Disclaimer: (same)

Ages: (same)

Last Time:

One hand immediately went to my waist and the other went to thread its hand through my hair. I sighed happily against his lips when he asked for permission into my mouth. He tasted of mint. I was completely addicted to him. Since he was several inches taller, I had to tilt my head slightly. I heard a gag from Inuyasha who still wasn't happy about this. I gave him the finger and then pulled away from Sasuke.

"That's a wonderful way to be greeted." he said with a small smirk.

"I felt bad because I didn't see you this morning." I told him. "I have to go turn in my form and get a scroll. Then we have to head to our gate." I sighed unhappily but perked right up. "You have to be careful Sasuke. I don't want a dead boyfriend." I kissed him quickly before running off, hearing his parting words.

"You be careful too."

Forest of Death

This forest was gay.

Point blank.

Gay.

There were opponents that were simply ruthless and cruel and just plain ol' rude. Every time we asked someone what scroll they had, they would simply growl and tell us to fuck off which ended up with Inuyasha getting mad and Bankotsu cackling sadistically. So we ended up fighting three teams with the heaven scroll when we really needed the earth scroll. It was when we reached our fourth team that we had found an earth scroll.

It was such an easy fight that Inuyasha fought them and beat them with one attack from his Tetsusaiga. He grumped around for awhile talking about weaklings and such. I than heard it when the sun began to descend on that first day. We were headed to the tower at the center of the forest. It was a scream of agony. Nothing but pure agony.

Sasuke's scream.

I skidded to halt and almost fell of the branch I was on when Bankotsu, who had the scrolls, ran into my back. He looked at me and then Inuyasha, our leader, was standing next to me in a moment. He sensed the panic in the air that radiated from my person. he touched my shoulder and I looked at him.

"You guys head to the tower." I told them. Inuyasha looked at me with confusion on his face.

"What are you going to do?" he asked me gruffly yet suspicion was coating his voice.

"I'm gonna check on squad seven. I heard Sasuke scream." I told him. He arched brow and snarled quietly but nodded his okay. "I'll meet you at the tower by the fifth day."

"Be careful, Kagome." Bankotsu told me.

"Yeah. Don't hurt yourself wench!" Inuyasha growled. I nodded and then took off in the direction of the scream, the fading light not hindering me in the least, Sasuke's screams led me to where I needed to be. Each one was like a knife to the gut and I began to worry. When the trees became denser and bigger, I saw Sasuke and Sakura.

He was on his knees, clutching the back of his neck. Sakura began to cry and held his hand trying to help but she couldn't do anything. I narrowed my eyes at his neck and through his fingers...I saw the mark. The curse mark of Orochimaru and cursed at every god I knew. My eyes filled with tears as another cry was ripped from Sasuke and I appeared before him in an instant. I touched his cheek and kissed it lovingly.

"Sasuke." I whispered.

"K-Kagome." Sakura stuttered out. She glared but I ignored it and simply glared back.

"Release his hand now." I told her venomously. She did as she was told and I pulled Sasuke into my arms, holding him in a loose embrace. His screams echoed in my ears and his body trembled against mine. "Find Naruto and bring him here, we have to get Sasuke to shelter."

She nodded and did as she was told. I felt tears cascade in small rivers down my cheeks when she was gone.

He's in pain. Shichibi whimpered in my mind(A/N: I've been told that Shichibi is a badger. I don't know, I went by what Sacra had written. If Shichibi is indeed a badger...too bad. It's a bird now, it's too late in the story to change it.). I responded with my own whimper. I felt another scream round in my ear and I clenched my eyes shut. Sakura appeared with Naruto in her arms at that time and I looked at Sasuke, pulling away slightly.

His body shuddered and then his eyes rolled back as he fainted from energy loss and pain. I sighed and wiped my tears from my eyes. I lifted Sasuke into my arms and then Sakura and I took off into the night that had fallen. We found a large tree and took shelter within its roots. Sakura set to work putting water in a small bowl and getting rags to put it on their heads. I took in Naruto's beaten and battered form and another whimper formed in my throat.

Kagome...

Hai, Shichibi?

Allow me to have some control and I'll wrap the boys in a blanket of healing.

You won't hurt, Sakura?

No. Just allow me some control...not much...

There was a shift in the air that had Sakura's hair stand on end and my eyes developed dark rings around them and my lips darkened in color. I closed my eyes and allowed nails to sharpen to claws and I let out a sigh. I opened my eyes and knew that they had stayed their usual iridescent color. I made my way between the two knocked-out ninja and lied down between them.

"I am going to go into a unconscious state. There will be a very large rise in power and Sasuke and Naruto will heal faster. We won't wake until mid-morning. It is your job to watch us." I told Sakura. She nodded her head and her eyes hardened. I closed my eyes and then...I saw darkness...I allowed my aura to envelope the sleeping boys on either side of me and then began to heal their wounds...

It was only when I awoke to screaming that I knew something was wrong. I sat up and didn't feel Sasuke near me. I opened my eyes and then saw Sakura outside battered and bruised. I cursed and and turned my attention to Sasuke. I gasped at the image he made. His body was covered in black flame like markings and the sharingan whirled wildly within his eyes. He had just broken the arms of a sound ninja. They retreated and just as Sasuke was about to do something was going to regret...I was running towards him.

I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and he stiffened against me. The markings faded an then he whispered something that hurt me so much...I felt my gut clench and I heard a howl in the distance in response to the pain I felt. It was Inuyasha's howl and he was coming to get me. The neacklace that Inuyasha wore was a bond between us. If I was feeling hurt or sad...Inuyasha would know and he would be able to find me through our bond. Sasuke whispered the word again and I soundlessly let go of him.

"Sakura?" he asked softly.

He turned around and I shook my head at him. There were tears in my eyes as he turned and then...Inuyasha appeared, the prayer beads glowing blue in response to my sadness. He was out of breath and I ran to him and hid behind him. I heard Sasuke turn in the dirt towards Inuyasha and myself.

"Kagome?" Sasuke asked softly. "Inuyasha? What are you doing here?"

"Kagome came here because she heard your sorry ass screaming and yelling last night. I don't know what you did, Sasuke but these prayer beads turn blue when Kagome's really upset. I should cut your dumb ass in half!" he snarled, his claws lengthening. Bankotsu appeared then, also slightly out of breath and then he stood beside Inuyasha.

"Which one of you upset, Kagome?" he snarled, pulling out Banryuu.

"Her boyfriend." Inuyasha growled. I touched both of their shoulders and blinked back tears.

"Let's just go." I told them. "Let's head back to the tower and wait out the rest of the days."

"Feh." Inuyasha growled and turned, lifting me bridal style in his arms. He then took off and left the small group with Bankotsu. I didn't look back.

Sasuke's POV:

"You damn, Uchiha." Bankotsu snarled. "You better apologize to Kagome or you'll be on the wrong end of my Banryuu."

I hadn't meant to call her Sakura but I didn't know it was Kagome. I didn't even know that she was there with us much less knew it was her hugging me. I looked at Bankotsu and he took off in the direction Kagome and Inuyasha went and I went to follow but Sakura had grabbed my arm, holding me to the forest floor. I snatched my arm from her but knew that this was my team...I had to stay here.

"I was so worried, Sasuke!" Sakura cried as she launched herself into my arms. I stiffened and pulled away from the girl.

"Get away from me, Sakura." I told her coldly just as we were joined by Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino.

I'm sorry Kagome.

Final Day:

We had been at the tower for the past few days and I hadn't been myself. Shichibi was howling within me to be let loose from her confines so that we could eliminate the threat. Sakura Haruno. I had closed up into myself, much to the dismay of my teammates. We had been allowed within the tower to sit and relax but I had worriedly passed up and down across the large stone room. Inuyasha was unhappy with the Uchiha that had driven me to this state.

I was hurt.

I know that he didn't mean to call Sakura but the fact remains that he did. He confused me with another and we looked nothing alike. I felt tears threaten to fall and then Kimi appeared in front of us. He held me before telling us that we had to participate in preliminary rounds before the third and final round. We nodded but Inuyasha grumbled and we were led to another room where the Hokage, several ANBU, and the other sensei's stood. Kimi joined the other senseis and we joined the other teams in several clumps.

I saw Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura. Sasuke's eyes connected with my own but I looked away and lifted my headband above my eyes. He didn't need to see the sadness that lied within my eyes, hidden underneath the pain. The Hokage, and elderly man, stood and began to explain the Chunin exams to us and then explained the prelims. He asked if there was anyone that wanted to leave and one man left. I heard a scuffle with team 7 but that was settled.

We went to the sides of the large room where there were stairs leading to an upper deck. As I was climbing up the steps, someone grabbed my arm and spun me towards them. I hit a hard chest and the headband was torn from my eyes and tossed to the ground. Just as searching lips met my own, my headband fell to the floor with a clang. There were several gasps but I didn't deny Sasuke anything and kissed him back with just as much force. He pulled away and then his eyes opened and met my own.

"I am sorry." he whispered. "I hadn't registered you were there...this-this mark on my neck took control and I knew no more." he told my softly, cradling my head in his hands. I nodded to him and watched as he kissed my cheek softly. He took my hand and grabbed my headband. He tied securely around my neck and then we walked up the stairs hand in hand. I smiled softly and then gold met iridescent when we reached the upper level.

"Damn it." I heard Inuyasha snarl and my eyes widened and then my free hand went to my mouth. My eyes narrowed with tears and I heard Inuyasha growl behind me as I took in the long silver hair, cold golden eyes, the blue crescent moon, the purple stripes on each cheek, and the ANBU clothes that he wore.

"Fluffy?" I asked softly.

"What have I told you about calling me that infernal nickname, Kagome?" was the cool voice growled teasingly and I giggled. I looked at Sasuke who had tensed during the slight banter and smiled reassuringly at him.

"Sasuke, this is Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's older brother. He is ANBU within my village and has come to supervise the Chuunin exams. He is one of my best friends and was there to help raise me with Kimi-kun. Sesshoumaru, this is Sasuke Uchiha of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke is my boyfriend." I told Sesshoumaru unfalteringly. Sesshoumaru took several threatening steps towards the leaf gennin and then narrowed his cold eyes at him.

"He seems strong." he said but then his voice lowered immensely. "But he smells of Orochimaru's filth."

"How do you-" I stopped Sasuke and interrupted his question swiftly.

"I know. He was given a curse mark but he can hopefully overcome it." I told Sesshoumaru. Sasuke looked at me and then I sighed. "Orochimaru attacked the Kaguya clan long ago and tried to kidnap me and Kimi-kun. We're not on the best terms but I could care less about the snake sannin." I told Sasuke softly. He nodded and then looked at Sess.

"You take care of her Uchiha." Sesshoumaru growled and Sasuke nodded curtly.

"Go away, Fluffy!" Inuyasha growled. There was a growl from Sesshoumaru and then they were throwing fists. Sesshoumaru hit Inuyasha on the head and Inuyasha sighed and grumped about elder brothers and how much they sucked.

"Be good, puppy." Sesshoumaru teased and then he was on the first floor with the other ANBU. I sighed and then pulled Sasuke along. There was a screen and the names of the first two opponents appeared.

Sasuke vs. Yaroi.

"Damn." I cursed and then heard Naruto curse for not being first. I looked at Sasuke and kissed his cheek. He blushed and I giggled. He looked away but I grabbed his chin and our eyes connected. "You be careful because I don't want you dead. I can't marry a dead guy. I can't have kids with a dead guy. I can't-" Sasuke's lips covered my own and then he pulled away with a smile (A/N: Thanks to the idea from Rebel Reader Bitch about the listing of what you can't do with a dead guy).

"I won't be a dead guy, Kagome. Have some faith." he whispered and then he jumped down off of the second floor to the first.

"You got yourself a real keeper, didn't ya, Kags?" Inuyasha barked out with a laugh.

"Sit." I murmured. He face planted into the floor and I smirked to myself.

A real keeper alright.

KYN: Guess what! I am allowed on the computer a few hours a day so I will be able to update my stories! I'm on sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and a pill that helps me eat. If I take these then I should be fine. My parents just have to watch me. If I begin to drop below a certain weight then I will sent to a rehab center. My chapters also going to be slightly shorter. Sorry!

Youko: We are very excited about this news!

KYN: So I should continue updating just not as fast as I want to.

Youko: Thanks for the wonderful bouts of prayer and good lucks!

KYN: I should be fine guys! So I will hopefully begin to eat better and sleep more! I'm trying to be happier and so I should be perfect! I also have to try and relax so I have a three hour limit on the computer and am still allowed to go to school! I love you all! Thanks for the support!