A quick author's note: Thank you and I'm sorry for everyone who's been waiting for this. I hope you enjoy it, and that you'll be patient with me. Because the next chapter might not come for a while again. I've just had a lot happening that's distracted me from writing lately, and have had to piece this together bit by bit. I finally managed to finish it just this morning. Seeing so many comments asking for more definitely helped motivate me. And though I love seeing suggestions for story content, I hope you won't be too disappointed if I don't include your ideas. I did actually have a plan for this at one point, and I'm going to do my best to see it through. It just might take me a year or so more, lol.
Anyway, here's chapter eight! (No Dean in this one, sorry!)

Near dusk, they reached a clearing deep in a forest. In the center sat a stone lantern, overgrown with moss, and leaning slightly to one side. Sam took in their surroundings with unease. It seemed too quiet. Too peaceful. As Kirara landed in the grass, that was too soft and too green to be normal, he slipped off her back and turned his gaze to the lantern. It was old, that he could tell, but aside from the green layer of moss that stretched up from the ground, it showed no sign of erosion or weathering. And though it leaned to one side just barely, the ground around it was solid and stable. His face pulled in a frown and he reached down, intending to take hold of his pistol. His hand met empty air and he startled, glancing down before he remembered. He didn't have it. They couldn't get them through customs, so the weapons had stayed home, in America. His hand closed in a tight fist and he cursed under his breath, looking up again. If things turned bad, he would have no way to defend himself. Beside him, Sango jumped down, landing in the grass with an almost silent step and pulling a metal mask up over her face. It covered her nose and mouth, and he wondered for a moment what she expected them to find here.

Throwing a quick glance around at the other three, it occurred to him that he was the only one that seemed unprepared for this. Miroku dismounted the horse and hefted his staff, the rings clashing against each other with a high chime. Inuyasha stood tensed, his hands already on his sword as he scented the air, ears perked forward. Even Kagome had her quiver slung across her back, her bow held in the same familiar way that he or Dean held their guns. The sight of her made his pulse quicken, as he realized just how long she must have kept this secret from them. Swallowing against the worry that was beginning to gnaw at him he followed Sango, and the six of them gathered together to form a plan.

"Miroku, are you sure this is the place?" Kagome asked, looking up at him as the monk neared her. Inuyasha sniffed the air again his ears twitching, and cut his eyes at Miroku accusingly.
"I don't smell anything. I thought you said this place was dangerous." he growled, and Miroku nodded slowly.
"This is the place. Trust me. And be ready, a powerful demon is sealed here." he replied, voice low. Sango reached his side and peered at the stone lantern a moment, studying it. Then her eyes widened and she gasped softly.
"Wait, this isn't...that demon. Is it?" she demanded, looking up at him. He nodded grimly, and Kagome frowned in concern, glancing up at her brother as he finally reached them. He had no weapon, and she wasn't sure if she could defend him. What would he do if this demon attacked him? She was about to say something when Inuyasha interrupted her.
"Tell him to stay back, Kagome." he said quietly, startling her. She glanced at him, eyes wide. He wasn't looking at her, his gaze was still locked on the stone lantern. But when she looked his way, he twitched an ear in her direction.
"He'll only get in the way." he added, a familiar tone of mock annoyance in his voice. She nodded, smiling softly, and looked up at her brother. But as she opened her mouth to relay the message in english, he shook his head at her.
"No." he said simply, and looked past her, at the statue, his eyes narrowed. His face had hardened. He looked nothing like the Sam that she'd known before, all smiles and compassion. Now his mouth was set in a grim line, eyes like stone. She shifted away from him half a step before she caught herself, and grit her teeth, scowling up at him.

Sam understood more than they gave him credit for. He wasn't going anywhere, not with the others gearing up for a fight. Not if it meant leaving Kagome to deal with it without him. He didn't have a weapon, sure, but he'd figure it out. Winchesters always did. It was kind of their specialty.
"Sam. If you get too close, it will kill you!" Kagome retorted, turning to face him, her hands balled tightly into fists at her sides. He looked down and she was scowling up at him, an expression of determination on her face. He almost laughed. Almost.
"But it won't kill you?" he demanded, and she faltered, glancing away, "I'm not going anywhere, Kagome. Deal with it." he added, throwing a pointed look at dog-boy too. The hanyou scoffed, but said nothing, and Sam turned back to his sister. She was chewing her bottom lip, staring at the bow at her hand with a worried expression, and he sighed.
"Look, if someone hands me a weapon, I can fight. Okay? Does anyone have a spare?" he said, settling a hand on her shoulder gently. She frowned slightly and glanced at Sango.
"Maybe?" she said, and hurried over to her friend's side. They spoke quietly for a moment, and Sango looked over at him, frowned, and then nodded slowly. She reached down and quickly untied her sword from her belt, handing it over to Kagome, who brought it to him.
"Here. Can you use this?" she asked, looking up at him with a worried expression. He sighed and took it from her, turning it over in his hands. He'd never fought with a sword before, but it shouldn't be much more different than a knife, right? Just some extra length on one end, not too big of a deal.
"I'll be fine." he said quietly, tying it to his belt loop and giving her a tight smirk. She glanced at the sword dubiously, but turned away, catching up to Inuyahsa and murmuring to him quietly. The hanyou glanced over his shoulder at Sam, eyes sharp, and growled in annoyance, but said nothing. Sango and Miroku exchanged worried glances, but had no comments to add either, and Sam grit his teeth. He hated feeling like the odd one out, but there was no way he was going to abandon her and let her deal with this fight without him.
He'd rather die. Again.

As Miroku approached the stone lantern cautiously, Sam let Kagome lead him away to what she felt was a safe distance and they knelt in the grass, waiting. Kirara followed them closely, hovering particularly near Sam, and he couldn't help but wonder if the cat was guarding him. Sango had been talking quietly to the cat just before lending her sword to him, she might have told her something. He glanced to the slayer as he thought, watching her as she retrieved something from the horse. His face pulled in a confused frown as she lifted an enormous, fabric wrapped object over her shoulder with surprising ease. He hadn't even noticed it before, he'd been so focused on not falling the entire trip.
"Kagome, what is that?" he asked, nudging his sister and gesturing toward Sango. She glanced over and let out a quiet noise of recognition.
"Hiraikotsu. Sango's weapon." she said simply, as if that were explanation enough. His frown deepened, and he watched as Sango unbound the fabric from her 'weapon'. She let it fall away to the ground, and his eyes flew wide. The massive boomerang was nearly longer than she was tall, and had to weigh hundreds of pounds. And yet she lifted it with almost no effort, hefting it over her head as she seemed to stretch, and swinging it a few times with the ease of long practice. He shook his head slowly, she was definitely in a league of her own.
"Sam, it's starting." Kagome said suddenly, drawing his attention. She pointed to the stone lantern, where Miroku stood, and he saw a pale green light pouring from the ground beneath it. The lantern itself began to crumble, as if time had suddenly began to effect it again, and the years were catching up all at once. It fell into dust that was immediately snatched up by the unnatural gusts of wind now tearing around the clearing. Sam squinted as his hair whipped into his face, and threw an arm around Kagome, shielding her as best he could. Beside them, Kirara crouched, trying to do the same for him. He could barely make out what was happening, but it seemed like something was climbing out of the ground, dragging itself up over the lip of the earth with long, scythe-like claws. An inhuman screech rang through the air, and he flinched, hands flying to cover his ears.
The wind died as suddenly as it began, and the two of them sat up, staring with wide eyes. Sam had seen a lot of horrible things in his life, but nothing like this. It's face was human, and beautiful. A woman with long white hair and piercing blue eyes, her skin as perfect and unmarred as a porcelain doll. But from there down it's body was grotesque. Like a praying mantis, with long spined legs and arms that ended in scythed claws the length of his legs. It turned, surveying the six of them with calm, cruel eyes, and let out a laugh that sent his blood cold.
"This is all? You hope to defeat me with this alone?" it called, it's voice feminine but marred by a constant growl. Inuyasha drew his sword and shouted a challenge at it, but Sam was too far away to hear it, and the creature only laughed.
"Bark, bark, little dog. We'll see how ferocious you are when your precious human girl is lying dead!" it called, it's voice quivering with sick amusement. Sam shot to his feet, taking Kagome by the arm and setting off in a sprint.
And not a moment too soon, as the creature launched itself across the field in one lunge and crashed down claws first right where they'd been sitting. Kirara bounded up beside them and Sam lifted Kagome onto the cat's back, climbing up behind her clumsily. As Kirara ascended out of reach, the creature came screeching up behind them, swiping at them and missing by a hair.
Kagome turned, an arrow already nocked in her bow, and took aim. As she loosed it, the arrow let off a purple glow and a high whistle. But it missed, planting in the ground at the creature's feet. Sam stared after it for a moment, confused, a jumble of questions in his head. But he shook them off as the others joined the fight, and Kirara headed for the ground again.

Sango let out a warning shout, loosing her giant boomerang across the field and sending it spinning toward the creature. Sam was sure that it would connect but as the weapon neared it, the mantis reared and swung one massive claw, knocking it from the air as if it were a toy. His blood ran cold at the sight, eyes widening as it finally sank in. These Youkai were like nothing he and his brother had ever seen before. The sheer strength and speed made the angel Castiel look like a kitten. The mantis paused, and turned to face him, it's mouth splitting in an impossibly wide grin. Sharp, silvery fangs gleamed in it's mouth, dripping a thick oily liquid. Most likely venom of some kind. It's blue eyes seemed to pierce him, pinning him in place, and it chuckled low in it's throat.
"You see now? You understand? You puny, worthless human? What chance did you ever have against one such as me?" it's voice was a deep purr, enveloping him like an embrace, disorienting him. His breath left him in a rush and he swayed, slipping sideways toward the ground, his thoughts fuzzy. Kagome dove after him, landing on her knees beside him when he hit the ground. He rolled onto his back, staring up as the world seemed to spin slowly, and saw her face as she leaned over him, her mouth moving but no sound reaching him.
"Run." he managed to breathe out, as a scythe-like claw loomed over them, moving almost in slow motion. He knew he should be afraid, but everything seemed so slow, and muted. The fear just wouldn't come.
"K..Kagome...run." he tried again, but she either didn't hear or wouldn't listen, and the claw grew ever closer.

We're going to die.

The thought was like a quiet echo in his mind, surfacing out of the gloom suddenly.

We're going to die, and Dean doesn't know where we are.

A cold jab in his chest brought the sting of tears to his eyes, and he clutched at his shirt front.

He's gonna be so mad at me.

As if a switch were flipped in his head, his thoughts cleared and the haze that gripped him was gone. He reached up and threw his arms around his sister, tucking her against his chest and rolling to the side. The claw crashed down, missing them by a hair and sinking into the soft earth beside them. Sam stared at it, eyes wide and chest heaving. As it began to rise again the mantis let out a shriek of frustration, and Sam dragged himself and Kagome to their feet.
"Run!" he yelped, and snatched her by the wrist, setting off in a flat sprint. She struggled to keep up with his long strides, and after a moment he lifted her off her feet, holding her aloft with just one arm while he held the sword at his hip still with the other. She leaned over his shoulder and knocked an arrow in the bow.
"Are you okay?!" she called down to him, and he glanced at her, nodding.
"What just happened? Do you know?" he shot back and she let her arrow fly before looking down at him, shaking her head with a grim expression.
"I have no idea." she said quietly, looking away as Kirara caught up to them. Sam slowed to a stop and let Kagome down, turning back. The mantis was distracted, fending off Inuyasha's attacks, while Sango and Miroku harried it's legs. They didn't seem to be making much progress, unfortunately. It was almost as though it knew where they were going to be before they were there, always one step ahead of every attack. He frowned, watching it closely, and suddenly gasped. Just as the idea struck him, it turned toward him, blue eyes narrowed as it's face pulled in a snarl.

It knew.

"It's psychic..." he murmured, and the mantis let out a shriek, pushing off the ground in a leap that ate the distance between them. Sam spun, setting off in a dead run away from Kagome, leaving her behind with Kirara and praying to anyone listening that she didn't follow. Just as he expected, the mantis turned, tracking him across the field. He glanced toward the others, thinking that he might be able to make it to them before it caught up, and the mantis leaped again, landing between them. Skidding to a halt in the grass, Sam drew Sango's katana and held it in front of him, staring up at the yokai. His eyes flickered toward his sister and he let out a huff of relief, seeing her draw her bow, arrow trained on the creatures blind spot. It's eyes flew wide and it spun, claws high.
At that moment, he struck forward, crossing the few yards between them in long bounds and bringing the sword up over his head. The blade caught the creature in it's soft underbelly and he dragged it along with him, cleaving into it's gut and spilling sickly green blood onto himself and the ground behind him. As he ducked out from under it again the mantis fell to the side, thrashing in agony and letting out a strangled cry. Sam stumbled away, panting harshly, his hands white-knuckle tight around the sword, and started to grin, triumphant. But the feeling left him in a rush of cold as the creature began to rise from the ground, it's scythe-like arms reaching, slicing through the air, straight toward Kagome.
He gasped in a breath to yell, taking a step toward her, arm outstretched. And a high whistle ripped through the air beside him. An arrow, Kagome's arrow, sank into the pale flesh of the creature's forehead, and it slumped to the ground as the pale purple light from before enveloped it's head. In moments, it was reduced to bones, the flesh melting like hot wax, pooling on the ground in blackened puddles. Sam backed away, his nose wrinkled in disgust, and bumped into a soft, warm body. Glancing back, he sighed in relief, and Kagome leaped down from Kirara's back, throwing her arms around his neck.
"Don't ever scare me like that again!" she sobbed, her tiny fists thumping against his back softly. He let out a short chuckle, holding her for a moment in a one armed embrace, before letting her slip down to the ground. Inuyasha stood beside them already, arms crossed over his chest as he gazed down at the carcass with an expression of annoyance. He spared Kagome a short, cursory glance, but pretended to pay Sam no notice at all. The hunter wasn't fooled though, that one short glance had told him everything he needed to know. Neither of them were bleeding, or broken, so everything was fine.
Sango and Miroku finally caught up, slowing to a stop a few feet clear of the black ooze that had once been flesh, and Miroku reached into his sleeve pouch. He produced a slip of paper with a sutra inked on it, and held it between his fingers, reciting a blessing before placing it on the creatures skull. Sango murmured to him quietly, and he nodded, replying in that same hushed tone. Then he waved Kagome over to him. As she moved, so did Sam, shadowing her closely, eyes still trained on the corpse. Just in case it wasn't truly dead. She glanced up at him quizzically, but said nothing. Miroku said something when the two of them reached his side, but it was too quick for Sam to catch it all. Something about the creature's throat. Kagome recoiled in disgust and looked down at the carcass, her face greenish. She replied in a quiet whine, and this time Sam understood perfectly.
"Do I have to?"
Miroku nodded, and gave her an apologetic expression, while Sango sighed quietly. Glancing at the corpse, Sam frowned slightly and looked over at his sister.
"I can do it." he offered, but she shook her head quickly, shoving her bow into his free hand.
"No!" she yelped, and his eyebrows rose. She cleared her throat, and glanced away.
"No, it has to be me." she said a little quieter, and took a bolstering breath. Then she leaned forward and plunged her hand into the sludge near the creatures spine, below the jaw. A shimmer spread out from her hand, travelling through the black pool in an instant, and the substance began to clear, until it looked like water, shimmering up at him, the light reflecting off the crystalline surface in prismatic flashes. Sam stared in awe as she withdrew her hand, and with it a pair of leather cords, each bearing a tiny silver dragon. She stood and held them in her palm for a moment, studying the charms with wide eyes.
"Kirei..." she murmured, and turned to him with a grin.
"Sam, look!" she gushed, holding it out to him, her eyes shining in excitement. He let out a short laugh, and reached out to cup the charms in his hand gently. The dragons where short, stout beads, carved or cast so intricately that he could have counted the scales down their backs. Each eye was set with a tiny sapphire, and each fang tipped in just the tiniest fleck of gold. They were heavy, which meant they were solid silver, not plated or bonded, and the leather cords were soft and supple, but firm. He took one and gave it a sharp tug, but the cord held strong.
"Put it on, see if it works!" Kagome suggested, and he hesitated for a half second before nodding and slipping it over his hand. After all, it's what they came here for, he couldn't exactly back out now. As the charm settled in place on his wrist, the cord seemed to tighten, shrinking to fit just tight enough that he couldn't pull it back off when he tried. He held the tiny dragon between his fingers a moment and let out a sharp sigh.
"Here goes nothing" he muttered, and looked around at the others. All but Inuyasha were gazing back at him, waiting eagerly.
"Well?" Kagome asked, and he glanced down at her with a shrug.
"How are we supposed to know if it works?" he replied, and Miroku's face broke into a grin.
"I'd say it does." he said, laughing as Sam startled. He knew it was Japanese, but he'd heard it as english. Like someone had shoved a babelfish in his ear or something. He shook his head, blinking hard for a moment, and let out an awkward chuckle.
"Oh, that's gonna take some getting used to." he said, smiling down at his sister. She grinned and threw her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly.
"I can't wait to get this one back to Dean!" she gushed, releasing him and holding the second charm out for him. Sam tucked it into his pocket and finally sheathed Sango's katana, untying it from his belt loop. He stepped closer and held it out for her, giving her a grateful smile.
"Thank you for this." he said quietly, and her cheeks turned pinkish as she accepted it.
"It...it was no problem. I'm glad it could be of use to you." she stammered, her grip tight on the sheath as she held it beside her. Miroku glanced at her, his face turning slightly somber, and Sam cleared his throat quietly. Taking hold of his shirt, he looked down at himself and sighed heavily.
"That's gonna stain." he complained, and Kagome laughed softly. Cutting his eyes at her, he raised an eyebrow.
"You think that's funny? This is my only shirt." he retorted, and stepped closer to her, hands held out in a silent threat to grab. She backed away, laughing a little louder, and shaking her head.
"Brother, don't!" she yelped, and he lunged, grabbing her around the waist and turning, spinning her with a triumphant cry and smearing his green slime covered face across the back of her shirt. She let out a tiny scream and giggled uncontrollably.
"No! Quit it, you're gonna ruin my shirt! Sam!" she yelped, and he let her down, steadying her with one arm as she stumbled. He was just beginning to laugh along with her when Inuyasha shouldered past him roughly and set him off-balance.
"We should get moving." he growled, glaring at the two of them over his shoulder for a moment, "It'll be dark soon." Sam gazed after him, confused. How could he be so angry after what they'd just survived. They won. Wasn't that good enough for him?
"What's his problem?" he muttered quietly, and Kagome sighed next to him, gazing at Inuyasha with a solemn expression.
"Don't worry about it, it's not personal." she replied, and gave him a smile, but it was short-lived and didn't reach her eyes. She tugged his sleeve and they followed after the others, Kirara trailing closely after them.

As they walked, Sam watched Inuyasha, studying him. He thought back to his conversation with Kagome in Kaede's hut. Hanyou, the way she said the word made it sound like a bad thing. A stigma, or a taboo. And now that he had a better understanding of Yokai, he could see why it would be. They were true monsters, horrible and terrifying. And destructive.
But Kirara wasn't. She was affectionate, and seemed to genuinely care about her human companions. So, they couldn't all be bad. It was possible that some could even experience love for others, as she did. And yet, it seemed that being hanyou was considered...wrong.
Sam frowned and turned to his sister.
"Kagome, why is hanyou a bad thing?" he asked quietly, and she startled, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"It's n-" she started to reply, and Inuyasha cut her off in a harsh voice.
"What do you care?" he snapped, half turning and glaring at Sam, his white ears pinned to his head. Sam gazed back, unfazed by the sudden outburst. After years of dealing with someone as temperamental as his brother, he was used to it.
"I just do." he said back, and Inuyasha scoffed, incredulous.
"Listen kid, this isn't your world. You don't belong here, so just shut up and keep your head down until we send you back where you came from." the hanyou snarled back, turning away and starting to walk again. Sam pulled back in disbelief.
"Kid?" he retorted, and let out a huff, a dry laugh, "I'm not a kid. I'm a hunter, it's my job to know things. And I want to know about you." He closed the distance between them in three long strides and stepped in front of Inuyasha, leaning over him and using his height advantage to intimidate.
"And I'm not going back where I came from until I find out what I wanna know. Because I will be damned if I let some guy drag my sister around, fighting monsters unless I know he can be trusted." Sam's voice was low, and deadly as he glared into the golden eyes of the boy in front of him, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides.
"She's the only other family I've got, and I'm not gonna lose her. Understand? Dog-boy?" Inuyasha stared at him, his upper lip curling in a snarl as a low growl rumbled in his throat, but Sam refused to back down. This was ending here and now, before Dean got involved and there was bloodshed. This guy needed to learn how the Winchesters operated. Do no harm, but take no shit. And Sam wasn't about to start now.
The silence lasted for only a few minutes before Kagome stepped between them, planting her hands on Sam's chest and shoving as hard as she could. He allowed her to push him back, but only a foot or two, his gaze never faltering.
"That's enough! Both of you!" she snapped, a sharp edge of anger in her voice. Finally, Inuyasha gave in, looking away with a huff. Kagome planted her fist in the middle of Sam's chest, drawing his attention, and he looked down at her.
"We'll talk about it later." she said, giving him a pointed look and tilting her head toward Sango and Miroku, who had been watching the entire showdown with apprehension, hands on their weapons but hesitant to actually use them. He relented with a sigh, and stepped aside, letting Inuyasha pass him and take the lead again. The others moved to follow, and Sam took up the rear, purposefully putting space between himself and the hanyou.

They both needed it.