Familiar Faces

It was the break of dawn. Inuyasha awoke from his tree branch to the eastern rays of the sun as they seeped through the leaves and branches of the forest. Below, the sun's rays had reached Inuyasha's companions Sango, Miroku, and Kagome who slept on the forest floor. Kagome stretched as she woke. Sango and Miroku awoke too. It would be a good day to search for the jewel shards, perfect weather, and good moods.

After having some of Kagome's omelletes, the group set off on their journey.

"What a beautiful day!" Kagome commented. She quietly strolled along, soaking up the rays of the sun, when suddenly she bumped into Inuyasha whom had abruptly stopped. Kagome stepped back.

"What's the matter, Inuyasha?" She asked as she watched him turn in all directions as he searched for a scent.

"I smell somethin'," he replied.

"Like?" Sango said.

"It smells like that nitwit Jakotsu." Inuyasha replied.

"Why would Jakotsu be in the villages?" Shippo asked.

"To kill. This is probably another one of Naraku's plans." Inuyasha said as he leapt into the air, following the scent.

Although the Band of Seven had been destroyed, only one remained in the forces of Naraku, Jakotsu. Jakotsu had proven one of the strongest and agreed to stay with Naraku only if given jewel shards. Naraku agreed. Jakotsu's main task now was to rid the Northern territories of any demon tribes or villages to make a new castle and a place to build his desired body. It was a sudden and large move, but even a better way to lure Inuyasha into the grasp of Jakotsu or himself.

Jakotsu was in a nearby village, terrorizing, and slaughtering the humans whom lived there.

"Please! We beg for your mercy!" A village woman pleaded on her knees to Jakotsu.

"Sorry, but I'm not the merciful type," he said as he flung his sword in the direction of the woman. Within an instant, it had struck her weak body and she was slammed against a hut. The sword's bending blade retracted. Jakotsu fingered the blood that dripped from the tip of the sword.

"Humans carry too much blood. Now I'll definitely have to clean my sword." He pouted.

"Hey you filthy vermin!" Inuyasha yelled as he landed a few yards away from Jakotsu, the rest of the group showed up behind him on Kirara.

"Well well, if it isn't Inuyasha," Jakotsu said turning to his opponent, "I see you are still alive, and even after killing the rest of the Band of Seven? You've proven to be pretty strong."

"I may have gotten the rest of them, but I still need to get rid of one more!" Inuyasha yelled as he attacked with the Tetsusiaga.

"Let's see how strong you are against Jakotsu now!" He swung the blade vertically at Inuyasha. There was a zigzag of light, but it stopped as soon as Inuyasha blocked it, but more blades came from the end of the sword. The new blades turned down a path that headed straight for Inuyasha's heart. It was too quick for Inuyasha to react, but suddenly, before the blades hit him, something or someone jumped between him and Jakotsu's blades and blocked them.

Inuyasha was in awe of such a quick reaction, as was Jakotsu. The blocker flipped in the air and landed on the ground as wind rushed around them. When the wind around the blocker had stopped, all that could be seen was a crouching girl with her back to the group who wore white wolf furs and had red hair. She slowly stood up.

"Damn you wench!" Jakotsu yelled, retracting the blade and swinging it again. The blade headed straight for the girl. In one swift motion, the girl drew her sword and blocked Jakotsu's in such a way that it sent his blade right back to him.

The girl stood there, her head hanging low.

"You wench! Who are you?" Jakotsu said through gritted teeth.

"Who me?" the girl said with sarcasm in her voice. Then she brought her head up so that her piercing emerald eyes met Jakotsu's violet ones. "Who do you think?"

"Ayame!" Inuyasha said in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

"Aah, well if it isn't Ayame of the Northern White Wolf Tribe? I've heard a lot about you from the North Eastern tribes, too bad they aren't alive anymore." Jakotsu said stroking the blade of his sword.

"And that's why I've come. They were our allies so I will avenge them." Ayame said.

"You wish you could!"

"Then I guess my wish is gonna come true!" Ayame said as she held up her sword. Wind swirled around the blade, until it was no longer visible. Once the wind stopped, what could be seen was a sword that looked just like Jakotsu's. "Fight bending sword with bending sword, Jakotsu!" Ayame said with a grin upon her face.

"So you have the henshin katana?" Jakotsu said seeming somewhat interested.

"Ran in the tribe for years," Ayame said running a finger across the blade.

"Wait, henshin Katana? Doesn't henshin mean transform?" Sango said, curious of the sword's name.

"Yes it does," Miroku said, "So therefore the sword has the power of transformation. It can mimic other weapons."

"Lets test the henshin katana, and its owner!" Jakotsu said as he flung his sword at Ayame. There was a zigzag of light heading right for her. Ayame did the same with her sword. Suddenly, there was a crash of the blades. The blades had stopped one another by coiling together in what seemed like a tall vine of blades. Both opponents retracted their swords and struck again.

There was much action with both jumping in different directions trying to dodge each attack. Inuyasha's heart pounded harder with every move Ayame made. He didn't want her to get hurt. Inuyasha had had feelings for Ayame ever since he met her. He didn't know why, he just did. Maybe it was her good looks and high spirits. Inuyasha was suddenly jerked from his thoughts when Ayame was right in the path of Jakotsu's sword and there was no way to avoid it.

"Ayame!" Inuyasha yelled. He ran and grabbed her, but they fell to the ground, skidding across the dirt. But it wasn't enough to dodge the sword for the blades were heading right towards them. Inuyasha suddenly grabbed the front of the blade trying to block it. The force of the blade dug into his palms, making them bleed.

"Inuyasha!" Ayame said surprised. 'He's risking his life for me!' Ayame thought.

Inuyasha now grabbed the blade and tore the sword out of Jakotsu's hands and flung it behind him so that Jakotsu had no access to it.

"Ayame! Strike now!" he yelled. Ayame did as he said and struck her sword right at Jakotsu.

Jakotsu cried in pain as he was slashed into pieces by her attack. When the deed was done, Ayame retracted her sword. She had avenged her allies, and all thanks to Inuyasha. Remembering Inuyasha, Ayame ran to his side. So did Kagome and the others.

Kagome had seen him block the attack for Ayame. Inuyasha would only go to extremes to save her, but he had done it for Ayame whom he had only met a while ago. Why did he?

Ayame knelt down by his side.

"Are you ok?" She asked him.

"Yeah I'm fine," he said looking away. Ayame picked up his hand and held it to look at his palm. Inuyasha's cheeks tinged red as she did so.

"Oh, Inuyasha!" Ayame said looking at the deep cut within his palm. She gently traced a line along the blood with her finger. "This is all because of me." Ayame said looking at the ground. "You shouldn't have jumped in and saved me," she said, feeling bad.

"My palm isn't worth your life." Inuyasha said now looking her in the eye. Ayame gave a soft smile.

"Thank you," Ayame replied.

"I've got some bandages and anti-bacterial ointment." Kagome said as she pulled them out and sprayed some on his palms. She was just about to bandage up his hands, but Ayame stopped her.

"Kagome let me do it, I owe it to him." Ayame said as she took the bandages. She gently wrapped them around his hand. She did it with much care, and made it so it wasn't too tight or too loose.

"Thanks, Ayame." Inuyasha said once she was done.

"You're welcome," she replied, "I owe you my life, not just this."

"I'll take when you first jumped in as a repay." He said with a grin. Ayame smiled.

Later on, when the day was starting to end, Ayame said it was time for her to return to her homelands and tell her grandfather of her victory.

"Thanks for all your help guys," Ayame said to them, "Especially you, Inuyasha. I could have never done it without you." Just then, Ayame hugged him. "You don't know how much I appreciate it." She said. At first, Inuyasha's cheeks turned red, but at her words, he hugged her back.

"Anytime," He replied. Kagome heard the meaning in his voice. Did he have feelings for her?

Ayame then stepped back. "Well, thanks again!" Ayame said.

"Bye Ayame!" Sango said.

"Bye!" Ayame replied, as she turned on the ball of her foot, just about to disappear into the wind that now swirled around her.

"Wait!" Inuyasha said. In an involuntary movement, he grabbed her hand before she could go. "Come visit us once in a while." He said to her, his eyes seeming unusually gentle.

"I-I will," Ayame said shyly at his actions of taking her hand. With that said and done, she was gone.