DM: Hey all! So, are you getting tired of me yet?

Kagome: Yes.

DM: Not you…the readers…the important people…

DISCLAIMER: I. Do. Not. Own. Inuyasha. I. Own. No. Anime. Whatsoever.

Review Replies:

Crystal Koneko: Lol. Heehee perty…

Pinayazngrl: Yeah same! I've seen it in Inuyasha and in Rurouni Kenshin.

Foxfire02: I looove writing Jaken-torture scenes. They just come so easily…

DragonessOfDarkness: LOL!!! I update whenever I can, as fast as I can.

Ladyofthedragons1: (oO) The badger song?!

Inlovewithsesshoumaru: Thaaank youuu!

Hekele Masuyo: That would have been a lovely dream…

Kagomehigurashi12: Muahaha, of course they're evil.

Cool-chick-rae: Nah, it's relevant. We'd all love to have that kind of control over people…

Midnight-slivermoon: Thanks, that's really nice of you.

LadyAkina: I somehow doubt Jaken can really look all that good…but oh well…

Mystic Hanyou: hehehe. We'll see, now won't we?

ZeLLy907: I always get around to it eventually!

Phoenix20043: (grins)

Hopeangle: Thanks, I will.

Kitsune-Tenshi-16: (grins again) well here you go

Sam: Plot twists? Great writer? (sheepish grin) Half the time I actually don't know what I'm doing…it just kinda…happens…

Lady Mystic Saria: Yuppiez, I will.

Fading-lights: Thanks! LOL, you weren't seriously that amused were you?

demoness of cosmos: thank you. hehe. Of course it is.

obediah: (grins) I love Jarjar.

Previously: As Night Falls; Probably

"Do you think Oka will like what we're about to do to Jaken…" Shippo said hesitantly.

Rin paused, then shrugged. "Probably!"

The two of them neared Jaken, identical grins on their faces, flower chains in hand.

"Achoo!" Kagome sniffed. Inuyasha was sitting in a corner of Kaede's hut, happily munching

away, and Sango and Miroku were talking to Kagome.

"Bless you Kagome-sama."

"Thanks Miroku…Gosh…that was sudden…do you think someone's talking about me?"

Miroku and Sango looked at each other and back at Kagome. The three of them shrugged.

As Night Falls: Nusumu, User Of Illusion

"So…Kagome-sama…" Miroku hesitated.

"Mmm?"

"Sesshoumaru really let you come with us?"

"Of course Miroku…what makes you think I could have gotten here otherwise?"

"True…" he trailed off.

"um…Kagome-chan…"

"Yes, Sango?"

"How long…"

"Is he letting me travel with you?" Kagome finished.

"Yeah…" Sango fiddled with her fingers.

Kagome opened her mouth to reply, then paused.

Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha looked at her. Inuyasha was the first to register a very familiar (and rather unwelcome) scent. Sango and Miroku realised who it was shortly afterwards

Kagome rolled her eyes, knowing who they sensed. "Why don't you ask him yourselves?"

Inuyasha scowled and walked out of the hut, followed by the other three. "Oi, Sesshoumaru! What do you want?"

There was silence for a moment, then Sesshoumaru calmly walked out of some shadows. (surprise, surprise)

"I am merely carrying out what I said I would do. Making sure the miko doesn't go anywhere."

Kagome glanced over at him. "You know, you can trust me more than you realise." she said blandly.

Sango, Miroku and Inuyasha exchanged looks. Kagome was now quite…well…emotionless, something to be expected from the Ice Prince, not their close friend.

Sesshoumaru merely raised an eyebrow at her and turned to go.

"Wait a second." Kagome started. He stopped and turned to look at her. "How long can I stay with them?"

He paused, thinking it over. He knew she'd find a way to make him let her keep coming back, so he figured it would be better to let her stay.

"Until this pointless mission is over." he replied, turning again.

"Hey! Who do you think you are?! You can't just walk away like that!" Inuyasha yelled.

"I can if I want to." he kept walking.

"No you can't!" Inuyasha's hand was poised on Tetsusaiga's hilt.

Sesshoumaru didn't even bother glancing back, knowing what was coming, and almost looking forward to it. "Inuyasha, cease your annoying blabbing."

"Bast-"

"Osuwari…"

SMACK

Sesshoumaru disappeared, a smirk barely visible on his face.

Inuyasha mumbled incoherent things into the dirt yet again, cursing Kagome for allowing Sesshoumaru to walk away. When he finally recovered, he rounded on her.

"What is wrong with you!? I could've killed him!"

"Inuyasha, you say that every single time you face him. And he's still alive and well…" Kagome's tone hardened. "I got kidnapped to prove it didn't I?"

Inuyasha stared at her. "Er…Um…"

Kagome turned and stalked back into the hut.

"Well…evidently she still hasn't completely forgiven you…"

"Yeah…I can see that Miroku…" 'Did it get chilly all of a sudden?…'

Kagome sat down in a corner. She knew she couldn't blame Inuyasha for what hadn't been his fault…sort of…

'I mean…if he hadn't been with Kikyo…I wouldn't have run off…but then Rin might be dead…but then again, I wouldn't be the captive of a freaking maniac…' Kagome stopped her train of thought.

Sesshoumaru wasn't exactly a maniac, and although he had grabbed her throat the first time they had properly spoken, she had provoked him. 'Then again,' she scowled, 'he's not exactly the nicest individual to be around, is he?'

She blinked when a hand came into her line of vision.

"Kagome-chan?" Sango waved her hand in front of Kagome's face.

"Huh?" Kagome blinked stupidly at Sango.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine Sango!"

Sango raised an eyebrow.

"You know, you look like Sesshoumaru-sama when you do that…"

"What?!" Sango almost fell over.

Kagome shrugged. "Well you do. It's one of the only facial expressions he visibly does...well…that you can see or notice…Besides frowning…"

"Remind me not to do that so much." Sango muttered dryly.

Kagome shook her head, smiling faintly. She yawned, and blinked.

"Perhaps we should turn in for the night." Miroku suggested. "Kagome-sama, are you tired?"

"Yeah…yeah I am. Thanks Miroku." she set up a bedroll next to Sango's.

"Kirara." Sango motioned, and the small cat ran up to her master's sheets and curled up.

Miroku stood for a moment, watching Sango. Deciding to take a change, he prepared his bed about a metre away from hers. Inuyasha observed this with a smile on his face.

Normally, Miroku wouldn't even try to go near Sango, choosing to stay on the opposite side of the already cramped hut. Kaede noticed this too, having remained inside during their 'conversation' with Sesshoumaru to fix her own beddings.

"Miroku…" Sango warned.

"Yes?" he smiled innocently.

She glared at him.

"But…Sango-sama…"

"Move. Houshi-sama." she added.

"But."

"Move." she glared.

"You can't make me." he grinned mischievously.

"Yes, I can actually." Sango grabbed her bone boomerang.

"Please. Can you guys just…shut up?" Kagome mumbled. "Let him sleep wherever, as long as he's not right next to you, nothing can happen…"

Miroku grinned in triumph as Sango groaned. Keeping her eyes on him, she continued to glare at him.

Miroku sighed and turned over, facing the wall Inuyasha was leaning against.

Inuyasha shook his head, grinning at Miroku, and stood up. Going outside, he swung himself onto the roof and lay back, enjoying the fresh air that blew across his face as he fell asleep.

Naraku was watching all of this from Kanna's mirror. He dismissed her after the image in the mirror showed only that pathetic hanyou on the roof.

'Too bad he hasn't fallen off yet.' Naraku smirked. 'Although that can be arranged, now can't it?' He sneered.

"Kagura."

"Yes, my Lord?"

"Take 'it' to Inuyasha and his companions. 'It' has been waiting for four months now."

Kagura bowed and stalked out of the room, her red eyes never narrowing until after she was outside, riding the crests of the wind on her feather.

She seethed. How she couldn't stand serving someone as low as Naraku. No. Not just that. Detested. Loathed. Despised. Hated with a vengeance.

'It' was silent, sitting behind her quietly, something she found very odd in a creature that was supposedly going to attack Inuyasha. The only creation of Naraku's Kagura had known to be this quiet was her sister, Kanna.

Ah, Kanna. Her 'older' sister, although Kagura looked very much as though she was the elder. Ironic. Kanna was Naraku's favourite. She didn't complain, barely spoke, revealed many secrets to him, and, above all things, did not wish for her freedom. So different, yet so alike in many ways - both slaves and 'abominations' born from yet another abomination.

'An abomination that does not deserve to roam this earth' Kagura thought darkly.

When they were about a half a mile away from Inuyasha and the others, Naraku's latest creation stirred.

Kagura peered over her shoulder. "Are you ready?"

The creature regarded her. It bowed its head and responded with a feminine lilt. "Yes."

Kagura looked surprised. The detachment had a obviously female humanoid form…but…for a moment she had thought the creature to be mute. She shook it off, however, and came to a stop.

"Do you want me to land?"

"No." she tilted her head. "This is fine."

Kagura shrugged. "You know what to do?"

"Take the shards. Kill anyone who opposes me, but especially Inuyasha."

Kagura inclined her head. "Good. When you're ready…" she looked around again.

The other demoness had already jumped down. Kagura leaned over the side and blinked. She had disappeared.

'What the?'

Inuyasha bolted upright. He sniffed the air and leapt down, hurrying inside, and almost trampled Miroku.

"Oi!"

"Nnkh. What?" Miroku said groggily.

"Wake the others up. Don't ask any questions yet."

Miroku sleepily poked Sango in the shoulder, which proved to be a bit of a mistake (obviously Miroku wasn't thinking properly, which is something that happens to everyone when awakened rudely and suddenly I suppose…). Upon reflex, Sango sat up quickly, tipping Kirara off the sheets, and raised her hand.

SLAP

"Ouch!"

Kagome sat up. "What!?" she looked over and misinterpreted Miroku's red cheek and Sango's still-raised hand. "Miroku, can't you keep your hands to yourself?"

"I was only waking her up because Inuyasha asked me to!" he yelled.

Sango lowered her hand. "Why didn't you say so?"

"You didn't give me a chance to." he replied sourly.

Sango averted her eyes, but she was stifling a giggle.

"Thank you." Miroku said wryly. He turned to the hanyou "Inuyasha, there had better be a reason for this, or so help me…"

"There's no mistaking it. Naraku's scent."

Kagome shifted. "I don't sense any jewel shards. And I don't sense any of his youki."

"Another detachment?" Sango suggested.

"Goddamn! Not another one!" Inuyasha scowled.

Kagome looked over at Kaede, who had woken up as well. "Perhaps it's best if you make yourself scarce?"

Kaede opened her mouth to retort, thought better of it and nodded instead, heading outside to warn the other villagers.

Inuyasha and the other three went outside, trying to place the source of the smell. It was faint, but he pointed to the north.

"It's somewhere up there…"

Kagome moved forward slightly. "I don't sense anything…"

Miroku and Sango shrugged. Sango sighed. "Are you sure you're not imagining thi-"

Kirara hissed suddenly, cutting her off. Sango peered down at her. "Alright, obviously not…"

Inuyasha's ears twitched. "It's coming closer." The group readied themselves, poised for attack. Seconds ticked by.

WHOOSH

"Gah!" Kagome jumped. Something had rushed past her. She felt for the necklace around her neck. It was gone.

"Inuyasha! The Shikon shards!"

"WHAT!?" Inuyasha screeched.

"What was that!?" Miroku said, puzzled.

"Over there. No, there. Whoa." Kagome couldn't place the location of the shards. Whatever had grabbed them was either extremely fast or invisible.

'Ok…focus…' Kagome drew an arrow and closed her eyes. She could feel the youki and the shards now. She tensed, waiting for the right moment.

"Now." she muttered, and loosed. Blood came out of nowhere, and Inuyasha ran to her.

"Kagome, are you alright?"

"That's not my blood." Kagome shrugged.

"What?" Inuyasha stared at her.

"Then who…" Sango stared. "What the hell is that?"

Something was beginning to materialise - its momentum/spell/whatever the hell had kept it concealed was wearing off.

"Who the hell are you?" Inuyasha snapped.

"I don't answer to lower demons." it replied, holding an arm to its shoulder, which was where Kagome had shot it. It froze, and looked around.

"Looking for this?" Kagome said nonchalantly. Somehow she had shot the arm the demon was holding the shards with.

"Bitch." the creature snarled, its cover dissipating.

It winced, and whatever had kept it hidden vanished completely. A woman with typical demon-like pointed ears, clawed hands, red eyes and long, loose black hair stood before them. Her kimono was similar to Kagura's, although hers was plainer. Blood flowed from her left shoulder, but the woman ignored it.

She made a move for Kagome, but was forced back when Inuyasha held the Tetsusaiga to her nose.

"Oh, I think you'll answer me."

The woman raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I am Nusumu. That's all you'll get out of me."

"I don't think so." Inuyasha retorted. "You'll tell us what the hell you are."

"Can't you guess? I am Naraku's latest detachment. And I'm not the only one of my kind. There are many others." she added.

"What?" Miroku frowned.

"I am part of a fairly high-numbered race. We usually avoid others, it just so happens I was born of Naraku, and I have to work for him." she smirked again. "Surely you have realised that simply because he is made up of many demons does not mean each demon born from him is unique. There are many wind demons, mind readers, voids. Just as there are many of my kind."

"And what are you?" Inuyasha said testily.

"I am part of a race of Stealth demons." she replied lazily. "Also known as Illusion demons. A Stealth demon is one who is able to blend in with one's surroundings. I suppose it is rather pointless when someone has just shot you in the arm." she shot a look at Kagome.

"Hmph." Inuyasha glared.

"Now, if you don't mind, I'd like those shards back."

"You'll have to kill us first!"

Nusumu smiled. "That can be arranged. We don't fight with our bare hands all the time, if you're thinking this will be easy. After all, you've just proven we get caught." she shrugged. "I also have orders to kill anyone in my way…especially you, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha sliced at her. Tetsusaiga thudded into the ground as clouds covered the moon, masking the groups' view.

"Up here." Nusumu taunted. She stood on a tree branch, grinning at them as the area was hit with moonlight again.

"Hiraikotsu!"

Nusumu dodged Sango's bone boomerang, and sidestepped it on its return trip as she jumped down gracefully from the tree.

"We're waiting to be impressed." Miroku smirked.

"Oh. I'm sorry." Nusumu said, her smile vanishing. The picture of all seriousness, she drew a double-headed axe from seemingly nowhere.

"What the?…Whoa!" Inuyasha ducked as she swung it at him.

"How…" Miroku stared at her weapon.

"Stealth demons are known for their illusions. And for their ability to hide things." Nusumu tilted her head. "But you knew that, didn't you?"

Miroku flushed. "Er…"

She shook her head, and set her sights on Kagome.

"Well well. I think I'll kill the four of you and bring your heads back to Naraku. Then I'll kill him too."

Kagome's eyes widened.

"Ah yes. I don't exactly enjoy being his slave you know." Nusumu nodded. "Perhaps some can accept it, but..." she shrugged, still advancing. Kagome backed into a tree, fumbling for an arrow. Nusumu knocked it her bow out of her hands, making Kagome wince, and raised the axe. Kagome felt around for her other weapons and cursed inwardly. She had left them in her bag. Nusumu stopped and frowned suddenly. "What is-"

Nusumu flipped backwards, narrowly avoiding a green whip that had come out of the forest somewhere. (Woop! You know who it is! Go Sess!)

Inuyasha, who had been about to strike Nusumu, gaped. Miroku and Sango, who had been right behind him, jumped, clearly startled at Sesshoumaru's sudden appearance.

"I am afraid you can't kill this time." he remarked dryly. "The idiot hanyou, I do not care much about but would prefer to kill myself. The monk and taijiya, I leave alone, although I do not care much about them either. This one, this miko, on the other hand…" he calmly stared Nusumu down.

"What, is she your mate or something?" Nusumu stared back.

Kagome made a choking sound and went pale. Inuyasha made a similar sound, Miroku made a sour face and Sango looked positively mortified at the idea. (why would that be a problem...)

"Do not be ridiculous. I merely require her presence at my castle as she is…employed, in a way."

"A miko working for a youkai? Interesting…Can you not replace her?"

"How many mikos do you know that will so much as go near a full youkai, let alone work for one?"

"…One…now that you've told me…but there are bound to be others out there."

"Perhaps." he looked round at Kagome then turned back to Nusumu. "However, my ward appears to have grown attached to her."

"Ward huh? I'm sure your ward will get over her."

"She will not. I assure you, if you try to kill anyone here, you will not live very long."

Nusumu's eyes flicked up to Sesshoumaru's crest.

"Taiyoukai of the West." she remarked. "I heard you were a stubborn jackass."

Sesshoumaru tensed. Without warning, Nusumu's other arm was hit by his whip.

She hissed. Glowering, she jumped into the air and was on Kagura's feather in a heartbeat.

The two of them glared down at the group and departed.

Kagome stood uncertainly and shook dirt off her clothing.

Inuyasha came to stand next to her, glaring at Sesshoumaru, while Miroku and Sango hovered undecidedly in the background.

"Um…Arigatou…Sesshoumaru-sama…" Kagome looked down at her feet.

He glanced at her momentarily before turning towards Inuyasha.

"It is a wonder she survived whilst travelling with you." he said flatly.

"What exactly are you getting at?" Inuyasha snapped.

Sesshoumaru shook his head slightly. "She would have died if I had not intervened. Where were your daggers?" he said to Kagome, ignoring Inuyasha's, "I was about to kill the bitch!" outburst.

"Um…I left them in my bag."

"Stupid." he said bluntly. "You carry those with you at all times. You cannot expect to be saved by someone every time."

"She can do fine on her own!" Sango retorted.

Sesshoumaru turned to her, and she gulped. "What about this time?"

Sango opened her mouth, then closed it again, sighing.

Sesshoumaru turned to leave.

Inuyasha made a move for him, but was stopped by Kagome pulling on his sleeve.

He looked round at her, frustrated…which proved to be enough time for Sesshoumaru to disappear.

"What?! Kagome! I'm going after him!"

Kagome was still holding onto his sleeve.

"Let me go Kagome!"

"…Inuyasha…"

Inuyasha winced, but the anticipated and dreaded word never came. Kagome looked up at him with a half pleading, half tired expression.

He looked back at where Sesshoumaru had been, then back at her. He sighed in defeat.

Kagome yawned and gave him a sleepy grin, then traipsed back to the hut with Sango.

Miroku looked over at Inuyasha.

"What?"

"Don't you find it odd that Sesshoumaru, of all people, saved Kagome-sama? Not to mention the…training and just the fact that she's still alive…"

"Yeah I do actually. What do you think has been bothering me lately?"

Miroku shrugged, looking puzzled. "Why?"

"Well you heard him talking to that…Nusumu bitch…"

"Yes, but…"

"Yeah, I know what you mean…it's just not…like him. But there's no need to wonder about stupid things like this. Go to bed. We need to get going early tomorrow."

Miroku sighed. "Do we humans have a choice in this?"

"Miroku, what do you think the answer is?"

Wow. So amazing how many people love Jaken-torture...

Now, I somehow find that replying to reviews occasionally defeats the purpose when I'm answering a question that's already been answered in the actual story…but that's ok, my mentality ain't too great so I suppose I'm excused.

On a more…crappy note, it's exam week. So I'll be working my butt off and will be unable to write for some time. This wasn't one of those really frustrating cliffhangers I'm famous for though…hehe…I decided it would be kind of mean…