Sorry for the delay—I kind of needed a break, but I didn't forget you, guys.

Mamushi glared at her younger opponent's reaction. Her eyes were filled with bloodlust. "Why delay the inevitable? I never needed the swords you possess to resurrect Naraku. The true treasure, however—well, let's just say daddy's little girl will be joining her father soon enough."

Realization hit the group hard. This was a set up the entire time—she's planning to kill Yuuki to bring him back from the dead! InuYasha gripped Tetsusaiga. "Too bad we're taking you down first!"

"We shall see about that, half-breed," she smirked, knowing she had twisted the proverbial knife in the hanyou siblings' hearts. "In the meantime, I do believe I'll enjoy the show." A dark cloud slowly surrounded her, as the serpent below raced down towards them.

They barely evaded the attack before looking at each other and nodding in silent agreement. "InuYasha and I will go after Mamushi. We need you guys to take care of the snakes, okay?" Yuuki commanded the others. Looking back to where the cloud was, they launched towards it. They were just closing in, when it started to become difficult to breathe.

"Miasma!" InuYasha exclaimed, covering his face. "Get away from it!" He started to grab for Yuuki, just as she swiped Tsuyoi horizontally.

"Silent Rage!"

A gust of wind from the sword blasted through the cloud, dissipating it, leaving nothing but clean air in its' wake. The two landed on the ground and rushed back to meet the others on the battlefield, just as the largest enemy, the one that had been under Mamushi, started closing its' coils around Kagome. InuYasha went after it, desperate to get his beloved away from there.

"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

Seeing their mistress gone and their leading minion dead, the remaining serpents slithered away from both the group and the village as fast as possible. Yuuki was the only one among them that looked overjoyed at their victory.

"She's gone—did I get her?" The younger hanyou looked at InuYasha eagerly. One look at her brother's face told her all she needed to know, and it wasn't good.

"She was using the miasma as a distraction, just like her supposed quest for your swords. They're most likely going back to Mamushi to regroup." Seeing his sister's face fall upon hearing that, he winced. "We'll need to be even more careful than ever, especially knowing now that she was related to Naraku," he finished, a slight chill going down his spine.

The name of their old archenemy still left him angry. Near the end of their final battle with him, Naraku tried to get him to harm Kagome. Yet even while he had been forced into his demonic state, InuYasha still tried to protect her by pushing her away. He feared for her safety, and therefore had never before admitted he loved her. He finally confessed outright to her last week, but the pain of being used against Kagome still remained. Mamushi's appearing had opened the wound once more.

Kagome sensed his tension and gently maneuvered her hand to rest on his arm. "Yeah, but we will get her in the end." The others gave them determined smiles, showing their agreement. Seeing this, InuYasha looked at Kagome, gratitude radiating from his eyes. He placed his hand on top of hers and gently squeezed it, as a silent "thank you." Just then, a sound of marching feet coming from the village made the group turn to face the newest intruder.