The Pain Behind The Mask

Note: Wow, I realize that it's been a while since I've updated but there are reasons to it. My father kicked me out of the house because his precious wife didn't like me so I've been trying to find a way to kill the major writers block I've got. Well here's the long awaited chapter & I'm working on The Truth as you are reading this chapter… Hopefully lol.

Disclaimer: No, I do not own InuYasha. I do, however, own the plot & Isamu… He is my created character.

Chapter 9

As Sesshomaru followed them 'unnoticed' the small Kitsune family continued on their way to the north. Taking note that, as they got closer, all signs of life started to vanish. /Do you feel that, Shippo?/ Kagome asked, stopping on a small branch & setting her hand against the bark of the tree.

/Hai 'Kaa-san.. Do you think it's Naraku?/ He sat next to her and crossed his arms in thought.

/No. I can't smell his miasma. Could possibly be a part of him though, covering his scent with a barrier of some sort./ She gave her theory before shrugging. /The only way to find out is to continue onward. After we scope out the layout & who all, or what all, is there, we'll go back to InuYasha & find the shards of the Shikon Jewel, alright?/

/Sounds good to me. I kinda miss Sango & Miroku anyway./ Shippo stood up & stretched before following after Kagome, Sesshomaru only slightly confused as to why they had stopped in the first place.

When they got to the palace, the Kitsunes had to do a double take on the situation. All vegetation was… Alive? Servants were out & smiling, picking the ripped fruit & vegetables. There were a few guards out on their horses, scouting the area & laughing.

/Something is so wrong here…/ Kagome whispered in her mind, shocked that the land seemed to be in decent hands.

/Just because they are taking care of the greenery doesn't mean that there isn't anything bad going on inside. This could just be an illusion of some sort./ Shippo reminded her. He could feel that something was off, like this was a ploy to get them to turn tail & run. Him being a Kitsune who controls illusions, he was able to tell when one was being used, whether with magic or threats & he could definitely feel that something was amiss.

/Your right Shippo. Let's go in & check it out./

& like that, they faded into the shadows & Sesshomaru could feel their presence no more. He felt the breeze on his face, he could still hear the birds over a hundred miles or so behind him & he could smell the vegetation a few feet in front of him. But he could no long feel Kagome's, nor Shippo's, presence. It's almost like they never existed.

Only a few seconds later did they return in the same place they had previously inhabited. Kagome was deep in thought & Shippo was shaking his head in disappointment.

/I can't believe it. How many were in that room? All those dead carcasses, human, half & full demon alike. Crammed in there with beings that were alive? Who the hell would…?/ She couldn't even finish the thought. This situation was even worse then she thought & it just made her sick.

/I don't know 'Kaa-san. This is just wrong on so many levels that I can't even imagine what it would be like that have to live with that./ He shivered in remembrance of what he had just seen not even five minutes ago.

/No wonder those people out here are enjoying it outside./ She mumbled, turning around to stare at everyone that was outside, smiling & having the time of their lives before having to return to the inside of that… Cage. She sighed before turning to look at Shippo. /We must return to the group. We shall plan as to how we are going to take back what is rightfully ours. We have some time, but not as much as I was hoping for, I'm afraid./

Shippo nodded & they took off in the direction that they could sense their old gang, images of what they had seen being shoved into the back of their heads.

'I really need to learn how to read thoughts.' Sesshomaru inaudibly sighed & leaned against the tree he was standing in. He didn't have to rush now. He knew that they were going to have to explain to their friends what had happened to them & he also knew that it was going to take some time before they could really explain. Their friends loved to ask a ton of questions. After a few seconds of regaining some of his composure, he followed after the Kitsunes.

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'I can feel…her! She's back. Finally. Now I can finally reclaim what is rightfully mine. My soul…' Kikyo cackled madly inside her head, her face displaying nothing of what she was thinking. 'That must have been where InuYasha had disappeared to.' Here the hate washed through her being like a tidal wave. How she hated how that mutt went running of to her like a dog in heat.. He had been acting the a puppy who had lost his master the entire time Kagome had been gone & that made Kikyo hate the wench even more.

"Kagome?" Came the cautious voice of Sango as said being jumped down a few feet in front of her.

"Hai, it's me Sango." Kagome nodded, not used to talking out loud anymore. Her voice sounded weird to her own ears.

"Oh my god, Kagome. You look so.. Different…" Sango trailed off, not sure how to express how different Kagome really looked. Sango couldn't read her anymore & she didn't know if it was a good or bad thing.

"Yes, as it is, I met my real Father back in my time. I'm a Shape Shifting Kitsune of the Black Fur Clan. My Father, Lord Isamu, is the Lord of The North. Or was.. We are going to take control of those lands once again." Kagome explained, sitting down & crossing her legs before scratching the backs of Kilala's ears. "I have missed you as well Kilala." She voiced out, looking around the small camp & noticing that Kikyo was still there & as lifeless as before. Kagome nodded din her direction before staring up in the sky. "Sesshomaru, we have known that you were following us since we had come from the well. You might as well join us so I can explain all that had happened."

Scoffing, Sesshomaru appeared from the shadows of the forest & sat against a tree the farthest from the group. 'Stupid Kitsunes & their damn semi-superior senses.' He grumbled in his mind, making the ends of Kagome's lips tip up in a small smile.

Kagome explained everything, from when InuYasha showed up in her time, to where they had said their farewells to Kagome's father. "Our plan, for now, is to travel with you & gather as much of the Shikon Jewel as possible before we feel that the time has come for us to go back to the Northern palace & take over what belongs to me."

"Makes sense to me." Miroku mumbled, having been silent since Kagome's arrive. He had been busy taking in Kagome's brand new figure. Good thing Sango was too busy trying to understand what had happened to Kagome to change her, otherwise he'd have been unconscious for the explanation.

"But, Kagome, doesn't this mean, that now that you're a demon, you aren't a priestess anymore?" Sango asked, curious as to how this worked.

Kagome shook her head, a small, almost unnoticeable smile present on her face. "My mother was a shrine priestess, I still have the skills & power inside of me, Slayer. I have control of the power now, as I do with my demon side. My Father had taught me how to control them both. Sometimes though, my powers have voices. Sounds weird right? it's a particular time in the moon phase that they show up. Shippo too."

"Yeah, had one ever since Kagome & I did the blood bond. He never shuts up sometimes… Gives me a headache…" He mumbled the last part to himself, crossing his arms & pouting.

Kagome gave a silent laugh & shook her head before looking at Sango, who didn't know how to take in all the changes. "I'm still that same Kagome, Sango, just less.. Of a burden? I can take care of myself & many others now that I've had training so none of you have to rescue me anymore." & she was so happy about that. How she hated having to be rescued every step she took.

Sango seemed to understand that a little better but Kagome could tell she still couldn't really take it in just yet. 'Oh well. Nothing but time will tell how she handles it later.' She thought to herself before InuYasha stomped into her line of sight.

"You can protect yourself now huh? I highly doubt that wench." He grumbled, kneeling down to stare in her face with a scowl on his own. "You've always been a weak link in this group, what makes you think that because you've suddenly changed your appearance, that your able to fight?"

Normally she'd be red faced, spitting mad by the insults but instead she smiled. Actually smiled. InuYasha's mouth dropped open & he fell back on to his ass as she stood up, the smile diminishing until it was a secret smirk. "I guess you'll just have to find out sooner or later, Hanyou."

Shippo laughed & straightened from his slouched position against a tree, shaking his head at the shocked looks he was receiving. "Okaa-san has changed a lot since the last time you guys have seen her. She's learned patience, even though she had a lot of it before. She learned how to control her anger as well, which helped."

"Wow, Shippo. You've grown haven't you? Both body & mind.." Miroku trailed off, noticing how different the once small Kitsune was. Kilala meowed in a agreement & wagged her two tails, jumping on Shippo's shoulder to rub her face against his cheek. Shippo chuckled & shrugged at Kagome.

She nodded & turned to the group. "We should probably head out. I feel a shard a few thousand yards south east of here." Miroku stood up, dusting his robes off as Kilala jumped off of Shippo's shoulder to transform into her much larger form. Sango & Miroku climbed onto Kilala's back & InuYasha allowed Kikyo to climb onto his back.

"You are more than welcome to come with us, Lord Sesshomaru. Otherwise I'll bid you a farewell." Kagome tossed him a very small smile over her shoulder before following after her son, the shard like a shinning beckon in the dark.

Making up his mind, swiftly, Sesshomaru ran after the rag-tag group, all unaware of the bee that bussed in the leaves of a tree. "Hmmm, my beautiful Miko has become an irresistible MikoYoukai. How lovely. The events seem to be working in my favor.. Soon Kagome.. Soon you shall be mine to break." His voice slithered out into the silence of the clearing that was once inhabited by a group who is trying to kill the offending creature. His evil cackling faded off into the distance as the bee trailed after them, more than eager to bring his master more information.

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I'm very sorry it has taken me so long to update. I'm sorry that this is a short chapter but I felt that I owed you guys a small something for bearing with me in my troubled time lol. I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter & that you review it!! Love to all you faithful reviewers!!