Akiko and Tobi were walking the boarder of their campsite early the next morning. It was completely quiet, not even the birds sounding with their normal morning songs. The dew clung to the blades of grass and leaves, the moisture seeping into the hem of the young woman's dress a bit. "The animals are all gone," Akiko noticed.

"Because they sense the danger," the half demon answered. In the hours that had passed Sounga's aura had not let up in the slightest. If anything it was growing more oppressive even from the distance they were at. "Even the lesser demons will flee for safety. But if the demonic sword isn't stopped none of that will matter. They will be swallowed up by hell."

They continued their walk in silence, eventually coming back to the campsite. Nearly everyone was awake and preparing to move out, only Kagome, Shippo, Rin, and Saya still sleeping. But Akiko was not about to wake her cousin, who was in need of rest from yesterday's ordeal. They would all wait till the last minute to rouse her. The young woman glanced over towards the child now curled up against Aisu's side. The former queen was alert as ever, head resting on her paws as she watched the two companions approach.

"Nothing is out there," Aisu said. Akiko nodded in confirmation. "We will reach our destination in the early evening if we keep our rest periods in between short."

Stepping towards the sleeping child the reincarnation bent down. "Rin?" The young woman lightly shook her shoulder. "Rin, it's time to wake up."

The child stirred, eyes cracking open as a yawn escaped her and she smiled lazily, "Good morning, Akiko."

She smiled back. "Good morning, Rin. It's time for us to leave. You should head back towards the Western Lands with A-Un."

Rin became more awake at that statement. "I'm not leaving."

"It's safer there."

"We have to come," she protested. "Lord Sesshomaru needs our help." The young woman knew that there would be no reasoning with Rin once her mind was set on something. It was a loosing battle as the reincarnation sighed.

"If you come with us you stay with Jaken and A-Un." She nodded without hesitation as Akiko stood once more to help clean up camp.

"You're soft," Tobi stated lowly at her side. "You know Rin should not come with us."

"But if denied you know she will do everything in her power to join us on the battlefield. And I'd rather have her in my sight than sneaking around and getting hurt." She had a point and the half demon didn't comment further.

Shippo and Kagome rode on the back of Gammas' in the pack. "I will ride with Sango for the time being," Miroku stated.

"Are you sure?" Akiko asked. "We don't mind." But he still refused the offer. "Well, if Kirara needs a rest let us know."

The wolves were completely transformed, nearly two to three times their size from being a normal wolf. Akiko climbed on Tobi's back before the demons took off into the air. "We will be facing Sounga head on," Totosai stated. "We know nothing of the new host he may have acquired, but I have my suspicions."

"Who do you think it is?" Sango asked.

"There is only one person filled with enough hate that could be directed towards the brothers because of their father's actions, and that is the human samurai, Takemaru."

"Takemaru?" Miroku asked.

"I know that name," Aisu spoke from below. "A war general of a noble household. For someone so young he was very successful in his efforts to keep peace in his land and those surrounding it. But as time went on a darkness began to grow in his heart."

"Why?" Sango asked. "If he was so successful, what was the cause?"

"Inuyasha's mother, Izayoi," Myoga answered. That surprised all of them greatly. "Takemaru loved milady, even though she was a noble. And the fact that she had chosen to love a demon and bare his child did not sit well with him. He murdered the ladies that tended to her birthing before killing his one true love. But that was after Inuyasha was born. Takemaru faced the lord at the front gates as the Great Dog Demon cut them all down before finding them both in the now burning household. He brought Izayoi back to life and sacrificed his own so she could escape with Inuyasha. Both perished in the blaze fighting each other."

Then it made sense that Sounga would choose Takemaru as a host, even though he was a corpse. If death by its blade could turn one into the walking dead raising a corpse that had long since passed didn't surprise them.

"I'd bet my life on it. Takemaru has risen and is under Sounga's control," Totosai nodded.

"There's really no need to convince the general to side with the demonic sword," Myoga stated. "His hatred for milord has probably never wavered even in death. Once learning that his sons still live, Takemaru will stop at nothing to be sure they die too."

"Inuyasha has never even tried to speak about his father," Kagome spoke up. "When I asked why he said it was because he didn't even know what he looked like. I don't get it. Why is he so obsessed with his father's sword? He doesn't know anything about him, and he's always trying to solve things on his own."

"Well, I can sympathize," Miroku spoke up. "That's just how men think. It's quite natural that a boy's father is always at the forefront of his mind. It's... hard to explain, but it can be very obsessive. You at least think you can do what your father can and you hope one day to surpass him. For boys, a father is their most influential role model."

"It would be tough on a guy if his father was great," Shippo said.

"Yes, I suppose it would."

"Excuse me," Sango spoke up. The tone of the irritation in her voice made Akiko cock a brow and glance up. "Keep your hands to yourself if you don't mind." Now the young woman understood completely why the monk wished to travel with the demon slayer. One of his hands was rubbing her hip and the upper area of her rear end without missing a beat.

"Actually, I picked up this habit from my father. One day I hope to overcome it."

There was a loud slap as Sango's hand whipped around and preceded to smack his cheek so hard it left a red mark in its place. "Overcome that, you pervert!" And the demon slayer kicked the monk off midair to ride on the back of a wolf.

"You asked for it," Shippo muttered.

The monk gave an uneasy laugh, rubbing the now sore area. But he then turned serious and continued, "I believe Inuyasha's desire to gather the sacred jewel shard and become a full-fledge demon all boils down to his wish to become great like his father."

"You're right, but he's already strong enough," Sango said.

"Not in his eyes," Akiko stated. "And I don't see his thoughts on the matter changing any time soon. If he's not careful though... he could get himself killed. Or those with him for that matter."

The young woman even worried about the half demon assuming his demon form and not being able to control it. Just being in possession of Sounga was proof of that. And the stories Kagome would sometimes tell her when Inuyasha would loose control didn't ease her worry. The teen would manage to pull him back every time... but when would it go too far and her cousin would be serious injured, or worse dead. Even with the sacred jewel shard and being in control of assuming that form, what if he still lost control at another point in time? Aisu and Akiko shared a look. Nothing good would come from it.

"Go that way," Kagome spoke up. She pointed a little to the right of them off their course. "There's a strong demonic aura."

"Indeed there is," Totosai agreed. "It must be Sounga's citadel."

"Then let's hurry."

It was beginning to turn more ominous the further they went as the clouds darkened overhead and began to block out the sun. The air was growing heavier as well. "Tell me, Kagome, are you still certain you want to go through with this?" Saya asked from her shoulder.

"Of course I'm certain!"

"Yes, but do you honestly think you can serve any purpose?"

"Purpose?"

"I understand Inuyasha's involvement, but there's no reason for you to fight from my perspective. What's your reasoning? Are you fond of battle perhaps?"

"No, don't be ridiculous! I hate fighting, but I want to stay by Inuyasha's side," Kagome relayed. "That's my only reason."

"Oh dear... I can live for all eternity and I will never come to understand humans."

"I completely understand," Myoga chimed in.

"Same here," Totosai added.

The teen glanced between them in confusion, but it caused Akiko's lips to twitch into a smirk. "Akiko is your name, yes?" The young woman looked up to see the spirit staring down at her. "Kagome's cousin?"

"That's right," Akiko confirmed.

"You have been gone a lone time, Saya," Totosai said. "She is the heir to the throne in the north."

"My, my!" the old spirit exclaimed. "I have not heard of that in the last four hundred years. A reincarnation, how intriguing. Why are you fighting?"

"Aisu is my mentor, and predecessor. She's taught me, along with the pack, everything I now know when it means to become a ruler of a territory. I fight to protect those who cannot protect themselves. To uphold alliances with other demons and to come to their aid when they ask instead of being labeled a coward because I am not from this time period and could never understand their matters and struggles. I fight so there is a future for my friends and family." Because if nothing was done then there wouldn't be a future to go home to.

"Do you wish to fight by someone's side?" the spirit then asked.

And the young woman knew exactly what he was talking about, looking to him in thought for a moment. "Maybe one day... but right now I fight with the pack so the north has a chance of thriving once more."

Saya hummed at the answer. From what he had gathered on the young woman in the limited amount of time he knew her, she risked returning from training in the mountains to come to their aid. Protected Sesshomaru's ward and servant without hesitation, and watched as the usually emotionless demon's mask crack a little at the sight of the reincarnation. In the time he knew the demon lord Saya had never witnessed such an emotion of surprise from him. It was intriguing and definitely caught his interest as to what would progress further in time.

There were no words said between them until coming to a high ridge and landing on the grass. The sky was filled with dark clouds completely blocking out the sun as purple lightning cracked across the sky. All stared out over the vast spread of land before them that was filled with an army. One third was decorated in red armor, another third dressed in white, and the last wearing blue-purple. The warriors were equipped with various weapons and they were marching forward in their direction. And behind the soldiers stood a large estate. One that was covered in red and purple veins as they ran over the stone the stone and wood as if infected with a disease. And from the ground and structure sprouted red like-claw formations making the castle more menacing. To Akiko they resembled human rib bones.

"That's one very large army," Totosai pointed out.

"A large army of dead soldiers," Miroku stated.

"He's killed far more men than he needed to," Sango said.

"Sounga's doing, I fear," Saya spoke up. "He's using the Dragon Twister yet again."

"There must be at least three-thousand of them. Excluding Myoga, Rin, and Momo from the battle there are eight of us, a demon wolf pack, plus two demons. That's nearly two hundred soldiers for each of us."

"They are the walking dead though, how will we possibly defeat them?" Sango questioned.

"They can be destroyed by weakening the demonic aura which surrounds them," Saya relayed. "That would take time though. Their only other weakness lies in fire."

"And our element is the opposite... perfect," Akiko muttered.

"We can stop them from moving farther past this field," Aisu stated. "Make sure no one is overrun." There was a low rumble in the distance. "Sounga is ready to spread his wrath and open up hell to the world of the living. We have to help in any way we can, get ready."The young woman's appearance began to transform as the armor melded into place, the cloak disappearing and the grass beneath her feet frosted over.

"There are so many," Kagome stated, voice falling away.

"Hey, Miroku," Shippo spoke up from his perch on Kirara. "How come a weak little guy like me isn't excluded from battle?"

"Oh come on Shippo, you can fight," he encouraged with a grin. "We're all counting on you and your foxfire."

"R-right..." the demon stammered. He didn't look very confident though, body shaking in fear. "Jaken, we know that the demons don't like fire, ha... ha, ha, ha, ha. Good luck."

"I'll show them the power of the Staff of Two Heads!" the toad demon yelled. "I'm not afraid!" Waving around his staff to further prove his point the servant stood tall, but that was ignored due to the way the dragon under his feet began trembling. But A-Un wasn't the cause of it as Rin was bounced as well from the movement.

"Master Jaken, you're shaking in fear," Rin pointed out.

"I'm not scared, j-just... trembling with excitement...!"

"Hatsui, Tatara," Akiko spoke up, two of her Gamma members looking to their leader awaiting orders, "protect Rin if she is in danger. You too, Aisu."

"With our lives," the former queen agreed with the nod of her head. The other two members yipped in agreement, pulling back to stand beside the dragon demon.

With another crack of lightning the sky above them opened up as it began to rain. And without warning Kagome shouted, "Inuyasha!" startling them greatly. Their heads whipped around to the right following the teen's line of sight noticing the half demon had arrived standing further away on the ridge. But he wasn't look at them, staring at the army. He was the first to move rushing down the hill with speed as the warriors noticed his approach and began throwing spears through the air. The half demon dodged every one of them before a barrage of arrows began raining down from the sky. Pulling free Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha slashed and blocked all those in his path before landing in the center of a horde and began cutting through them.

"He should be joining our ranks, not rushing in alone," Tobi growled.

"He's a bit hasty," Akiko said.

"Look out!" Sango shouted.

Another attack of arrows came raining down from the sky, but this time it was heading in their direction. "We're going to die!" Shippo shouted. Without hesitation the young woman raised a hand as an ice barrier materialized from the air and covered them completely from harm.

"We need to help, Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed. The half demon was now learning that by cutting into the dead army only made them mend and reanimate instead of killing them in one stroke like some demons.

Glancing around the field, Rin's face grew with excitement as a grin stretched across her lips. "Lord Sesshomaru!" the child cheered. And to their left stood the demon lord with narrowed brows. He was approaching at a slower pace walking towards the army and with the slash of Tokijin the attack cut into the ground and barreled into the front lines. But the fact that they began to reanimate didn't seem to faze the lord in the slightest as his steps never faltered.

"Charge!" Myoga cried from Kagome's shoulder. And they too set off into battle as Akiko leaned forward into Tobi's leap and they took off into the air with the pack.

From the back of Totosai's flying cow, Momo, Kagome fired off arrow after arrow, the spiritual pressure ripping through a large section of the living dead and leveling all its it path to the ground. But it didn't take them long to start twitching and slowly pulling back together, though a steady stream of flames rained down on them from the demon sword smith's lips. "I really don't want to waste my strength on something as simple as this," he stated, taking a big breath once more.

"Watch out!" the teen shouted. They veered to the right quickly and then the left as arrows were shot at them from the soldiers below, something Akiko noticed instantly and steered Tobi in their direction.

"Ice Twister!" she shouted. Swinging around the blade in hand the wind began to bend and turn into a cyclone causing the air around them to instantly cool as ice shards began to freeze inside the currents and began shredding the dead army along with their weapons halting their assault on her cousin and ally. And as the attack settled what was left was a frozen ground that stuck bodies and feet to the surface as the soldiers attempted to pull themselves free to no avail.

"We may not be able to destroy them completely with fire, but that will work as well," Tobi stated.

"Get me closer towards the center so we can try carving out a better path to the castle!" He did as she asked without hesitation.

"Behold the staff of two heads!" Jaken shouted as flames burst from the weapon in his hands. The flames rained down on the army below causing them to slow before crumbling under the element.

"You can do it, Master Jaken!" Rin encouraged. A-Un flew around the field to be sure neither of his riders were injured by those below as another stream of fire rained down on them. The wolves were tackling the dead army as they went, their claws ripping into their bodies and freezing them under their touch and breath as they went, while Sango and Miroku also attacked from the skies with their weapons on the back of Kirara.

"Foxfire!" Shippo shouted, the fox demon having jumped down from the cat demon's back into the ranks. A blue-green flame ignited around him, but its size did not remain as the small flame danced about and only seemed to distract the enemy for a few moments before snuffing out completely. Their eyes then landed on the demon once more and began to advance with raised weapons and he panicked, "Ah! It didn't work!"

Without hesitation a Gamma rushed into the fold toppling over and cutting through soldiers, teeth clamping down on the back of Shippo's collar and rushed towards open ground so they had more of an advantage.

However, though they were seemingly gaining ground the army only appeared to grow as two soldiers were cut down, five more appeared in its place to hold them back. And eventually over time even a demon's strength will weaken as their attack on the castle began to slow. "This is never ending," Akiko breathed.