The New Kagome

Chapter 10: Awaken

Disclaimer: If I owned InuYasha, let's just say a lot of things would be very different…

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

Jazz: Hello lovelies!

Layla: Sorry it's been a while since we updated, Otakon and school…but it was amazing! Otakon, I mean. Definitely not school.

Aqua: Great to know some people are still into this story.

Kelsey: Yeah, I feel like we're becoming…well…unnoticed. Less

popular.

Aqua: And sorry if things seem a little…confusing. Because of the change in chapter twenty six in Shikon Arts, we've basically been winging that story, and that may have transferred over to here. So bear with us please, because right now, we're not even sure which way this story could go. And that includes who Kagome will end up with.

Jazz: So remember to vote on the profile poll if you haven't already!

Emma: Oh, and we hope you guys don't mind the whole summary change. We are also contemplating a title change. But this is definitely still the same story with the crazy turns you'd never expect to see. And we have added characters names in the dividers so you'll know whose point of view it is.

-O-o-O-Koga-O-o-O-

With her being the granddaughter of the Northern Tribe leader, I'd never believed Ayame could be so…malicious. But as I walk here through what was once my camp, I can't help but feel hatred to, and frightened of, the girl who had once had the title of my 'fiancée'.

The scent of blood and death was so overwhelming, I was barely able to survive being here again. But I had to come. My comrades…they deserved more than just laying here, in a pool of their own blood. I cursed myself, I cursed Naraku…and…I cursed Ayame.

If it wasn't enough that the Wind Sorceress Kagura had killed many of my tribe earlier, it set my blood ablaze with rage that Ayame had led a horde of demons here to destroy what she could find, and that included my brethren. Wolf demons and wolves lay together in a tangled mass of limbs and large puddles of blood. It was such a gruesome site, it was impossible to imagine somewhat sweet, if not persistent, Ayame could be so…cruel and bloodthirsty.

When I had first scented the blood, I wasn't sure what to do. I was returning to the clearing where I'd first seen Kagome in her new form, hoping to find her before Ayame could get to her. I'd left Ginta, who'd returned to consciousness shortly before I left, in charge. Telling him to call for me if trouble arose while he and the others were still healing. I was faintly able to smell Kagome when I smelt the blood of my tribe. In a split second decision, I'd turned around and ran back to where I'd left them.

But it was too late.

Ayame and her horde of demons were long gone. Almost all of my companions were now dead, laying in pools of their own blood. Only a handful of them, including Ginta and Hakkaku, were still alive, but deeply wounded. As they rested and recovered, I'd given myself the task of helping my fallen comrades.

And that was where I was now.

And the only sign Ayame had been there was one of her many sharp cutting leaves, embedded in the bark of the trees and the breastplates and flesh of my tribe. It was obvious that she had become more powerful and bloodthirsty under Naraku's control. And I couldn't help but wonder…

Who was the next victim?

My thoughts were becoming more and more clouded by grief, anger, and hatred. I wanted nothing more right now then to go to Naraku's castle and tear him apart limb from limb for this. And to take my vengeance against Ayame as well. She had proven she was no longer one of us and was a traitor to our kind. Wouldn't her grandfather be pleased to hear that…

"Ko…ga…you should…rest…" Ginta's voice was weak, and dried blood was frozen down his chin. His eyes were barely open, and his breath was coming out slow. Slower then it should be. But he'll live.

"Feh, you should be the one resting. You're all weak, and those who were killed deserve better than this." I replied absently, burying another of my comrades in this clearing. I glanced over my shoulder at Ginta, watching as his mouth opened as if to say something before he closed it, eyes rolling back in his head as his hand went limp and his head fell back against the tree he was leaning on with a muffled thud.

And I froze.

But his chest rose and fell unsteadily, showing that he was still at least alive. In pain maybe, but still alive, which was reassuring enough for me at the moment. I got back to work, lifting another limp and bloodied body, my mind far away from the bloody clearing.

My mind on a certain demon girl. A demon girl who, not a month ago, had been a priestess. And the red head who had once claimed so firmly that she was my fiancée. And I wondered…who should I be more concerned about?

-O-o-O-Sango-O-o-O-

Damn him. Damn them all.

The heat was so unreal it was hard to believe it was true. Much, much too hot. As if every blood cell in my body was aflame and creeping through my body. My heart felt as though it were hammering against my ribs, threatening to break through as I thrashed on my cell floor.

Tears flowed down my cheeks, and I knew at least my face was bleeding. I'd been thrashing like this for so long…

How long had this fire been inside me? A few hours? A day? A week? Night and day had melded together in this pain. Nothing else mattered but the fire inside, and how it seemed to consume me, yet Death still wouldn't welcome me.

I couldn't take this. Why would I not just die? Wasn't this pain enough suffering? Had I not already suffered enough? But with my eyes clenched shut, I could see a strange stream of images.

Memories of my life flashed through my mind. A never-ending stream of moments. Some of a happier time. A time that seemed so long ago, it was almost as if it had never happened. Like it was a whole other lifetime. A whole other girl with my face. My face, my family, my experiences. But not me. Not my life. Not the same Sango.

And in an instant, it stopped. As if someone had just snapped their fingers to make it all end. The stream of memories, the fire pulsing through every vein in my body, it just all…stopped. And time itself seemed to freeze.

I breathed in deeply. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. It was cold. As if without the fire within me, my blood itself had frozen into place, leaving behind a cold shell. But I knew I was alive. The tips of sharpened rocks were still imbedded in my cheeks, and my body was numbing down to the point of immobility. It was almost as bad as the inner fire I'd felt moments before. Almost.

I heard the sound of something sliding across the floors. It was soft, so far away I was shocked I could hear it. But as seconds turned to minutes, and minutes turned to what felt like to be hours, I glanced up from my position on the ground. The sound came to a stop and all I could see was the foot of a man in a rice straw sandal. And I almost immediately growled.

"Well, hello Sango, you're looking well." Miroku taunted.

I pressed my palms against the ground and pushed myself up to face him, surprised by how clear and sharp my vision now seemed to be. Even from the ground, I could see every black fleck in his deep violet eyes. Every stray strand of hair in his face, even the smallest beads of sweat running down his pale skin. Every detail was just so…enhanced. But that didn't dull my anger at all. And all I could feel was the urge to kill him.

"What the hell did you do to me?" I roared, all of my rage surging forth.

One second, I'm on my hands in knees, and the next, I had Miroku pinned to the wall by his throat, red, blistering fury blurring my vision. But Miroku simply smiled, and then something strange happened. His amethyst and black eyes closed once, and then opened again, to reveal eyes as crimson as fresh blood.

"I made you like me, dear Sango. I made you…one of us." His voice was tender, soothing. His hands wrapped around my wrist, an I simply tightened my grip. I wasn't through with him yet.

"Quit playing games with me, Miroku. What have you done to me?" I growled, and he chuckled. With a smirk, he revealed one sharp fang, and I felt fear and disbelief clench in my stomach. I released my grip on his throat and stepped away, shaking my head.

No. No, no, no.

This couldn't be true. He couldn't have made me…he just couldn't have. Not what I'd been training my whole life to fight. Not destroying everything I'd worked for, everything I was. Miroku's smirk widened as he looked at me, until it became full on laughter. I glowered at him. He was enjoying this.

"Yes, Sango. You, the great young demon slayer, have now joined the ranks, as a demon yourself."

-O-o-O-Kikyo-O-o-O-

"Kanna, could you please gather some more water for me?"

The voice sounded so familiar, and yet so far away…I couldn't place just who it was. It was female, that I knew. But nothing more other than that, really. But I knew I was beginning to feel warm.

The cold from before still clung to me, though. The freezing cold of the empty darkness. And the warmth overtaking me was far too overwhelming. What was this dreadful heat?

"Kikyo, please, we need you to stay with us." The voice said, this time directed at me.

Kikyo.

Yes, that was my name.

But who was calling to me? Why were they trying to take me from the peace of the darkness and into this terrible inferno.

"Too…hot…" A voice whispered. This voice sounded so weak, so dry, I couldn't help but pity the person. Even if I didn't know who it was.

"It's not too hot, Kikyo. You're in the darkness. Just follow my voice. The heat isn't going to hurt you." The first voice replied. Only then did I realize that weak and pathetic sounding voice had been my own.

"Please Lady Kikyo, open your eyes." A new voice bit out. The voice sounded like it resented the words it was saying.

"Come on, Kikyo. Please." The first voice begged.

Finally fighting the heat singing my skin, I fluttered my eyes open, temporarily blinded by a bright light overhead. I felt someone lift me up and carry me. Soon, a cool breeze blew and the heat was greatly weakened. My eyelids were heavy, but I soon forced them open.

Staring back at me were two golden pools, flecked with blue. They widened for a second, before a small smile broke out on the girl's face, and she released a sigh of relief, revealing mildly sharp fangs. She looked so familiar, and yet…

"She's awake?" The second voice asked. I turned my head towards her. It was a girl, with short, pale yellow hair. Her eyes were a warm shade of light grey, and she smiled lightly. I blinked once. Twice. Who was she?

"Yes. Kikyo, how do you feel?" The golden eyed demoness asked me, and that's when the memories returned to me. Kagome. Kanna. After I processed what had happened and what had led me to where I now was, I narrowed my eyes at my reincarnation.

"What do you think your doing?" I hissed. Kagome's eyes widened in shock and Kanna's narrowed in irritation.

"Lady Kikyo, I would advise you show some respect for Kagome. It is because of her, after all, that you're even alive here." Kanna growled, eyes glaring heatedly at me.

"And yet, let us also keep in mind I am responsible for her being in this position. And for that, I apologize." Kagome smiled softly at me and bowed her head. I struggled to sit up, backing away from her. I hated to show weakness. Especially in front of her. Kanna rolled her eyes, standing.

"Well, while Lady Kikyo deals with this blow to her pride, I'm going to go check on Rin." Kanna informed, turning and taking her leave. Kagome turned to me, a soft smile on her face.

"Sorry about that. She's still new to this, you know." She said, shrugging, placing a hand over her heart to emphasize her point. I glared at her. Why was she being so kind to me? Did she forget that she was the reason I was like this. After a long moment of silence, Kagome sighed.

"Kikyo, please, I know what I did was wrong. That wasn't a part of my mis-plans. I acted out in passionate anger, which was not my best course of action. So, I repeat, I'm sorry. And yet…" She leaned on the trunk of a near by tree, smirking upwards, the sun glinting off her sharp fangs. It was still hard to believe that this…being held the other half of my soul. She shook her head and lowered her gaze as she continued, "I'm not sorry. You needed to know all the damage you're continued presence causes. And how it is interfering where it does not belong. You should-"

"What is he planning?"

She turned to me, one eyebrow arched in confusion as she rested her arm on one risen knee. Her eyes were wide as she looked at me, wanting me to explain my interruption.

"Just who is 'he'?" She asked, resting her palm against the cool forest floor. I rolled my eyes. Now she was simply dodging the question. She isn't a fool - she knows what I'm talking about.

"You know very well that I am speaking of Naraku. Just what is he planning, sending you here?" I inquired, narrowing my eyes in suspicion of her. She had to be hiding something…

But the Inu-Panther demon hybrid simply shrugged, looking away from me.

"Lord Naraku prefers to keep his plans secret. Or at least some of them. Whatever his purpose for me here is, I don't know, I just follow his orders." She replied.

"Then you are no better than his pathetic incarnations, following him against your free will. Honestly, it's sickening." I spat, struggling to stand. But in an instant, I felt a hand wrap around my throat and push my head against the ground roughly. A weight held me down and restricted my from moving, the tips of claws digging into the back of my neck. I looked up, to see golden eyes flash to a crimson red, sharp fangs bared at me as jagged stripes suddenly appeared on her cheeks.

"Do not ever compare me in that way. Remember, it is because of you that I am like this. And for that, I have made it one of my new goals to make sure I am personally responsible for making this clay body of yours crumble to ash." She growled, her nose brushing my own, her warm breath rolling over my face from our close contact. And yet I would not let her see the fear inside of me. I would never show her such weakness.

"Then it will take more than empty threats to wound me." I responded calmly, blinking up at her. She snarled in rage at her failed threat.

"That was no threat, Kikyo. That, was a promise." She roared in a low, angry voice. And in an instant, the weight was gone, as was my recently demon-turned reincarnation. I sat up slowly, ignoring the stinging pain that shot through my body, but her aura was quickly fading.

She was gone.

-O-o-O-Kagome-O-o-O-

How dare she treat me so lowly!

How dare she, nothing more than a pathetic, empty clay shell, view herself as superior to me!

Did she have a desire to die again so soon?

I leapt through the treetops, jumping from branch to branch at breakneck speed, temporarily forgetting my new mission and the weakened human girl I'd left behind. All I thought of was the deceased priestess who now still roamed these lands, and how deeply I wished to end her wretched life…for a second time.

Do not forget your assignment, Kagome.

I stopped, landing neatly on the forest floor, hidden in shadows as I inhaled, then exhaled, calming myself. Naraku was right. While my hand may not, literally, be in the palm of his hand like Kagura's, we still shared a connection. He had made me this way, after all. Almost immediately, I scented the demon lord who had become my next 'assignment'. South west, heading back towards the village. I quickly ran towards him, hoping to at least converse with him enough so that I learned what would be the best method for taking one of his fangs.

Soon enough, I saw his long, silver hair swaying behind him as he walked. Slowing myself so I matched his pace, I walked beside him. Neither of us broke the silence, yet I could feel him spare a glance at me. On more than one occasion.

"So what do you plan to do now?" I asked finally, sensing we were very close to the village. And I couldn't get too close to him with others around. He was silent.

"Rin has awoken, as I'm sure you're aware, and yet she is still too weak for traveling. Or at least, without someone knowledgeable of how to care for her in her condition nearby." I further explained, waiting for his response.

"What are you getting at? If this is you're way of asking me if I will allow you to travel with us, then you can be sure that I will refuse." He said at last. I paused for a moment, before bubbles of laughter escaped my lips. He sopped walking to turn and look at me, as I held my sides from my fits of laughter. I honestly didn't mean to lose my composure so easily, but his arrogance now surprised even me. I finally stopped, looking up to meet his narrowed eyes, and a small smile played on my lips.

"I am sorry if I insulted you, Lord Sesshomaru," I mocked, saying his name with a low drawl, "But I had in mind, perhaps, things going the other way around."

Nothing.

"That of which involves me not leaving my…friends."

Silence.

"Meaning that you, Rin, Jaken, and Ah-Un would be traveling with us."

Nada.

"In one large group."

But still, he remained silent, turning his back on me and continuing forward. I smirked as I watched his retreating form.

"If you honestly believe that I would join your pathetic little 'group', you are more foolish than I thought."

I had to hold in laughter as I watched him enter the clearing, and I waited until he was a good distance away from me, before speaking again.

"Then you will have the blood of your young ward on your hands."

I spoke softly, but knew that my voice was carried on the wind to his sensitive ears. And without waiting for a reply, I took my leave, smirking all the way until I'd reached the river where I'd first seen my newly changed, for the second time, appearance. As I looked into the clear blue waters, I saw that, once again, my face was free of all markings albeit the Prussian blue colored crescent moon on my forehead.

Suddenly, the waters began churning and bubbling. I glared at the one calm waters. What was happening? And yet, my curiosity kept me from leaping away. Soon enough, the river stilled, revealing to me a large, black spider, seemingly made of ink, appearing on the surface of the waters. I nodded once. Naraku had told me of this before I left him. Anytime I saw this symbol meant I must return to his castle.

Standing, I concentrated on myself, my body, my essence, and the destination I wanted to reach. Soon, I had morphed myself into a ball of untraceable energy, so that none of the others would be able to follow me, and I took to the skies.

-O-o-O-Kagura-O-o-O-

The wind blew around me, caressing my body as I soared through the air. I had no true destination in mind, I just don't wish to return to him anytime soon, despite that being my original route.

Just thinking of the half-demon known as my creator made my blood boil. I placed one hand over my left breast, above the empty cavity where my heart is supposed to beat. In an instant, as if my feather knew where I know wanted to be, I changed course and headed back for the cave I occasionally visited, to keep an eye on the healing Hakudoshi and to organize my plans as I had for that pathetic monk. Just thinking of what I'd already done and what I planned to do made me smirk. I would have my freedom, and Naraku would die.

Loud buzzing broke me from my thoughts, and I glanced around to see Naraku's Saimyosho surrounding me. That bastard!

Before I even had enough time to open my mouth, sudden pain erupted from my empty chest cavity. The throbbing pain shot throughout all of my body, I choked on nothing but air as my body began to violently shudder. Every breath I took just flooded me with even more pain. This unbearable pain could only be coming from one thing…

Naraku. He was calling me back.

"Damn him…" I mumbled, hurrying in the other direction, back to his castle. I couldn't allow him to find the cavern I used. Naraku's demonic wasps followed closely as I soared, clutching fistfuls of the feather to keep me from falling onto my side, and toppling over the edge to my death. But even now, that didn't sound like too terrible a fate.

Finally, after flying for so long, I'd arrived at the castle. The feather landed on the ground and I tumbled off, clearly unsteady. I laid on the ground for a moment, my breath coming out haggard as I panted heavily. And yet the pain did not lessen. If nothing else, it intensified. My chest was throbbing, sending volts of sharp pain into every vein of my body. I curled myself into a ball, both hands tightly clutching the fabric of my kimono over my chest. My teeth sunk deeply into my lower lip to keep me from crying out, but I still felt the blood trickling over my lip and down my chin.

For how long I lay, I do not know. But after some time. A strong pair of arms wrapped themselves around my body and lifted me up, carrying me into the sanctuary of the castle. My eyes were tightly shut, but I could feel from the direction we were traveling that we were going to Naraku's chambers. Damn them, whoever this was…

I felt the chilling air as we entered his chambers, and it seemed as though every pore of my body was poisoned just by the air of the room. Slowly, I was laid down onto the cold wooden floor boards, on my side.

"I see you were able to bring her here, Kagome." His voice chilled me to the bone and I struggled to meet his gaze, desperate not to back down before him. I would not let him see how he weakened me. And yet, I felt myself freeze.

There, in Naraku's palm, was a beating red organ. My heart. It thumped in his tightly enclosed hand, and blood flowed down his wrists in trails as he loosened his grip on my heart, and I saw the true source of the blood, of my blood and pain. In the lower left chamber of the beating organ, was a perfectly shaped puncture wound, letting loose the streams of blood. I winced as the pain lessened, but it wasn't enough.

And suddenly, it was gone. The pain ended abruptly, leaving me chilled and stiff as I struggled into a sitting position. I narrowed my eyes at him, wanting him to desperately feel the immense hatred I was sending his way. But his only reply was a simple smirk, with Kagome standing loyally at his side. Struggling to my feet, I opened my fan and used it to cover the lower half of my face, so that they could not see my scowl. But Naraku paid me no mind as Kagome moved slightly away from him and lowered herself to her knees. Perhaps I should have been relieved, but the calculating look that shown in his crimson eyes at that moment sent a shiver down my spine.

Poor girl. I can't help but pity her. And yet, at the same time, I envy her. She, like me, is forced to work under this monster, and obey his every command. But she, unlike me, has the freedom I so desperately desired. Or at least a taste of that freedom. She comes and goes as she pleases, her task assigned to her allowed her to fly freely whenever she so chose. How dare she be so fortune.

She, who doomed herself to this fate. She, who had allowed herself to become a demon in a moment of vengeful rage. She, who had the power many would cherish and use for darker purposes, instead chose to maintain herself to the best of her ability, deciding to betray those who'd hurt her the most. She still had no idea just how terrible a decision she'd made in agreeing to Naraku's terms.

"Then what would you suggest, My Lord?" Kagome asked. I blinked twice, realizing that they had begun discussing the girl's progress. Perhaps this information could hold some merit for me…

"Your original plan seems well suited enough. Go along with one of those. Either weaken him enough to steal the fang or seduce him. And Kagome, remember, do not fail me."

Kagome nodded once, fierce determination in her eyes, hiding a hesitant fear. She placed the palm of her right hand over her heart (which she still had, unlike myself), bowing her head to him.

"I promise not to fail you, Lord Naraku." She vowed, and Naraku smirked victoriously. No, it wasn't a smirk. It was a smile. A spine chilling, cold, smug smile. Even worse.

"Wonderful. Now, go, I have other business to take care of now." Naraku dismissed nonchalantly with a wave of his hand as his eyes turned to me. Kagome nodded, before turning to me, and the exit. I closed my eyes and bowed my head as she passed. Not out of respect, but simply because after my display of weakness, I could not bring myself to meet her eyes.

"I wish you luck, and the freedom you desire." She murmured softly to me, before walking out of the room and turning a corner. My eyes snapped open at her words and I turned to her, but she was already gone.

"Did you enjoy your outing, Kagura?" He taunted, taking the tainted black, and nearly completed, Shikon Jewel from a sleeve of his kimono, and rolling it between his thumb and forefinger. I narrowed my eyes, fanning myself with my fan lightly. He was baiting me, I knew, so I kept my silence. The less I said, the better.

"Where is he?"

"Who are you talking about?" I asked, somewhat haughtily, as I rested my left hand on my hip. Naraku narrowed his eyes, the crimson pools reflecting irritation with slight amusement.

"You know very well who I speak of, Kagura, but I will humor you. Where is Hakudoshi?"

"Becoming forgetful, Naraku? You're little slave girl you just sent off tore him to shreds."

"I am not foolish, Kagura, and despite how you may behave, neither are you. Hakudoshi's heart is not inside his physical body. Therefore, no matter what abuse his body may endure, he will live. So I will ask again: Where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Then I suggest you find out."

I bit back a sharp retort, knowing already this was going to result the same way it started; with my heart in the palm of his hand and him using it to send pain through me and taught me for my desire of freedom. And even if it was a short, farce freedom, I would do as he said, simply so that I could fly. So that I could fly like the wind I am the spirit of, where Earthly attachments mean nothing to me. Even if it is just for a moment.

"As you wish, My Lord." I taunted, taking my leave before he could reply. No volts of pain shot through me. No uncontrollable feeling that left me trembling as he squeezed my heart in his palm. How…strange.

And yet, that did not matter as I plucked a lone feather from my hair and took to the skies, away from the cursed castle and the half demon inside of it. Away from he who created me, and now held me prisoner to work under him. And towards…no where. Just to the skies, to be free.

Even if just for a few moments.

-O-o-O-Kanna-O-o-O-

"Rin, something is wrong. You seem…different." I said. We'd been sitting in a not quite comfortable, and yet not awkward silence for quite some time now as we both awaited Kagome's return, but something about Rin's demeanor was, well, different.

"I'm fine, Kanna. Maybe you're just imagining things." She replied in her ever-the-same chipper voice, a cheery smile on her face. I frowned. Everything about her at the moment seemed false.

"Rin…cut it out. I can tell you're off about something. Now come on! Open up!" I begged, sticking out my lower lip and letting it quiver slightly. Rin looked at me for a long hard moment before sighing, and turning away again.

"Fine, I'll tell you everything that happened."

"Everything?"

"Yes, everything. But you have to promise to not tell anyone!"

"I promise."

She turned to me, a look of pure seriousness in her russet brown eyes.

"I need you to swear on your life."

I blinked twice, before sighing and holding out my right hand for a handshake. Rin hesitantly put her hand in mine as I moved my arm up once, then down.

"I swear on my life."

Rin sat back and sighed with relief, before turning to me again.

"Well…everything was so…strange. I went through so many different scenes, and every time, either I was dying or everyone else was."

"What do you mean everyone else?"

"As in whoever else had been in the dream. Now, please don't interrupt from this point on. Anyways, at one point, I was in this meadow…and everyone was there! Lady Sango, Lady Kagome, Shippo…but then the bandits that killed my family killed them. And my mother's head began speaking to me…then I found Lord Sesshomaru's body, and before anything else could happen, the scene changed. Lord Sesshomaru and Lady Kagome were above a river bank, but I was underwater, and I was drowning. At first I was scared, but then it felt good and I felt at peace. But then, I was in a cave, with drawings all over the walls. Drawings of my life, and then they started moving and talking…and that's when I found Lord Kagewaki. At first I was afraid, but…he made the walls stop moving in and the voices stopped. And I felt good. He told me he made Lady Kagome a demon so she could be stronger, that only the most powerful demoness could rule by his side. And what demoness could be more powerful than a dog demon, a panther demon, and a priestess, all in one body, perfectly balanced? He said I could have that power too…but Kagome needs to take a fang of Lord Sesshomaru's to be forged into a sword for me. Lord Naraku said I could be a valuable asset and a powerful demoness…like Lady Kagome, and that she would train me."

I sat silent, stunned. This was…a lot to take in. It was obvious that in her short unconscious period, Rin had grown both spiritually and mentally to a state no one her age should ever be close to reaching. Here she was, a human girl, desperate for power to prove her worth. And I couldn't help but sympathize her.

While my appearance may be more like that of some strange human girl, I am still filled with pure demon blood. I am still Goddess of the Void. But Rin…should Kagome follow through with this, Rin's power could rival even that of Kagome's, of Sesshomaru's perhaps even. So what was Naraku's purpose?

Surely he wasn't trying to take Rin under his wing as well. He already had Kagome and Miroku…and Sango, Shippo and Kirara are missing. Probably already taken to Naraku's castle…

Naraku…

Was he still my Lord and Master? Did I still serve him? No. I now serve Kagome, but indirectly, I am still under Naraku's rule. Yes, he was my creator, but I respected and valued Kagome far more.

Then…who were our allies? And who were our enemies?

Boundaries were being crossed, and the fine line between good and evil was beginning to smudge. Black and white were mixing and fading together to form a strange region of gray. And now, I know one thing for certain…

I know not who is friend, and who is foe.

-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-

Layla: Well, that ends this chapter everyone.

Aqua: Sorry if it wasn't our best, we really don't think it was, but we were in a hurry to get this out there.

Kelsey: So, right now, a special announcement from Jasmine.

(Shine spotlights on Jazz.)

Jazz: To all of our readers and reviewers, people who added us to their favorites and all, thank you for your support. But right now, September 20, 2011, I'd like to give a warm Happy Birthday to my friend, Maddy. Today would have been Maddy's 15th birthday, but a few weeks ago, she was hit and killed walking home one night. Maddy, we all miss you so much and you are in my thoughts everyday. I love you, Maddy, wish you were here with us, so, from all of us -

Happy Birthday, Maddy!

(Cut off spotlights)

Emma: Well, as you can imagine, that also delayed our updating time…but thank you guys anyways for sticking with us. Sorry about how crappy this chapter is, but hey, please show a little love anyways.

Layla: As always, thanks for reading, and reviews are welcome, flames are not.