Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara were rather surprised after Totosai found and brought them to a campsite in the forest that there was a pack of wolves waiting for them. And a familiar one at that as Aisu greeted the group. But then there was also the surprise of coming across the unconscious Jaken as Sango saw to the rather large bump on his head. The dragon A-Un joined them shortly after, lumbering through the forest in search of his companions and rested along the outskirts of the small clearing. Miroku took Kagome and rested her on the ground on a soft patch of grass before the demon slayer cleaned her cuts and laid a cool cloth on her forehead. There weren't signs of her waking anytime soon though and that made them worry as Totosai and Saya tried to explain what had happened.

It was dark out with a fire roaring between them when Jaken finally awoke, panicking at the sight of his lord and Rin missing. He even began crying. Totosai reassured that the child was in good hands, but that Lord Sesshomaru was nowhere to be found. The toad demon was ready to charge forward into the dark forest to search of him, but was eventually convinced otherwise. It wasn't safe to travel this late at night alone and without guidance. He huffed, refusing to use their fire or take their food and started a smaller one a short distance away with his own caught food roasting over the flames. But the quantity and quality paled in comparison to what the demon slayer caught.

Two more wolves seemed to melt out of the darkness around them and came to join the rest of the pack, Aisu nodding at their arrival. From behind the Gammas' came Akiko and Rin, the child holding her hand tightly with a smile on her face. It only grew upon seeing the imp awake. "Master Jaken, you're all right!" she exclaimed. Rushing forward she nearly tackled him to the ground, causing the servant to squawk in surprise before scolding her. But that didn't seem to lessen her joy before rushing over to the dragon demon and giving both of their necks a hug in greeting.

"Akiko," Sango breathed in wonder.

Though the young woman was not of demon blood her transformed state definitely had hints to her predecessor's features. They had all seen the printouts that Kagome had brought over from her world as to what Aisu once looked like from scrolls and tapestries from their era that had survived and she had been striking. It had even warranted the comment, "So beautiful," from Miroku, followed by, "If only she was still in her human state I would ask her to bear my children." That earned him a punch to the cheek from Sango.

The young woman smiled in greeting, "It's good to see everyone again. I just wish it was under better circumstance."

"So do we," Miroku agreed.

Akiko's transformation began to recede, the ice melting from her hair, skin gaining more color, and the armor seemed to pull and materialize away leaving only the grey dress underneath with am elegant trim around the neck, waist, and wrists. The sleeves flowed at the bottom and flared out a bit, the outfit not the traditional garb for the Feudal Era. All the other lords and ladies wore the traditional kimono, but this look seemed to suit her as a blue-green cloak tinged with grey appeared folding over the shoulders and cascaded down to the ankles. It too sported an elegant design at the top near the shoulders in a darker color, complete with a large hood and leaf clasp around the neck. Even without the armor and demon features Akiko could still be considered intimidating. Almost royal based on the way she now stood and presented herself. Everything she was now only further proved the young woman was a suitable choice for the throne. She stood out from the other rulers.

"Your transformation has changed," Sango commented.

"And with it has come other abilities," Aisu added. "We are still unlocking her potential."

"Rin and Jaken would be dead without it," Tobi stated from where he lay. The child had joined his side moments ago, leaning back against the animal and getting comfortable against the fur. She had missed all of them greatly during their absence.

The young woman's eyes drifted towards her cousin. "How is she?" Akiko asked.

"Alive," the demon slayer answered. "She was lucky." Yes, she was. Getting that close to Inuyasha while he was in that state would be considered suicidal.

Suddenly, Kagome groaned, drawing all of their attention as her eyes cracked open. "Inuyasha..." she called out quietly. Upon realizing that time had passed from the glow of the fire and she was now surrounded by familiar faces, the teen pushed herself up with Sango reaching forward to help. "Where did Inuyasha go?"

"Who knows," Akiko spoke up. "Wherever Sounga went probably, but it's useless to travel right now." They needed to rest and gather themselves instead of running around blindly. This enemy was like nothing they ever faced before.

"You're here," Kagome smiled.

The young woman returned the gesture. "It's good to see you too."

"I wonder if we can stop him?" Sango wondered. "He's strong and stubborn, so that's unlikely."

"Stupid, Inuyasha. He's never been anything but a pain in the neck," Shippo stated in annoyance.

"It's all your fault, Saya," Myoga pointed out, glancing to where the spirit was. "Saya, wake up!"

The old demon spirit jerked awake, glancing around, "What's the matter? Did somebody call me?"

"As I recall you said that you could seal Sounga for about seven hundred years," Totosai pointed out.

"Oh, did I say that?" he asked, scratching the side of his head in thought.

"Tell me, what was Sounga doing in the family shrine in the first place?" Kagome asked. Before leaving, their grandpa had explained what had happened in one of their storage areas that contained ancient artifacts when the seals broke around Sounga and the sword flew from sight, which was how it came to be in the park. Akiko blinked at this information, surprised this dangerous sword was in their home all these years without them knowing.

"Here we go," Myoga sighed. "Might as well tell the story. This goes back about two hundred years, when Inuyasha's father died. We were given instructions from our master in regards to two of his swords. Inuyasha would receive the Tetsusaiga, while Tenseiga would go to Sesshomaru. But there was one sword we were left with without any details on what to do. The Sounga that their father had wielded along with the Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga, were known as the three swords of supreme conquest. Together they held the power to dominate the three worlds."

"Three worlds?" Kagome asked.

"He's speaking of Heaven, Hell, and Earth," Miroku spoke up. "They are often referred to as the three worlds. Heaven, where the Buddha and Gods reside. Hell, the netherworld and land of the dead. And Earth, where we reside."

"Each sword corresponded to one world," Totosai stated. "The Tenseiga of Heaven can save a hundred lives in one sweep. The Sounga of Hell can open the gates to the netherworld and summon a hundred dead souls. And the Tetsusaiga, the guardian of men, can fell a hundred enemies."

"And Inuyasha's father possessed all three swords?" Sango questioned.

"He's greedy," Shippo huffed.

"So what happened next?" Kagome asked.

"We couldn't think of a good way to dispatch the final sword," Myoga said. "We were in a bad position. Inuyasha was too young to hope to control it. Even when grown it would prove impossible being half demon. And if we handed it to Sesshomaru he would've killed us where we stood since giving him the Tenseiga, even if it were his father's wishes. It was Saya who spoke up with a plan that he could keep Sounga sealed for seven hundred years and to throw him into the Bone Eater's Well. That was how it came to be at your shrine, Kagome."

"Since then it has only been two hundred years that has passed in our era, but I assure you beyond the well it's been longer than seven hundred years," Saya stated.

"Then how come Kagome and Akiko don't age when they pass through the well?" Shippo question.

It was a legitimate question, Akiko realized, as the teen made a face at the fact that she could've age a couple hundred years when first passing through many years ago. That was not a pleasant thought. "Well... the Bone Eater's Well is swirling with demonic aura, remember?" But based on the spirit's tone of voice they realized that even he wasn't sure how to answer the question really.

"So tell us, Saya," Kagome spoke up, changing the subject, "is there any way at all to defeat Sounga?"

"There is just one, but yes." And that gave them all some hope as they listened carefully. "Using Tetsusaiga and Tenseiga. Pitted with either one, Sounga will be stronger. But with the two swords combined it is possible that they can overcome Sounga."

"So Inuyasaha and Sesshomaru need to join forces..."

There was a pregnant pause as all of them took in this information till Jaken broke into a fit of laughter. "Lord Sesshomaru joining forces with half-breed Inuyasha?" His laugher only grew louder rolling around the ground with tears coming out of his eyes. "Are you crazy? Hell would freeze over before that happened!" All of their shoulders slumped in defeat at this, sighing loudly.

"I agree with you," Shippo shook his head.

"Can't argue with you there," Miroku muttered.

What on earth were they going to do then? There was no way they were going to get the brothers to work together in time with how terrible their past was. Even if they tried to beat some sense into them try and explain that the weight of the world was on their shoulders for the past, present, and future, it wouldn't be enough. Both were too stubborn for their own good.

"Hey, how about this, Saya," Kagome spoke up. "Can't you manage to seal the Sounga one more time?"

"Don't be unreasonable," the spirit said, "I've hung in there for a thousand years, I'm exhausted."

The teen gave him a deadpanned and unimpressed look. "I thought you said it was two hundred years..."

"There's my age to consider too, yah know," he added, avoiding the statement.

"Kagome, I wouldn't pin my hopes on him," Totosai interjected.

"Quite so," Myoga agreed. "Saya is hardly the reliable type." The spirit huffed in response.

"We have to try and get them to work together," Akiko spoke up. "It's the only way, and no matter how hard it might seem we have to try."

"And how, pray tell, will any of us accomplish that?" Jaken asked. "Lord Sesshomaru would never side with a half demon, and Inuyasha hates my lord and would agree to it."

"Sesshomaru has pride with his rank and title, but he has taken a gamble to ally with me, a human. A reincarnation from another time." She had a point as the imp struggled to find a comeback to that. "He may not like it, and I'm sure Aisu twisted his arm a bit to agree," the wolf gave a smirk in response, "since in the past his ancestors were her enemies, but sometimes we have to do things we don't like doing. And that means joining forces in order to survive."

Totosai hummed in response, handing out the cooked food for all to eat. "Oh, here Kagome," Rin spoke up. She stood and rushed over to the teen's side holding out a full looking pouch. Taking the item the student looked inside to see white and purple beads and her eyes widened at the sight.

"You collected them all?" she asked in surprise. She thought they had been lost forever.

"Yep, Akiko and some of the wolves helped me. We're not sure it's all of them though."

But it was more than enough in her mind. "Thank you."

Suddenly there was a surge of power, the pack growling lowly with their ears flat against their heads. Even a low growl vibrated in A-Un's chest, eyes narrowed. "What's wrong?" Shippo asked.

"Trouble," Aisu growled. "There's a very dark aura to the southeast."

"Sounga," Akiko stated.

"I feel it too," Miroku said. His grip tightened on his staff. "Its power is growing."

"Which means it has found another host," Tobi relayed."We need to move out."

"First thing in the morning," the former Queen said. "We won't get very far at night, and many of us are in need of rest."

"How can you think of resting at a time like this?" Sango asked. "There's a demonic sword out there that wishes to spread chaos and swallow up this world, we can't be sitting around."

"I do so, so that all of us are in top fighting condition. This isn't some mindless demonic presence we are dealing with. Need I remind you, I would know of the horrors Sounga is capable of because it's wielder was one of the lords that over took my land. Every wolf here has witnessed it." And that was not an encouraging statement. If the former Queen of the North could not hold it back then how could they?

"We're coming too," Kagome stated amongst the doubt towards the day ahead.

"You're in no condition to be fighting," Akiko cut in. "I have half a mind to send you home."

"I'm not going anywhere."

The young woman sighed, "Of course you wouldn't... the both of us are too stubborn for our own good really."

"We all won't fit on Kirara and be able to travel swiftly," Sango said.

"There are more than enough of us to divide everyone between," Aisu said. The wolves nodded in agreement. "For tonight, we will stand watch while everyone sleeps."

"You do not need rest?" Miroku asked.

"Demons like us do not need to every evening given the circumstances." And none had been involved in the altercation between Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. Their strength was intact.

"It is settled then," Tobi spoke up as Rin nestled into his side for a long night's sleep. "Tomorrow we march off to war."