The Fox and the Dog

Chapter Twelve

When I woke up I was in an unfamiliar place and not in the clothing I had on while fighting Naraku, then it all came rushing back, standing up I ran to the door and opened it. As I stepped out I felt something tighten around my neck as it pulled me back onto the futon I was in two minutes earlier. "Gak!" I grunted in pain, sitting up I put a hand to my neck and found that there is a steel collar with a long chain leading into the shadows of the room. Following it I saw it was bolted down into the ground. I spent hours trying to pull it up but it only made me tired and weak.

Sesshomaru's POV
As I was running in the direction that Ryuuseiga and Tenseiga were showing me I came across some of Naraku's guards. It's seems that the filth knew I was coming so he tried to prepare, I was reaching go Tokijin when Ryuuseiga spoke to me. (A/N: the swords will speak in slant writing.) "my Lord use me I want to help you save my mistress." I didn't say anything I only grabbed him and pulled him out. "My Lord you will only be able to use a fraction of my power seeing as you are not my true master but it should be enough." Nodded and he told me one of his attacks "say Dragon Breath of Death and swing me back and forth once and I should be able to clear the path for you." Doing as he said it worked. Everything from the trees to the guards to the miasma barrier was destroyed. Putting Ryuuseiga away I sprinted to the now visible castle.

Soushi's POV
I was in the room I woke up in still waiting for Sesshomaru to come and get me, but only this time I wasn't alone, Naraku sat behind me and braided my hair, it was about an hour ago that I gave up on pushing him away, so I sat on my left hip with my face turned away from him as he combed and braided my hair, my arms were crossed and I was thinking of a way to get out of the collar he hand put on me. "Why won't you look at me, Soushi?" I didn't answer but I turned away from him more. I could feel him reach for me when a blast of power shot through the castle grounds. I already knew who it was and I smiled jumping up I ran to the window and sensed Sesshomaru and Ryuuseiga. I was about to open the window when Naraku pulled on the chain that was around my throat. It forced me back to him, and as he pulled me I tripped on the tatami mat and landed on my back. My eyes instinctively closed when I fell, so when I opened them again I came face to face with Naraku who was now leaning over me. Struggling I tried to push him off but this stupid collar was draining all of my demonic power. "Get off of me you beast!" I said punching his shoulder. "Hmm, I love it when you talk dirty." He groaned in my ear, in all my struggling I was able to get my knees in between his legs and when he was too distracted to realize what I was going to do, I did it. As swiftly as possible I rammed my knees into his crotch and he screamed in pain and rolled off me.

Quickly I ran to the garden doors and threw them open. I couldn't go far what with the stupid collar on but I could get out enough to shout for Sesshomaru. "SESSHOMARU!"

Sesshomaru's POV
I was fighting Kagura and Kana when I heard her yell. "SESSHOMARU!" Completely dropping my fight with the weaklings I ran to her. She wasn't far and it took me seconds to find her. But just as I found her she was ripped back into the room she stood in front of. And by the smell of it Naraku was in there with her. When I landed I sprinted into the room but was forced to unsheathe Tokijin. As the tentacles shot towards me one of them clipped me in the shoulder and waist. It didn't hurt as much as the look on her face did, she looked so worried and afraid that I would lose but I was going to prove her wrong. Putting away Tokijin I looked at Naraku, he smirked, "what are you doing Sesshomaru, you'll need your sword to fight me." I looked at her and then quickly I motioned with my eyes to her sword. She noticed and blinked twice in confirmation. Reaching for Ryuuseiga.

I gripped the hilt and he spoke again "my attacks are harmless against my mistress, but be careful anyway, I'll give you an attack that will hit the male behind mistress." In the seconds that he spoke Soushi moved slowly to the side so I could have move of a target on Naraku. "This next attack is called 'Dragon Style: Lightning Breath.' Just swing in a downward movement and I'll hit him." Doing what the sword suggested I pulled out Ryuuseiga and said "Dragon Style: Lightning Breath!" Then I swing down right from the tip of the blade it shot out lightning bolts and they hit Naraku square in the chest. It had also cut right through the chain that held Soushi to him once she was free she ran to my side. But she stumbled catching her. Looking up at me she said "take. It. Off." Moving her hair I grabbed two parts of it and ripped it off. Once it was gone her power surged. It blasted, she was so angry her tail, became tails. Plural. They swished behind her in anger. I had to back up because her demonic aura was so strong. I was glad she was this strong I would expect nothing less of the princess of the North. When Naraku sat up she held her hand out for her sword and I gladly gave it to her, sheath and all. Once it was drawn she handed the sheath back and said "do not worry my sword will both protect and shield you." Her voice had changed it sounded so majestic. She looked at me and I nodded while backing up. Once she faced the half-breed she vanished, when she reappeared she was right behind him, he sensed her and tried to move but her powerful tails held him in place.

Swinging Ryuuseiga she struck him across the back, he screamed and tried to attack her but she grabbed his wrist and twisted it, the sound of it was loud. Shouting again, she let go and grabbed a handful of his hair, and yanked his head back. Leaning into his ear she whispered something, I couldn't hear it over all the loud electrical aura she was emitting, but I could read her lips "I hate everything about you. So why do you love me?" I stood up straight and moved closer to them but she stopped me with a shake of her head. Looking back at the weakened demon in front of us he opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off.

Literally she cut him off, all that was left was a headless body. Throwing his head into the corner she stepped over his corpse and ran to me. Pulling her into my arms she clung to me for dear life and sobbed into my chest. When she stopped and slumped in my arms I knew she ran out of energy and had fainted, picking her up I carried her to my estate. As we were leaving we ran into Inuyasha and his friends. I said not a word as the women of that group tried to get a look at Soushi to see if she was okay, I turned from them and took to the skies it took a day to return to the house and when I arrived I was greeted by a worried Rin and an annoying Jaken.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" "Milord! You are bleeding!?" Stopping I turned and kicked Jaken back down the hall. Turning back round I continued to my room and asked Rin to open the door, doing as I asked I walked past her and placed Soushi on the bed and checked her for any wounds but she was unharmed and was only exhausted. But I was reaching my limit as well. Dropping to one knee I cringed in pain when I was finally able to focus on my own pain. Rin screamed my name and I moaned to her to get one of the maids. Out the corner of my eye I saw her take off like a demon was on her tail. Though I didn't know if she drought someone back because I had already passed out.

Soushi's POV
After I fainted in Sesshomaru's arms, when I came too I was no longer in his arms but on a king sized bed in a room I didn't know. Standing up...was stupid because I got light headed and almost fell over, after a few seconds I was able to walk but I had to hold the wall. As I stumbled out the door I was met with multiple maids and butlers running around with water towels and trays of liquids in small glass bottles. They didn't seem to notice me as I avoided getting in their way, after about eight doors and one small stair case, which in my case could have need a long winding tower, I made it to where the maids and butlers were running in and out of. At first I could only smell a foul oder that burned my nose and brought tears to my eyes, it could only be the stench of Naraku, but this one felt as if it was trying to poison and not kill. It didn't pulsate miasma it was just poison. Soon a sharp pain in my head struck and I got flashes of what had happened with Naraku and Sesshoumaru.

Jumping into action I pushed trough the doors and I saw him, he was pale(er) and breathing heavily from where I stood he had swear pouring down his face. He looked so drained. Sprinting as fast as I was able I ran to his side and took one of his large hands in both of mine. Squeezing softly I said his name it was barely a whisper, still holding his hand in one of mine I used the other to brush the hair from his face, and I could feel him burning up. Looking around frantically I searched for my sword when I found it with Sesshoumaru's I grabbed it and drew it out. Maids and butlers moved out of my way, standing next to Sesshomaru I placed my sword hilt on his chest, and summoned my tails, as they flourished behind me, I had my sword protect Sesshomaru from my extra power, so leaning over him, I opened his mouth to draw out the poison. Once it was gone I stood and I felt weak, it wasn't bad though because I had my tails out and they were protecting my body from the poison, as it killed it. It didn't take long this poison was strong but had a horrible endurance. Once my body was free of the poison I hid all my tails but one and collapsed next to Sesshoumaru who was breathing better and broke from his fever. Sighing in relief, I cuddled next to him and slept.