Sorry for the wait guys. I've had it rough lately... thanks for being patient

*Mic Mov- Your reviews for this really helped me a lot. I've had it rough lately, and whenever I got your messages, I felt so much better. I really really really am touched. And so I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me through a hard time. I may not know you personally, but I already consider you a good friend. *Huge huggs, and gives cookie*

Ok, I'm done embarrassing my reviewers. On with the story :D

Sango slowly backed away from the corpse, horrified. She closed her eyes and leaned against the trunk of an old tree, trying to stop her head from spinning. Miroku gingerly stabbed it with his staff, deeming it dead once and for all. He turned to her, panic on his face.

"What is this?!"

Inuyasha stood in front of Naraku, noticing how he had changed. His hair was white now, and short, barely there. His eyes were red, and he wore black suit with a purple tie. His eyes narrowed when he saw the hanyou, a sneer crossing his face once again.

"Recognizing your death Inuyasha?"

"Hate to break it to ya, but I haven't died yet, and you aren't gonna see it!"

An amused glint appeared in Naraku's eyes. "So, you really don't know...That'll just give me the pleasure of watching you die again!" Naraku launched forward, his sword glinting dully in the moonlight. Inuyasha barely had enough time to block the attack, and it still knocked him backwards about ten feet. All of the bones in his arm were jarred violently, and he nearly dropped the sword. Inuyasha growled quietly and brought Tetsusaiga back up in front of him, his arm muscles burning as he did so. His eyes narrowed as Naraku began laughing.

"What's so funny? You getting hysterical on me?"

"You've gotten so weak... or maybe it's just how strong I've grown. I can't believe that I was unable to defeat you all those years ago. You haven't seen the extents of my new strength. Strength that I've been gathering since you disappeared."

"Disappeared? What do you mean, disappeared?"

He sneered. "Why, you don't know? Of course you wouldn't; not yet anyways." He winked and vanished in an explosion of miasma. Inuyasha held his breath and was flung to the ground with the Force of the blast. He sat up shakily, chills running down his spine as he recalled Naraku's words.

Sango awoke to Miroku shaking her shoulder; gently, yet urgently. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, the light hues of the early morning draping over everything on Earth. She met his gaze, and couldn't help the small smile that spread across her face. It dimmed, however, when she saw the look on his face; the fear in his eyes.

"You should look at this." He half whispered, holding out a rumpled piece of paper. She took it, giving him a worried glance before she started reading.

INFECTION SPREADING AT RECORD-BREAKING RATE
By Souta Higurashi

The newly discovered illness, Grantuan Flu, is infecting people at an alarming fast rate. The disease has already infected half of the world's population. While most don't even know that they have the disease, some are being affected by it worse than others.

"For most people, the symptoms are mainly flu-like symptoms, and some mild aggression or hormonal imbalance; treatable and easy to recover from." Dr. David Irving Rector commented during a press conference. "For select others, the symptoms are much worse. The aggression is worse, and they develop an illness similar to rabies. For some, it is just like rabies found in animals. For others, the cases are more extraordinary. Some swell up, some grow taller, some shrink and cannot walk on two feet, and other grow stronger."

Only 5 students from the district have been affected by the more serious form of the disease, one being Mr. Brilinkski, the 11th grade Chemistry teacher. Those ill have been taken a government hospital for monitoring.

"Most of the student population has the disease already. Some may be immune to the harsher effects, while some may have a weaker strain." Says the local division of the Health Department. "Unless you have the rarer, more serious strain, you shouldn't be as concerned. A vaccine is in the works."

School officials recommend that every resident in the district receive the vaccine.

More on page 15

"Souta must have written this for that paper they give out at the school. With the news..." Miroku muttered, remembering Kagome bringing a few back for the group to see.

"Is there more?" Sango asked, suddenly frightened for some reason. Miroku nodded slowly.

"There is, but it's not the same one. It's a month later." He said quietly as he walked over to his staff, lifting it up to free the worn piece of paper from beneath. Sango slowly traced Souta's name, wondering what had happened. She felt a cold pang of fear pierce her heart as she realized that Kagome and Inuyasha might be in trouble. Miroku came back over and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze as he handed her the piece of paper.

Disease control failing
By Ariel Schumasteria

The vaccine to stop the Grantuan flu was supposed to add years onto your life, as well as cure the illness. While the Grantuan flu has been eradicated, the vaccine has had awful consequences.

"The vaccine has cured the general cases of Grantuan flu, but has created it's own problems." a representative from the Health Department stated in a press conference. "The people who got the vaccine; their DNA seems to be changing. There's nothing anyone can do to stop it. Only a few lucky souls have been deemed immune to the effects of the virus. Not everyone got the shot however, and not everyone who received it is doomed." The representative tried futilely to prevent the riot at her words. People are demanding that Dr. Rector, the creator of the vaccine, immediately do something, but Rector has mysteriously vanished. He is presumed dead.

"This is just outrageous! As creator, it's his job to help us now that it's doing this!" A concerned citizen exclaimed on the street.

"I know that there's probably not much he can do, but if he's alive, he shouldn't be a coward. He needs to own up and do anything he can to fix this." William Johnson replied. "He can't just hide. It's his responsibility to do everything he can to help whoever he can."

While government officials are doing everything they can to find a cure, some fear it may already be too late. Hundreds are dying every day, and the rate of infected rises steadily with each passing day. Those who aren't dying seem to almost be changing. They are growing paler, slower in reaction, faster in speed, and violent. Martial law has been proclaimed until things get better.

Some fear this may be the end of the human race. Others think that the more logical explanation is that this will pass in time, just like smallpox and the bubonic plague before it. Everyone now knows just how serious this is, and is preparing for the worst.

More on page A5

Miroku turned to Sango, his expression grim. Shippo, who had been sleeping by the fire, moaned quietly in his sleep. Sango ran over to him and dabbed his face with a wet cloth.

"Miroku, if something happened, they may not be coming back for a while." Sango looked at him, a small tear falling down her cheek. Miroku sighed quietly and ran a hand through his hair.

"We could send Shippo up to the village with Kirara." He said after a few moments. "Then she could join us once he's with Kaede.

"Where are we going?"

"Down the well."

As soon as the door was opened, Kagome launched herself into Inuyasha's arms. He held her tightly and buried his face in her neck. He felt her trembling. Suddenly, she pulled away from him and glared at him.

"SIT!"

"WHAT WAS THAT FOR?!" The hanyou screamed as he ate pavement. The others looked on, confused.

"DON'T DO THAT AGAIN!"

"I WAS JUST TRYING TO PROTECT-Kagome?" He sat up and stopped yelling when he realized that she was crying.

"Kagome?"

"I was worried! I thought I was going to lose you!" She cried out, turning away from him and sobbing. He blanched.

"Well forgive me for trying to protect you!" He snapped. She instantly stopped crying and straightened her back. She turned around and glared at him with a look that almost could kill.

"I don't need you to protect me, I can take care of myself." She said in a low voice.

"I like to know you're safe." He said, as equally quiet. By now the others had retreated into the safe room, giving the two privacy. He stepped closer, gently grasping her arm. She pulled away and started back into the safe room. He grabbed her again and pulled her to the side. She pressed her back against the cold stone wall and turned her head away, refusing to meet his gaze.

"I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you Kags." He whispered, gently caressing her cheek with his hand. Her breath caught in her throat and she looked up at him, her eyes misty.

"Inuyasha..." He held her gaze and took her tiny hands in his large ones. Her skin was so cold, but warmed instantly at his touch. He returned his gaze to her eyes. They stood there for a moment before they heard a loud roar fill the area. He pushed her over to the safe room, but she caught the edge of his haori. She held his gaze and nodded. He reluctantly returned the nod as the others came out and stood beside them. They formed a line in front of the safe room. Souta pounced out and landed, cat-like, in front of them all. They all smiled as the Infected came into sight. It was a Tank, but there was something odd about it. It was female, and it was screaming in pain. It was covered in body armor, and they knew at once that bullets would be useless to harm it. But most peculiar was the fact that it was screaming words.

"KAGOME! SOUTA!" The voice cried out, obviously in agony. Inuyasha then noticed Naraku floating on a cloud of miasma.

"He's controlling it." He said to Kagome, but she was staring at the Tank in horror. Souta stood up and backed up a few steps until he was next to his sister. They looked at each other, and Kagome let out a small cry.

"Mom..."

*Ducks* DON'T KILL ME! I've gotten back into things, and I'm really loving this again with new vigor! And Mic Mov is partially responsible for that! :D Here's the "holy grail" *huggs* Love all of my reviewers, so much! :D Review please :D