are you?"

"You are Kaijinbo, I take it." He countered. "The smith who forged too many deviant swords that was banished by his master, Totosai."

"Totosai, huh?" The demon sat up, his curiosity piqued. "Haven't heard that name in quite a while, but it still makes my blood boil."

Sesshomaru threw Goshinki's head in front of the demon swordsmith. "How about it, Kaijinbo? I would have you forge a sword for me with the fangs of this demon."

"Mmm?" He leant to examine the demon head. "Keh, don't take me for a fool! I can't make a sword out of something that is already dead."

Sesshomaru unsheathed Tenseiga, determined to bring Goshinki's head back to life. Kaijinbo, not knowing his intentions, backed away. Good. He narrowed his eyes, focusing. He felt Tenseiga's disapproval and distaste, but he could see them regardless. They were there, the minions of the netherworld crawling over Goshinki's head. You will bring the head back to life. He grabbed the hilt strongly and cut them down. After a few seconds, Goshinki's eyes glowed red.

As the evil aura returned to the fangs too, Kaijinbo chuckled and caressed the head. "Wow, the demon's head has come back to life!"

"Allow me to explain something, Kainjinbo. This sword," he held Tenseiga up, "the Tenseiga, was forged by the same master who banished you some time ago. And the fangs of the demon I lay here before you," he pointed at the head, "broke Tetsusaiga, a sword that was also forged by Totosai."

"Incredible! These fangs will form a powerful sword." He nodded, tenderly touching the fangs. "It shall be done within three days and three nights."

######

"And are you certain that Inuyasha-sama, really transformed?" Myoga asked during the dinner, when he finally thought it was the right time to address the issue while Inuyasha was gone.

"Mmm." Kagome agreed. "Does it have anything to do with Tetsusaiga being broken?"

"It does." Myoga nodded gravely. "As you are aware the Tetsusaiga is an heirloom left to Inuyasha-sama by his father. The sword protects him from his enemies, but it also has a second purpose: keeping the demon inside locked up."

"It keeps the demon locked up inside?" Miroku repeated, surprised.

"Mmm. The Tetsusaiga being broken, means Inuyasha-sama will die. In other words Inuyasha-sama's death is inevitable once the Tetsusaiga is broken. Yet, his strong desire to live awakened the demon's blood which flows through him. And even after the Tetsusaiga is repaired, that demon part of Inuyasha will be even harder to control, because now he has tasted the pleasure of brutally slaying an enemy."

Oh… Everyone went silent. That was not good news.

Does it mean that his heart has been taken over by the demon inside of him? Kagome wondered.

"Is it truly impossible for Inuyasha to learn how to control it?" Hotaru asked, staring into the fire.

"No half-demon can take control over the demon blood in their veins. When transformed, they lose their judgement and feeling of guilt or remorse. His father probably didn't wish for Inuyasha to rely on something like that and that's why he had entrusted him with the Tetsusaiga, I believe."

Hotaru's head was pounding. "..." Why does this answer feel incomplete?

"Raise the barrier!" Sojobo ordered and waved his fan, sending numerous wind scythes right at Soumei. The scythes hit the mark, causing lacerations and bleeding all over Soumei's body, they cut through his wings and damaged his demon markings hidden by clothes. "If I had been serious, you would have been missing your head now."

Soumei wheezed, his vision was blurry from the blood loss that his body couldn't keep up with. He forgot just how brutal Sojobo could get with his training methods. "I can't do it that fast!"

"Then learn!" He sent another barrage of youki filled scythes. And then another two in rapid success, with no sympathy for his child, not when it came to training. "Or die!"

Soumei's body was on fire, he could barely feel his limbs. His eyes saw through a red haze. His head was pounding. He couldn't concentrate, he couldn't run, he couldn't flee. But there was no way he would die here!

Do or die!

He roared, letting go of the last ounces of self control. And barely conscious he erected a barrier by letting his youki run wild. Using raw instinct. Fear of death. And desire to live. His body sustained damage he'd need days to recover from. His markings were severed in numerous places, his ear was cut in half, gashing wounds were heavily bleeding and his left arm was hanging on a piece of muscle. How am I still standing?

"Fear of death and desire to live. It just barely saved your life." Sojobo turned to leave their sealed training hall that hid all youki and did not get damaged hidden underneath his private chambers. "Remember it well."

His eyes widened. "Were you really going to kill me?!" He yelled at his father.

"No enemy will spare your life. Learn to protect it. You have conquered your demon, what are you still scared of?"

He heard those words just as his body gave in and collapsed. Scared? Am I?

"There will not always be the reliable Zenki to help you." Sojobo looked at the guard standing at the door, whose expression didn't disclose anything, but whose knuckles were white from anxiously gripping his jo. He nodded and left his son in Zenki's care; the one they both fully trusted.

######

Hotaru sprang up in the middle of the night. She couldn't remember the nightmare, but she felt like a part of her was about to die, or worse even, disappear. Her heart was racing and her breathing was shallow. She was covered in cold sweat. A barrier was raised around her, the one that didn't come from her.

Frightened to death, she was scanning her surroundings, trying to catch any unusual sights, sounds or scents. But everything was calm. Her friends were around her, staring at her in shock. Still, they gave her time to settle and calm her nerves.

"Hotaru-san?" Sango asked softly.

The barrier dissipated.

"I'm okay, sorry… Just a nightmare. I can't remember it anyway."

######

"Uuhm, Milord?" Jaken asked yet again after two days of being given a cold shoulder.

Sesshomaru was on the verge of killing the imp for the constant thoughts and questions. "What is it?"

"Why did you allow her to go, my lord? It's been two days already. Perhaps it is none of my concern, but why would you let her help our enemy? The one who had stolen your father's heirloom and almost killed you. Twice." He felt the glare. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean it that you are weak, but-"

"But?" Sesshomaru interrupted Jaken's rant and stopped, staring down at the little imp.

"But… Nothing! It's nothing, Milord." He lowered his head.

"Hn." Why did he indeed?

A/N: Let me know what you think but remember, reviews are appreciated but never necessary.

S.