Yippee its chapter 7! Hope you guys enjoy it, and as always, read and review.

-Blueeyedchibi

Sesshieobsessed

Lol, I'm not trying to make Sango up as a slut at all, though she's confused about her feelings. It all works into my squeal, as she will not be pared up with Miroku! Oops, spoke too much!

Thanks for the review.

Chapter 7

The scent lead him out of the protection of the towering trees of the forest and into the middle of a barren wasteland. He kept running, the retching stench of the lowly half demon filling his nostrils until they burned with fiery rage and disgust. He was nearly at his destination. The wind blew through his raven black hair and rustled the lion skin hide that wrapped around the top of his thighs. The trees did not race past overhead like in the forest, for there was no sign of anything green where he was now. He continued to suck energy out of his two jewel shards to keep his long and powerful legs circulating faster than any mortal could wish to achieve. He kept his nose and ears keen.

Naraku watched the wolf prince speed towards his castle through Kanna's mirror. He chuckled hauntingly to himself as he reviewed his plan. If Bankotsu planned on betraying him, he would kill him earlier than he planned. Of course, he would take the jewel shards of the remaining Shichinintai within time, when they had done what he bid them, but he couldn't risk InuYasha or his wench gaining any more of the shards. He had watched the whole battle between the demon InuYasha and the leader of the Shichinintai, and also knew that Kagome was apart of Bankotsu. It all seemed so easy at first. Bankotsu is weak, kill him off and the girl would die along with him, but lately she has not been feeling the pain he so treasured. It aggravated him so. But no worries, she could be brought down easily enough and Bankotsu along with her. And all by the claws of her friend.

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Sesshoumaru leapt up into the air to avoid his younger brother's striking claws. His red eyes were blind with fury as he lashed out again and again, just to miss every time. The dog lord had no intention whatsoever to fight InuYasha in his demon form this day, for there would be another time. Naraku's scent was strong and it was flooding into his delicate nose. He would kill Naraku as soon as he made sure InuYasha was changed back to his normal, weak self and out of his way. He swiftly made his way back to where he had seen the Tessaiga, and where Jaken stood guard and Rin hid in the forest.

They were nearly there, InuYasha close on his tail. He hadn't even managed to lay a finger on his brother's body, and Sesshoumaru had lots of energy to spare, while InuYasha was growing tired. But his demon self wouldn't let the hanyou inside quit. He was breathing hard, his throat burned and his legs ached trying to keep up with the obviously faster Sesshoumaru.

The Tessaiga came into view. Sesshoumaru wheeled and floated a circle around it, saying nothing. InuYasha literally leaped onto the great sword, taking hold of the hilt. A bright white light consumed his body and Sesshoumaru watched in interest. Inside the light, the body morphed, and when it faded, the hanyou Sesshoumaru was so used to was lying on the ground in a deep sleep, exhausted. Jaken and Rin both watched in awe and popped out of their hiding places when they saw the regular half demon on the ground, Tessaiga held tightly in his right hand.

Sesshoumaru started off, content with accomplishing what he had come to do, and his small companions started their usual squabbling, crying out things like:

"You were superb, my lord!"

"That was amazing!"

"You're so strong!"

And; "Wait for me, lord Sesshoumaru!

"Master Sesshoumaruuuuu!"

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Kagome sat on a log, cradling her arms together, trying to keep warm. It had grown dark, and after ripping the sleeves of her school uniform and using them for bandages for Bankotsu, she had become quite cold. Once while she had been bandaging him up he awoke and tried to protest, but Kagome knew he didn't have much energy and it really showed; he fell back asleep in no time at all. His stomach and shoulder wounds were the worst. They were so deep and horrid and they had started to turn green with infection. Kagome even gave in to her gag reflexes once or twice. The young miko even found out that Bankotsu had bruised his rib cage badly, but there was nothing she could do for that. Now the leader of the Shichinintai was lying on the grass, his shirt off so his wounds could breathe, but Kagome could not sleep. She had tried, but she kept on wondering where Naraku could be, and what he was planning since nobody had heard of him for a long time now. After that thought, she didn't feel safe with no one standing guard like InuYasha, so she sat listening to Bankotsu's weak and pained moans.

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Bankotsu nearly growled when something nudged his left shoulder. When he didn't move, he was nudged again, and harder.

"What the hell do you want?" He snapped, feeling rather grumpy as he had been laying down to long and his body ached all over. He expected the poker to be that girl Kagome, but when he opened his cerulean eyes he saw that the girl was sleeping atop a fallen tree. He took a moment to think how stupid she was to sleep up there, mainly because she could fall off and hurt herself. But who had touched him? Nobody was there that he could see. Bankotsu reluctantly laid his head back and tried to fall back into sleep, but as soon as he did so a loud buzzing sound filled his ears. Immediately he whipped up and around, only to come face to face with a group of Naraku's Poison Insects. The Shichinintai leader was completely startled, and took a moment to catch his breath, his stomach burning with pain from the swift movements.

After a minute, one insect nudged at him again, and flew off towards the forest, the rest of the Poison Insects following. Bankotsu knew they wanted him to follow them, and he silently cursed Naraku for waking him when he was sleeping. He glanced quickly at Kagome to make sure she was still sleeping, got up and quietly followed the flying bugs of Naraku.

"What do you want now you frikkin' bugs from hell!" He yelled angrily. The insects looked at each other, saying in their own language some sort of mockery like 'Ssssomebody needsss to get sssome ssssleep,' and 'Aww, the baby's crabby.'

"I wouldn't be half as mad if you shit heads didn't wake me up!" Bankotsu snarled between gritted teeth, who had been given the ability to understand the Saimyousho by Naraku.

"Naraku's pretty disssappointed with you, lounging around with the enemy like thisss." One bug made a gesture towards the sleeping human. "He sssaysss that if you do not bring her to him, he'll sssend you and your little friendsss back to the grave!"

"He better not lay a hand on them!" The mercenary cried to the rest of the Shichinintai's defense. He balled his fist and tried to control his temper. "Just tell the boss I'll come with the girl as soon as I get my baby back."

Another Saimyousho cocked its ugly head in question to the word 'baby,' and another told it that it was Bankotsu's sword. The rest laughed full-heartedly, then buzzed off in the blink off an eye.

Bankotsu dropped to his knees and clutched his head, sick with worry for the rest of the Shichinintai.

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Sango wandered the wrecked village, moving very slowly, deep in thought. She stared off in space, many of the villagers looking at her like she was some sort of alien. She had told Kaede that she would help repair some of the huts and gather up the loose animals, but she couldn't stop thinking about her companions. She knew Miroku and InuYasha went looking for Kagome, but that was a few days ago. She thought they would have been back by now. What if something happened to them? And what of Kagome? She swore she would kill Bankotsu if he hurt her friend.

Kirara, still in her largest form, nuzzled her mistress's hand with her snout. Sango scratched behind both ears and ruffled the fur on the top of the cat's head, but Kirara pulled away.

"What's the matter, Kirara?" Sango asked with concern as her demon companion backed up a few steps, heading towards the forest.

Kirara hissed and continued walking towards the forest, until she came to a pile of rubble. Sango followed slowly, glancing around her, thinking: There is so much destroyed here. I wish I was here earlier to talk to Sesshoumaru instead of the villagers trying to fight him off. Where could Miroku be? I hope InuYasha has found Kagome and they are both safe. Why am I here? I feel so useless, I should be out there…She gazed upon the rolling mountains.

The huge cat started to dig in the pile of wreck before her with her sharp and powerful claws, throwing up burnt pieces of wood and fencing. "What are you trying to show me, Kirara?" Sango asked again.

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As Bankotsu walked back to where he had been laying when Kagome fell asleep, the girl stirred upon her log. Bankotsu froze in his tracks, quieting his breathing so he would not be heard. Though he would not be so lucky. The raven haired girl lifted her sleepy head and rubbed her eyes. She knew she had heard someone, so she looked around the little lot she and Bankotsu were residing in until her gaze fixed on the mercenary. She noticed his tear-stained face immediately. His eyes looked upon her softly, filled with worry and grief.

"You shouldn't be up. What were you doing?" Kagome asked quietly, as if not to wake a sleeping demon. Concern welled up inside her heart at the sight of his saddened face. He no longer carried that ruthless smile she had come to know.

Bankotsu stumbled over his words, avoiding the girl's gaze, "I…I was just…I got h-hungry." He nodded when he had found a suitable excuse. Kagome raised an eyebrow at him. "I just went to find something to eat, I s-swear." He lied again.

Kagome couldn't help but blush as she looked at the stumbling Shichinintai leader's strong and beautiful frame, clad only in his baggy white pants. Even though she didn't believe a word he had said, she gave in to his excuse. But had Bankotsu been crying? The boy wiped his eyes with his arms and swung his haori around his shoulders which had been hanging off a low tree branch.

"Get up. Were moving." He stated solemnly. His voice was distant and had a sad note in it, a wavering point as if he was going to break down right then and there.

Kagome looked surprised. "But it's the middle of the night! Where are we going to go?" She knew she hadn't had more than two hours sleep, and Bankotsu wasn't in a good shape for traveling. She felt a tiny spark of pain as the boy began to walk off without a word, probably from his bruised ribs or his shoulder bone that was sticking out of his flesh. But only a spark. This made Kagome wonder more. She rose and followed the mercenary obediently.

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Naraku smirked to himself as he watched his Saimyousho speak to Bankotsu through Kanna's mirror. As soon as they left he broke down and cried for the safety of his friends. How pathetic.

"He always was an emotional fellow." Naraku laughed to Kanna. His detachment remained silent. "He is so strong, yet human emotions will bring him down in the end. He should care for no one but himself, and forget about revenge for his friends. His kindness will be his downfall."

After seeing Bankotsu and Kagome head off, he sent for Kagura. When she arrived before him in a wisp of wind, he said:

"Send out for Renkotsu."

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His black hair twirled in a bun on the top of his head bounced lightly as Jakotsu walked in search of Bankotsu. "I'll show you, Renkotsu, I'll find our oo-aniki and bring him home." He mused to himself aloud. "Speaking of the tight ass …"

Renkotsu stood upon a boulder, looking irritated and bored. Jakotsu's jaw dropped. "How did you find me? I've been traveling for days now; you shouldn't have been able to catch up!" The third-in-command Shichinintai whined.

"Really, Jakotsu, you are so pathetic." Renkotsu jumped down from his perch to come face to face with his team member, beady eyes narrowed. "I thought once that Bankotsu would come back, but it's obvious he has betrayed us, the remaining Shichinintai."

Jakotsu stared, wide eyed in disbelief. "How could you say something so awful, Renkotsu? Oo-aniki would never betray us!" Instead of being convinced, the bald Shichinintai lifted his lips in an evil smirk.

"Give it up. Oo-aniki never liked you, and you're the reason he's not coming back, you know." He barley smothered a laugh as soon as he had said this and Jakotsu's eyes suddenly saddened.

"B-but…"

"Anyways, Naraku commands us to kill Bankotsu." The second-in-command man interrupted in a cold voice. But this was indeed a lie, and Renkotsu knew it. Naraku had different plans for killing his leader, and he had no problem with that. It was amusing how gullible Jakotsu was, and he was entertained, for the now. But Naraku also told him that if the man in front of him refused to follow his orders, well….

"But Renkotsu! Your not going to do what Naraku says, are you? Oo-aniki has always tried to protect us, and he took Naraku's offer to live again, just so he could get revenge on our deaths!" Jakotsu pleaded.

"You baka, all Bankotsu wanted was to do was get his stupid sword back, and to live for his own selfish reasons; sake, women, blood..."

"You're telling me we were just a perk?"

"I'm telling you what to do! I'm second in command, and now that Bankotsu has abandoned us, I am your leader!" Renkotsu boomed angrily, growing annoyed with all the silly questions. Gullible as Jakotsu was, he was also stubborn. The tail of the so-called new leader's bandana waved with Renkotsu's fury.

Even though Renkotsu knew Bankotsu had not betrayed them, and that they were not supposed to kill him, he did as Naraku told him, because he had the deepest need to live. He no longer cared for revenge against the foolish human's of this realm, for it was Bankotsu's rash and quick thinking that had gotten everyone killed in the first place. He did feel a small guilt that resided inside him, for he knew that all Bankotsu wanted was revenge for his friend's deaths.

"I…I won't kill Oo-aniki!" Jakotsu protested loudly, like a small kid not wanting to go to bed. Renkotsu shook his head sadly. Naraku had given him orders and a promise of a new, long life if he obeyed them.

And he believed it.

Without another word or any hesitation, with lightning fast reflexes, he reached his hand out and clutched at Jakotsu's throat.

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Miroku rubbed his hands together mischievously. The light footsteps drew nearer and nearer and dirty thoughts kept invading his mind. Before long, a shadowy figure could be seen from the cluster of trees ahead and the monk could barley contain himself.

"Keep coming, keep coming, beautiful." He coaxed gently, smiling hugely to himself. Sango would just have to forgive him for this. It was too great an opportunity and he just couldn't turn it down! No, Sango didn't have to find out. Oooo Miroku, you're a bad one! He laughed silently, and gave no more on the thought.

One dainty foot in front of the other, a tall, slender woman emerged from the woods. Miroku took a deep breath, taking in her miraculous beauty. How did I get so lucky? He thought, terribly pleased with himself.

The woman was dressed in a white Yukata with a jet black hem. The colour red made its way down her shoulders like a waterfall, and appeared again at the bottoms of her large sleeves. Smoky grey haze floated itself all over the fine attire. Miroku liked these colours together; white, black, red and grey. It looked very stunning and elegant. Her hair was a silky pitch black with hints of blue shine, and it draped itself over her shoulders and fell behind her back, ends reaching to her rear. Just above her sparkling, deep blue eyes, her delicate, thin black eyebrows grew. Her nose fitted her perfectly, not to big, not to small, and the same goes with her lips. How Miroku wanted to taste those lips.

Still staring wide-eyed, the monk managed: "G-good evening, I go by the n-name Miroku, and I am a monk. May I ask your name?"

The pretty woman stopped in her tracks and stared at Miroku with her intense eyes. "What is it to you?" She asked, almost flirtatiously.

I think she's falling for me already! Miroku thought to himself, and then said, "Ah, I wish only to know the name of such a gorgeous being."

"Ok then. The names Akira."

"And it is a wonderful name."

The woman took a few more steps forward, her hair swaying in the wind. She said nothing, but grew a tiny, graceful smirk.

I think maybe I should hold off the 'will you do the honors of bearing me a child?' line until later. But this is going good! He held his arms out openly so he and the woman could have a close embrace. And who knew what good stuff would come after that.

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The half demon Naraku watched Kouga puzzle over the barrier to his castle out of a giant square window with a pointed top. It was so amusing to watch Bankotsu risk his life for the remaining Shichinintai, even one who had betrayed him so easily. It made him laugh. But he could not sit around all day, looking into Kanna's mirror, for he had evil plans to set into action, and the one at hand required the snoopy wolf. He hesitated a moment, something Naraku usually does not do, but it was only because of the thought of dragging this whole thing out so Bankotsu would suffer, and he could keep the wolf in his keep, starving him and hungering him for blood. Oh, and the look on Bankotsu's face if he were to learn that Renkotsu had betrayed him. No, he could not let him die without him knowing that.

He dropped the barrier around his hidden castle so that the wolf prince could walk in freely. When he was in, Naraku put the barrier back up so the wolf could not escape.

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The big fire cat kept digging, intent on uncovering what she was sensing. Sango watched with curiosity, asking herself over and over what could be at the bottom of that pile. Maybe it was a person, caught. Sango bent down and helped Kirara push away the rubble, her heart beginning to race.

Finally, after what seemed a life time of suspense and aching hands, Sango's demon companion stopped its digging. Her mistress followed her example. Kirara lowered her head, and Sango heard the light 'pang' as strong teeth met hard metal. When her big head lifted, Sango regarded a long, curved sword. Kirara dropped the artifact into her mistress's hands. The taijiya puzzled over why her feline friend would be so intent on revealing such a thing as a sword. She took a closer look.

The sword was just as long as Sesshoumaru's Tensaiga, but a little thicker. From the hilt, the sword curved downwards. Sango ran a finger over the edges of the sword, to find out that it was double-edged. The hilt was beautifully decorated, embedded with jewels of blue and green, and wrapped in a decorative cloth. She swung the sword around in the air a few times, not used to the shape. Kirara watched.

A/N: Well I hopped you like that! Please review!

(See, you guys reviewed and it made me update faster! Wink wink)