Hello everybody! ^______________^ I just received a *brilliant* idea, and I'm so HYPER AND HAPPY that I have to write to it now! ^-^ I promise I'll up-date A Demon Without Fangs sometime this week, so no hyper-venalating, okay? Actually… I should probably be telling myself that. You're guys' reviews always make me grin from ear to ear, making me want to roll on the floor laughing hysterically! They always boost my energy and make me want to write from dawn until dusk! It's so kewl actually. Anyway… *evil grin* I hope you truly like this idea! I know I do! Hehehe!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or these characters. *sigh*

The Past Revealed

Ch. 1

The day was crisp and fresh, the smell of flowers just beginning to bloom surrounding the living in a light embrace. Everything seemed to be going perfectly that day, except for the angry aura of a human girl from the future that continued to stomp away from a silver-haired hanyou, his face impassive. She walked faster, knowing he'd catch up to her soon enough. It wouldn't be too long before she would have to use the 'S' word, and that wasn't a cursing word in any shape or form. No way would Kagome stoop to his level.

"Hey wench! Get you're ass back here! Where do you think you're going?" Inuyasha growled loudly enough for her weak human sense of hearing.

Kagome turned on him, eyes furious. "I am going home! No more fighting demons, no more hunts for the Shikon no Tama, no nothing! I deserve a break Inuyasha! I am fed up with all this killing going on!"

He snorted. "Feh. You humans are all the same. You can't stomach it, can you? Are you afraid? There's nothing to worry about. No demon will ever harm you as long as you have us around. Do you think we'd let you down?"

For a moment Kagome actually faltered in her steps, not knowing how to reply to something like that. The beginning of his ramblings made her seethe, but what he said afterwards, about always being there…

"Are you running away girl?" he sneered.

She bit the inside of her lip. Never mind that! She inhaled deeply, trying to calm herself… but it didn't work. "I am not running away! We all need a break, and frankly, I also need a break from you!" She didn't mention the fact that the reason she needed a break away from him was because he had just saved her… again, and her feelings for him were skyrocketing. She wouldn't be able to take it any longer if she had to keep up this façade by pretending he didn't mean anything to her. He did damn it all!

Great, now he was beginning to rub off on her…just what she needed right now.

Inuyasha froze when her words sunk in. He clenched his fists and ground his teeth together, a mixture of hurt and anger in his eyes. "Fine! Be that way bitch! Go back to your own time, leave us! I don't give a damn! Why should I? You're a pain in the ass anyway, constantly getting into trouble all the time! You just don't know when to stop do you?"

Sango, Miroku, and Shippô, whom had been eavesdropping near-by in the bushes, winced. Things were not going well.

"Doesn't he know when to shut up?" Shippô asked angrily.

Miroku sighed and shook his head at the same time Sango grudgingly said, "No, obviously not."

Kagome on the other hand froze in her tracks, causing Inuyasha to hesitantly stop as well. 'Uh oh…' he thought to himself. Now what did he get himself into?

Kagome's throat grew tight as tears started forming in her eyes. She whipped back around again, glaring daggers at the hanyou. "It's not like I'm leaving for good dog breath! I just need a break! But maybe if that's how you really feel, I won't come back! I'll just keep my part of the jewel and guard them from you. You on the other hand can go and find yourself another shard-detector if I'm such a pain! I…don't…care!"

With that said she turned on her heel and ran for all her worth back to the well. Inuyasha cursed under his breath, berating himself for not thinking before he spoke, His mouth was constantly getting him into trouble. "Kagome, wait!" He yelled, running after her, pity and sorrow clenching and twisting at his heart. "I didn't mean—"

She didn't want to hear it. "Sit! Sit, sit, sit, sit, damn you, SIT!!!"

Inuyasha connected with the ground, his lungs barely allowing any air into his being from the pressure of the command. A flow of curses issued from his mouth as dirt somehow managed to enter his mouth during the 'S-I-T' words that were uttered from a certain teen's mouth. When the pressure lessoned enough for him to move his head slightly and look up in Kagome's direction, he barely caught sight of her as she vaulted over the edge of the well and into its dark depths. He glared menacingly at her back until she disappeared first from sight, them from scent. "Feh," was all he could manage, although deep down he truly did feel bad.

Pushing himself up he vaguely caught the scent of this three companions close by. He growled threateningly and turned to glare in their direction. "What are you looking at?" he spat, then grumpily stomped away. Sango, Miroku, and Shippô all sweat dropped.

~ * ~ * Kagome's time * ~ * ~

"Mo-om, I'm ho-ome!" Kagome yelled as she entered her house, finally allowed a deep breath of air, not feeling so confined any more. "Grandpa? Souta? Is anyone home?" After closing the door behind her she stretched and yawned. It actually felt good to be back, although she knew she would miss her friend's back in the feudal age by at the most… two day's time. She pushed that thought out of her mind. She for once didn't have to worry about a death-sentence or a test, and it was a real weight off of her shoulders knowing that she could be lazy and act like a normal teenaged girl for once.

Her mother walked toward her coming from the kitchen, and bowl in her left hand as she continued to dry it with the white towel that was in her left. "Why, hello dear. How was your journey?"

Kagome shrugged carelessly. Ever since her family had actually met Inuyasha, it wasn't a very big secret anymore. Her mother acted as if it were a normal, every-day thing; he brother couldn't be more awed over Inuyasha's strength and prowess; and her grandfather took it pretty well, although sometimes her would try to use his seals to ward of 'demons;' which never worked by the way. At least he took her phone calls and acted as a personal secretary… even if the things he came up with for her sicknesses were a little… out there.

"It was fine, could've been better though. Where's Souta and grandpa?"

"Your grandfather is sweeping the shrine stairs I believe, and your brother is currently staying at a friend's house." Her mother walked back into the kitchen, setting the bowl on the counter and picking up another one, drying that one as well. Kagome followed her, sitting down at the table and helping herself to a glass of juice.

"Oh," she commented after taking a long swallow of the sweet substance. "What day is it? I've lost track since I've been in the feudal ages."

"It's Saturday, Kagome. Really, you should at least bring a calendar with you whenever you leave. Especially when you need to come back to make up a test."

"But I don't have—"

"Not now you don't, but you will. What about later? What if you get behind on your studies and don't get into college?"

Kagome sighed, exasperated. And she thought she would finally be able to not have to worry or stress about anything. "I'll make it into college mom, don't worry. It's not like I'm never going to come back." She pushed her seat back and rose to her feet, shaking her head as she left for her room. She didn't want to get into this right now.

After she had left Kagome's mother pressed her lips together and silently shook her head at her daughter. "You do not understand," she murmured to herself. "I have plenty to worry about, and I just hope you're smart enough to make the right decision when the time comes. You are my daughter, and I love you. I don't know what I'd do if you stayed with…him. Do not leave me dearest daughter, I will miss you too much." Her eyes softened while saddening. She finally understood what her own mother felt like when she left to be with her husband. But this was different, entirely different. And yet… and yet it was the same. Heaving a mournful sigh she breathed, "But what is the right decision? I'm not so sure myself anymore."

~ * ~ * Kagome's bedroom * ~ * ~

Kagome lay on her bed, a magazine plopped down in front of her on the mattress while she read lying on her stomach. Her feet were kicking in the opposite directions as her eyes skimmed the page. Okay, so this was actually boring, big whooping deal. She could find something interesting to do. She didn't have to be nearly killed or yelling at Inuyasha just to have something to do. There were plenty of things to do in her own time!

Such as… going to the mall! She hadn't been there in a long time. Maybe if she went with her friends…

Quickly hoping to the floor she raced to her drawer and pulled out the envelope she always stored money in. Her face fell when she noticed it was empty. Well, so much for that idea. I guess while someone is busy battling against demons and fighting for her life there was no time for babysitting and earning a little cash.

Well, she could always go to the park. That didn't sound too exciting though. Was there a festival in town maybe? No, again, she had no money. Hey, she could play video games with her brother! It would give her something to do! If…he…were…here.

"Argh! I hate this!" She yelled, fed up with boredom. "There is nothing to do! How will I ever stay sane if I'm here for a whole weekend?!?" Then a brilliant idea struck her. She could do the one thing that could never be done in Inuyasha's time; take a nice, hot, shower. She smiled to herself, mentally patting herself on the back. At least it would give her something to do.

After her shower she stretched out on her bed, her hair tied up in her green towel, while wearing a white robe over her clothing to keep her warm. She snuggled onto her pillow, wanting to sink into the cushiony mattress. Then she smiled a small, serene smile as she drifted off to sleep, finally able to catch up on all the beauty rest she had lost over the last few nights. Her dreams were no comfort to her though, as flashback after flashback formed in her mind, the events of the earlier battle reoccurring as if in real life.

~*~Dream~*~

The sun hadn't quite risen yet, but Kagome, Inuyasha, and the others were definitely awake, and cautious. The demon that had attacked them in their sleep was relentless. Kagome was beginning to lose hope as the fight raged on. They were all so tired though, and weak from just being woken up. It didn't look as if things were going their way. Inuyasha growled, not liking this one bit. He had barely time enough to sense this demon as it was while sleeping. If he had sensed it a moment later, any one of them could've been… would've been dead. He shivered at the thought. Okay, it was time to get nasty.

As the demon charged for Kagome all she could do was stare at it with slightly hazy eyes until she could realize what was going on. Her mind hadn't been working yet. It was sort of like her first period math class. She had never really focused in that class because her mind was always jumbled in the morning. She stared at the large Lynx demon before her, confused as it charged at her, and then surprised, quickly going to dread and fear. She couldn't move, although her mind uncohertly screamed at her to do so. She gaped, mouth opening and closing silently, but no sound came out. Her body wouldn't move. There was no way she could defend herself, let alone evade the attack. She was too slow, too stunned, too horrified.

"NO!!!" Someone screamed, voicing Kagome's thoughts that ran widely in her mind. All of a sudden Inuyasha was between her and the demon, his eyes glittering dangerously with the Tetsusaiga unsheathed and ready to attack, or more accurately defend. He would never lat anything hurt Kagome. Never!

With a single swing of the blade Inuyasha sliced the Lynx right down the middle; a sickening sight for the monk and girl he was protecting. The exterminator was used to this sort of thing. She always had been. Miroku and Kagome learned to accept it early on, but the worst part this time was the smell it was emitting. Inuyasha almost hurled on the spot, his nose being extra-sensitive compared to this counterparts. He kept his ramen down though… barely.

"You okay?" the hanyou asked Kagome softly, making sure she hadn't gotten hurt and was mentally herself despite the early hour of the morning.

She nodded, barely comprehending what had just happened. She could have been killed, and here Inuyasha was. He saved her again. "Yeah, I'm fine. Thank you… Inuyasha." She shook her head, a bit dazed, and saw Sango and Miroku with slightly confused expressions on their faces. Shippô was rubbing goobers out of his eyes, and then fell back down onto his side, falling asleep before he even hit the ground. Yep… it was definitely too early to be out of bed. The dream world shouldn't have been that vacant, with four people awake at this early time of day.

"We better get the Shikon shards out of it," Kagome warned Inuyasha, who silently agreed. "We don't want to have to kill it more than once." She ambled over to its slightly twitching form, and grabbed the three shards from the decaying body that had wanted to come back to life only a few moments before. She heaved a sigh of relief. "That is a load off," she breathed, giving her friends a small wavering smile. "Do you think it's safe to go back to sleep?"

Inuyasha folded his arms across his chest indifferently. "I say we might as well stay awake. We're almost to the village as it is. It won't kill you to loose only a few hours of sleep."

Grumbling, they did as he said, Kagome carrying the little sleeping kitsune since she didn't have the heart to wake him up. She glowered at Inuyasha. He may have saved her, but she needed her rest! She knew she'd be a grouch if he didn't watch it! Sure enough, she was right on many accounts. They had barely arrived to Kaede's village before their bickering had gone from extreme heights to ranting and raving and both of them not meaning what they said.

There was a reason for all the tension going around though. Even Miroku and Sango had been getting up-tight over the past few weeks. You see, their time together was coming to and end. Sooner or later they would have to face off Naraku and gain his shards so that Kagome could fuse the rest together, making the Shikon no Tama whole. They almost had all the missing pieces, and suddenly, none of them wanted their mission to end. None of them knew what would happen after the jewel became whole again. Most of all, no one knew what would become of Kagome, the one whom had brought them all together. They didn't want this to end. They didn't want Naraku to win either though. Was there another option? No one knew…

Kagome tossed and turned in her sleep, a great sadness washing over her. In a way, she didn't want to find the rest of the shards, but she knew she had to. She knew that… if she didn't, there would be chaos and demons would remain strong, and killing innocent people, healing by themselves if they happened to have one of the Shikon no Tama shards. Her brow furrowed, pain and sorrow tensing up every feature on her face. She was breathing heavily as she thought about what might happen afterwards, when everything was over with. She didn't want to think about that either. She rolled over onto her left side, then right. She shouldn't be having these horrible thoughts. She was safe, in her own time. What was she so tense and worried about? What was going on? Was she sure that this was where she wanted to be?

A sweat broke out onto her face as she continued to struggle in the confinements of her robe. Something wasn't right, that she was sure of. But what? What was it? Why was she feeling so miserable? So helpless? As if she couldn't do anything? Right as those thoughts raced through her mind another dream grasped her already jumbled mind. This one wasn't a memory though, no… far from it.

Sango and Miroku walked towards Kaede's hut, then turned, glancing at a forlorn looking Inuyasha. He sat on an outstretching branch, his thoughts obviously elsewhere. Shippô was at the base of the tree, looking at the half-breed rather sadly. He opened his mouth, about ready to say something, and then turned to walk away, towards Sango and the monk. Hey, someone had to watch the perverted monk's hands at all times.

"Hey Shippô," Inuyasha muttered softly in an almost careless manner. The kitsune turned, a look of question on his face. Inuyasha didn't look down at him, instead, he stared out over the horizon, eyes half-guarded, yet also sad. "Do you think she's coming back this time? After what I said…" he trailed off, his gaze dropping to the floor.

Shippô feigned cheerfulness. "Of course she'll come back! She's never left us before. Besides, she even said she would. It's not like something like this hasn't happened before. Don't worry, she'll come through that well with a big smile on her face like she always does."

That seemed to cheer the hanyou a little bit. She gave a small half quirk of the mouth that could resemble a careless grin and mumbled, "Thanks Shippô."

The red fox demon grinned, glad to have helped solve the problem of his father-like figure. "No worries." It didn't really sound like something he'd say, but his mother told him that all the time, so why not use it now?

Shippô turned and slowly walked away, toward Kaede's hut where Miroku and Sango had been watching them. Well, currently Miroku was watching something else at the moment that had captured his attention more than their short little pow-wow. Sango's eyes widened with shock and then burned with anger when she felt Miroku's hand on the lower regions of her back-side. She clenched her fist in anger, a vein throbbing on the side of her head. "HENTAI!!!" She screamed, slapping Miroku on the side of his face for all of her worth. He fell to the ground, rubbing his swollen cheek that happened to have a red handprint on it.

"My apologies, Lady Sango. My hand has a mind of it's own you see…and I—"

"Save it!" She yelled, shaking with rage. 'Ugh! When will that monk ever learn?' She thought to herself, glaring at him, eyes weary as she stared down at his offensive hands. Hmm… maybe if she had faked anger for a little longer she could have felt his hand there for a little longer. It did make her terribly angry, but that didn't mean she didn't like it. Quite the contrary actually, but she wouldn't tell anyone that! She had her reputation to protect. Besides… it was kind of fun pummeling Miroku, even if she did feel bad for the poor monk. Why did he keep pursuing her if all she did was pulverize him every time? She had to admit it though… only to herself of course, that she did like the perverted monk, even though his hands traveled places they shouldn't have been going. He actually did carry on pretty good conversations when he wasn't groping her, or some other young woman that is. Did she forget to tell anyone that she got extremely jealous at times? Yeah, she does. He seemed to know when the time wasn't right though. If something bad happened, she actually knew she could trust him long enough for whatever problem they were currently in to get solved

So, she sat here, yelling her head off at the monk whom she happened to be infatuated with whenever she wasn't currently yelling at him.

Kagome smiled in her sleep. Things would seem to never change. Even Inuyasha and Shippô were watching with wide eyes and unbelieving stared, their eyebrows raised. Then Inuyasha clutched his stomach and started laughing, laughing! He almost fell out of the tree, but caught himself as he started to tip over. Then a large scaly green, clawed hand reached out from no where, heading straight for Inuyasha's neck. Sango and Miroku turned to look at him, anger evident in their purple and magenta eyes.

"What are you laughing at?" Miroku practically pouted.

"Jeesh! Mind your own business Hanyou! I'd slap you too if you ever did something like that!"

He continued laughing. "I wouldn't do anything like that. I know better, unlike some people."

Shippo looked up at him with a strange expression on his face. "What's so funny? They do this all the time."

Inuyasha shook his head, still laughing his ass off. It wasn't that, although that had added to his humor when they continued to yell and scream each other's ears off. He needed something to cheer him up since Kagome had left. But he could have sworn he smelled her… her scent was barely in the distance. Maybe he was imagining things though, because right after he thought he smelled her another scent caught up to his nose. It smelled like… it smelled like…daisies; and they tickled his nose, causing a giddy feeling to wash over him. Something he had probably never felt in his entire life.

After Shippô asked that question he smelled it, and it was strong! He snorted, laughing so loud that the sound out-matched Inuyasha and escalated to the sky. Tears literally streamed down his face as he clutched his stomach and rolled around on the ground. Sango and Miroku sweat dropped. Was their arguing really that funny? They didn't seem to think so. Sango was about to yell at them to 'shut up,' but it was then that Inuyasha started choking, gasping for breath. Miroku and Sango truly looked worried now. What was going on? His eyes looked utterly panicked, and he seemed to be staring at them for help, which they couldn't give.

"Inuyasha?" Miroku asked, taking a step forward.

Sango followed pursuit. "Inuyasha, what's going on?"

Kagome saw it though. She seemed to be floating in the air right between them. She gripped her covers unconsciously, her face turning a deadly white. The green clawed hand wrapped itself around Inuyasha's neck and squeezed, shutting off his air supply. He wasn't laughing anymore, so the only conclusion was that the smell of the demon had to have a weird effect on other demons. Humans must not have a strong enough nose for whatever it was Inuyasha and Shippô had started smelling. It was the only one of the five senses Kagome could think of.

She stared as the scaly hand gripped tighter, the demon finally coming into view. It was as if it had come through a rip in the air, all of a sudden, little by little, it was there. She gasped as it stood erect. It seemed to have paralyzed Inuyasha somehow. He wasn't moving. Something was dreadfully wrong.

"Inuyasha!!!" She tried to scream, but no sound came out. She stared in horror at the monster before her. This thing was worse than a demon. It stood twice as tall as Inuyasha was, with a green heart-shaped face that seemed to be flat with the exception of his wide nose. He had two small black horns on each side of his face, spiral-curling outward two times. He was lean and gangly, scales covering its whole form. It had yellow eyes that seemed to glow maliciously, its whole body hunched over, making it look awfully weak. There was something strange about this demon though. It didn't need to be strong to be able to protect itself from other demons. They would be at his mercy, laughing hysterically at its feet.

But there was something still wrong about this thing, as it stood there, slowly killing Inuyasha off. Why couldn't anyone see it? What was going on? Why was she dreaming this all of a sudden? Was it happening now? Would it happen in the future? She stared openly as Inuyasha's face started turning slightly purple from the blood rushing to his head. His eyes lolled back to the inside of his head. Fear and horror gripped at Kagome's heart.

"NOOOOOO!!!!" She screamed, terrified, not noticing the tears that were streaming down her face. "NOOOO!!! INUYASHA!!!!!" She tried to run to him, but the harder she worked her legs, the farther away she seemed to be. She swallowed the lump in her throat, her mouth going dry. "Miroku, Sango, help him!!!!" She shouted, sobbing as she fell to her knees. Still, no sound came out, they couldn't hear her. She wasn't there… in that time. "…no…" she breathed, but it came out in a strangled breath of air. The tears flowed constantly now as they ran down the length of her face. Why couldn't they hear her? Why couldn't they see?

Unless…

Her head snapped up, realization struck. 'They can't see it,' she thought to herself. 'They can't see it, just like Inuyasha couldn't see the hair from the demon Yura. Is this the same thing? Only I can see it?

Then the most gruesome thing happened right before her eyes. The demon gave a flick of it's wrist, the hand that was cutting off Inuyasha's air supply, and a loud snap could be heard echoing throughout the trees. Kagome stopped breathing. Her heart constricted against her ribcage in either anger, fear, or horror. Inuyasha's neck broke, bent at an ugly angle, blood dripping from his slightly open mouth and now gushing down his body from a rip in his neck.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Kagome wailed with all the strength and energy she could muster. "INUUUYASHAAAA!!!" She couldn't breath, she could only stare in horror, along with Sango and Miroku. Shippo was completely oblivious to what had just happened, still laughing on the ground, looking as if he couldn't catch his breath.

"No!" Sango gasped, staring wide-eyed at the picture in front of her. What had just happened? How could he be…dead?

"Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled, face gone completely pale. "INUUYAAASHAAAAA!" He yelled, as if he was loud enough then the hanyou would wake up. "Who's there? What did you do to Inuyasha?!?" He gripped the rosary on his hand, ready to use his hell-hole is necessary

"Who are you?" Sango growled, tears streaming down her face. 'Not again,' she thought sorrowfully. 'I can't go through this again. Not another death of a person whom I had come close to. Please, no.' She gripped her large boomerang with shaking white knuckles. "Answer us!!!"

The scaly green creature laughed, his laugh coming out in short hiccups it seemed. "Where is Kagome?"

Miroku, Sango, and Kagome gasped in unison. 'What does he want with me?' Kagome thought, not even realizing that she had been thinking at all. She was in shock. She could hardly move as she struggled for breath, her tears threatening to drown her in her sorrow. Her lungs refused to work. She huddled into herself, shaking with fear and rage. This wasn't happening… this couldn't be happening. She wasn't there. She was supposed to be able to help her friends, not hurt them! Not bring them into danger.

"Why should we tell you?" Miroku asked boldly, still trying to figure out where the voice came from.

"Because if you don't…" the demon cackled, "You two shall die as well, along with this hairy fur-ball over here."

Sango gasped and ran forward, scooping the laughing Shippô up into her arms. She'd protect Shippô with her life. She couldn't save her brother, so she'd be content with saving him instead. If her life had to end, at least she will have done some good.

"No…" Kagome mumbled in her sleep, talking her thoughts out loud. "Don't hurt them… please… don't hurt… my friends…" A layer of sweat drenched her entire body. She was shaking uncontrollably, her breath uneven. "No… please no… what did they ever do to you?"

It was as if she could hear the demon mocking her. "Where ever you go, you will be in danger little one. Whomever you are with, I will kill."

"NOOOOO!!!!" She screamed, flinging herself up in bed, trembling with fear. She looked around the inside of the room, noticing that she was fine, but of course she would be fine. It was her friends that were in danger. "It doesn't have to be that way," she spoke out loud. "It doesn't have to be that way!"

She leapt out of bed, shrugging out of her robe and tossing it onto her floor. She ran for all her worth toward the well. She had to save her friends. She had to! She had to save Inuyasha! He couldn't die like that, unmoving, and with a quick effortless snap of the neck. He was better than that! She knew! She wouldn't let him get beaten so easily.

She entered the well house and stooped to grasp her bow and arrows that were leaning against its side. Then, when they were in her strong grip, she dove into the well, wishing she had never left, wishing that she could get there faster. 'I'll save you Inuyasha, if it's the last thing I do! I owe it to you. You've always saved my life, so now I'll repay the debt to my best advantage. I won't let you die! I won't! I… I…I l…lo…love you.'

She blushed at the thought, but deep down she knew it was true. She would do anything to save him, even if that meant sacrificing herself, because she knew… she knew that he would do the same for her.

When she landed on the other side of the well she scaled to edge to the top as fast as her muscles would permit. She tumbled over the edge, doing a summersault, and then quickly rose to her feet, running in the direction of the village. She had to get there fast, she just had to! She stumbled and tripped, quickly picking herself up afterwards. 'Inuyasha, you better be safe! Don't you dare give up on me! Don't you dare let a stupid ugly demon kill you without your knowledge! I won't…let…that…happen!' She panted for breath as she jogged up a small hill and then down another. She had left the forest, the village was in sight! She was almost there! She could save him! She had to!

All of a sudden she heard laughter, and a lot of it. She could hear an angry yet confused Sango, and then Miroku spoke up.

She picked up speed.

Shippô joined in laughing, louder than Inuyasha. He wouldn't stop; couldn't stop.

She raised her bow and grabbed an arrow, then strung her bow.

They came into view, Miroku a step closer to the kitsune and the hanyou than Sango. She saw Inuyasha in the tree, holding onto the branch for dear life unless he fell. That was when he choked, then gasped, eyes growing wide in shock and confusion. Miroku stared with unblinking eyes, a worried expression crossing over their faces. They couldn't see the ugly green demon. They didn't know Inuyasha was struggling for his life, yet was paralyzed for the time being.

But Kagome did. She saw this, and leapt through the air, tears running down her face and scorching her flesh. It couldn't happen again. She wouldn't let it. She couldn't see Inuyasha die in front of her… twice. Not when she could do something about it. But they were still so far away, and Inuyasha and the scaly demon with horns were so high up. Could she do it? Would she be able to make it in time?

"INUYASHAAAA!!!" She yelled, feeling as if her lungs would burst.

That's when she pulled back, and loosened. The arrow flew through the air at an amazing speed, seeming to grow bigger and bigger as Kagome's miko powers surrounded the weapon. She stared at it defiantly, willing it to make it to the demon that threatened Inuyasha's very being. She had never wanted to kill something more in her entire life, not even Naraku.

The arrow pierced the soul that was grasping onto Inuyasha's neck, and it let go, falling to the ground and landing with a sickening thud. Inuyasha gasped for breath, clutching his throat, finally able to move again. 'What's going on?' he wondered. 'Why was that happening to me? For once… I had never been so scared in my life!' Then he smelled it again, but this time it was mingled with Kagome's scent. Still, her scent wasn't enough to block out the smell of the weird daises, and he began laughing once again since he was finally able to breath.

Kagome ran over to them, worry, relief, fear, and many other emotions crossing over her features. "Sango! Miroku! Are you okay?"

They both nodded, speechless.

She turned to Inuyasha just in time to notice that the demon wasn't done yet, and it was far from dead. She gasped as she stared at it. Why wasn't it dead? She didn't sense a shikon shard from it! Yet… she felt it again, that… strangeness about the creature. It had the power of five shikon shards, yet it possessed none of them. How was that possible?

"Inuyasha, hold your breath! Try not to inhale its scent, that's why you're laughing so hard! You'll fall if you don't! Inuyasha!" This wasn't over yet, and she had never been so scared for her friends, for herself, for Inuyasha.

"Lady Kagome, what is going on?" Miroku asked, thoroughly confused, yet also cautious. He was aware that something was going on, but he didn't know what. He couldn't see it.

"There's a demon here, but only I can see it. It… it almost killed Inuyasha." It was then that Sango and Miroku noticed the dried tears that were on her cheeks. They looked at her in shock, and pity almost.

"What can we do to help?" Sango wanted to know.

Kagome shook her head, at a loss for words. "I-I don't know. I think…I think it's after me. I can't explain it right now, but it's strong, very strong. If it touches you you're paralyzed. And it just… it just appeared!"

"Whoa, whoa, call down Lady Kagome, you're talking too fast. Does it have any Shikon shards?"

Kagome looked up at Miroku with helpless eyes. "No, but it has the power of a shard; five to be exact."

Both Sango's and Miroku's eyes widened. "It had the power of five shikon shards, but it isn't carrying them? They aren't implanted in it somewhere?"

Kagome again shook her head. "I know… it's confusing, but right now we have to beat it. It—"

She was cut off when she saw Inuyasha, holding his breath, jump from the tree, giving Kagome a questioning look, yet she could tell by his expression that he understood completely. She saw the anger in his eyes and could tell he wanted to rip that demon apart. She didn't blame him. Not after the dream she had. She shivered, then made eye contact again. That was when the demon rose to his feet from behind a tree, and took slow, long strides in Inuyasha's direction, looking as if he would kill anything that got in his way. It was then that he noticed Kagome, and a slow twisted smirk crossed his extra thin lips. Kagome paled and backed away.

Sango and Miroku noticed this and looked to where Kagome's eyes were riveted, yet try as they might, they could not see what was before him. Kagome didn't think that they would want to see his gruesome figure, but it sure would be nice if they could see what they were up against and attack him, or run from his and evade his attacks. It's eyes turned red now, and it let out an ear piercing screech as it turned it's face to the sky and seemingly howled. Everyone paled after hearing that, their blood running cold.

"K-Kagome…" Sango started, but stopped.

"What is that thing?" Miroku asked in a slightly quivering voice.

"That, is a creature wish to never see again," Kagome squeaked out, wishing she could run and be far away from this thing, safe with her friends.

"Whatdoesitlooklike?" Inuyasha asked quickly in one breath and then had to inhale, laughing again.

She waited for him to get under control before she answered. "It's tall, gangly, and has green scales all over it. Have you heard of it before Inuyasha?"

He nodded, not wanting to waste any unnecessary breath. Kagome opened her mouth to ask another question when the demon strode right over to Inuyasha, towering about him. Kagome froze, her heart seeming to have ceased it's beating.

She warned Inuyasha with one word. "Run!"

So, how do you like it so far? I hope you like it! I would be torn to pieces if you didn't! This is thirteen pages, thank you! This is one of the longest chapters I've ever WRITTEN!!!! Anyway… the next chapter will be even better, I promise you! *evil grin* I know what's going to happen! Yay! He he he! Well, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE review! I would really appreciate it! ^-^ See ya later! Ja ne!

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