Born in Shadows

(Chapter 11)

Getting back Inuyasha was still mumbling, "Baka." she mumbled. Feeling a sting in her side suddenly, she finally remembered getting hit once. It was already healed though. "Anyone get hurt?" Mika asked

"We're fine. It looked it was just a trick Naraku set up." Sango said

"As well as head games." Miroku said

"Head games it right." Mika growled low. Words repeating in her head again, the same things Naraku said. For some reason though they all seemed true. "Naraku is only trying to make you weak from the inside out. He knows what the forest does and is trying to make it worse." Nami said

"Nami they dyed in the first place because of me, they said just to stay there and I didn't listen. If I did stay they wouldhave beenfine." Mika growled

"Mika what's that?" Kagome asked

"Oh this, I'm not sure." she said

"OK are we going to stay in this dump or get out of here!" Inuyasha growled

"Would you hold it baka, I'm not in a rush to get to that damn forest and I know you aren't either."

"A stupid forest isn't going to stop me! I'm not scared of anything anyway." he growled

"Well that might be a problem for you, because it finds your fears. Makes them as bad as they can possibly make it." Mika growled

"Then you might have the problem, not me!" he growled

"Inuyasha Sit boy!" Kagome said

Slamming into the ground shut him up, "Mika how far is this forest?" Kagome asked

"3 days. I think." she shrugged

"So there is no other way around it? Or to pass without going threw such trials?" Miroku asked

"Nope, take almost a year to go around it, and if you go over it you die from the poison. Only ones that won't get hurt is Shippo, Sakura, and Kirara. That's it." Mika said

"How bad could the thing be? Humans I could see not passing..."

Before he could finish, "Sit!"

"That's what ya get bro." Mika laughed

After finally leaving, and Sora went her own way they headed towards the mountains. Demons seemed to get more powerful the farther they went. It was understandable, no human went near the forest. Some demons even feared it. Mika swore once or twice she saw Kikyo's soul snatchers. But it always seemed to be nothing. Still not sure of what powers the sword that Koro gave her hand, she never used it yet. Kept it with her other sword, it seemed to have all her friends auras mixed in one.


It had been two days and they where very close to the forest. Stopping early so they could get threw the thing first thing in the morning. Camp was by the river. No one looking forward to the next morning.

Only one that knew anything was Mika and looked what she went threw. "So Mika is there anyway to make this forest any easier to go threw?" Sango asked

"Nope, besides keep in mind that its not real no matter how bad it is." Mika said

"How does it all start, I mean what makes you think its real?" Miroku asked

"When you first get in, a thick fog creeps up. Out of know where your knocked out. When you wake up your living your worst memory. It keeps on like that, until finally the last one. Since we're going in as a group only one of us can fight the demon at the end. Who ever that might be, you can not I mean can NOT let the demon bite you. I know weird, but if you do you'll keep on having to go threw the same thing over until you get over it. Tora got it last time, but Shadow got rid of it." Mika explained

"Sounds stupid if you ask me." Inuyasha said

"Well we didn't ask you, I swear you come out of that place looking like you fought Naraku don't look at me for sympathy." Mika said

"Feh, I'll get threw that thing no problem." he said

"Sure you will." Shippo said

"Shut it runt!" Inuyasha yelled

"You know this will be a lot worse then last time, things are different now. You always blame yourself. Without them, things are much more harder now." Nami said

"You don't think I know that? I'm going nuts without them I know that, with the gang back in the future it was better yea but even then. But for some reason this sword, it feels like they're here." Mika said

"From what I can tell, it is made from Koro's fang and the others blood. It is part of them." Nami said

"Why didn't you tell me? I would have used this instead, they did train me to battle with two swords you know."

"Yes but usually the you need the two to make one attack, in this case no it might be a power you might not control." Nami said

"I don't care! I'm using it for them! I will get them back with this!" she growled

"I know, this you shall do on your own. Not with my help, your own strength as well as your friends." Nami said

"You got that right."

"Hey Mika you in there?"

Shaking her head, "Oh yea sorry Kagome. Talking to Nami." Mika said

"Worried us for a second." Sango said

"Don't worry about me, I'm always daydreaming." Mika said, suddenly a spike in dark energy went off over the river. Glowing low.

"What is it?" Miroku asked

"One of my old problems, you guys stay here don't need you getting involved." Mika growled. Running before anyone could argue.

Jumping over the river, and on a dash towards her scent. Almost grabbing on to her Shadow Blade but stopped herself. "If anything is going to kill this wench, its this." she though.

The handle silver wrapped in black, she not ever taken it out of the sheath so she didn't know what would happen. Seeing a flash of black she knew she found her. Jumping up in a tree to make sure it was her, seeing it was and that she had already drawn an arrow. Jumping out of the way, landing in front of her.

"So wench have the guts to come within a 10 mile radius. How stupid are you?" Mika spat.

"Well scar long time know see, so you found your second power I see." Kinomi laughed

"Shut your trap! Why aren't you with Naraku anyway?" Mika growled

"He's to much of a bore, besides even with their minds are erased they still try to kill me." Kinomi said

"Good, still a chance then." Mika said

"Yeah right, if they don't kill you first. Naraku had almost the whole jewel the more he has the more control." Kinomi said

"They will get free, but for now I still have a score to settle." Mika growled, drawing her new sword, it looked more like Ray, Iva , and Tora's (which looked kind like fluffy's). Blue shine to the blade with the mark in the center.

"You don't even know how to use that thing." Kinomi mocked getting an arrow ready.

"I guess I'll just have to learn with you now won't I." Mika growled

Kinomi took the first shot with her arrow, moving out of the way easily. Getting in close range, Kinomi grabbed a staff from her back blocking the blade. Sparks flew. "You don't even know how to use its power do you scar?" Kinomi laughed

"Like you do?" Mika spat, trying to hit her in the side. But Kinomi blocked it. "How do expect to beat me when you don't know how to use this thing?" Kinomi said

"I'll figure it out!" Mika growled

It went the same from there, she was fighting like a new kid to the skill. She was tempted to use her other sword but stopped herself. "Shit." Mika cursed

Jumping out of the way with a black energy ball. "How can I fight with it when I don't know what it can do?" she thought.

"Why would Koro fall for you anyway? Someone that can't even fight." Kinomi mocked

Something set of in her, growling loudly. The blade started to glow red, rubies seemed to crystalize and small red beams shot at Kinomi.

Knowing that she set off the hanyou she left. Mika looked down at the blade, "Well I guess it acts on strong emotions." Mika thought.

Putting it back in its sheath, still growling low. "Damn wench." Mika growled

Turning to leave, running back. Jumping back over the same river. "That was quick." Inuyasha said

"Yeah well she ran what do you expect?" Mika said

"You used that new thing of yours?" he asked

"Yeah your point? It scared her off." she said

"You still don't know how to use that thing." Inuyasha growled

"Want to train me then? Love to fight you again so I could beat your ass." Mika laughed

"Sure you keep on thinking that?" Inuyasha mumbled

"Afraid to lose to a girl bro?" Mika said

Setting off the guy ego again, "I'm not scared! You want a fight you got one!"

"Good way to train." Nami said

Laughing slightly, "Bring it."

Inuyasha drew tetsusaiga, Mika drew hers. Miroku and Sango rolled her eyes, "I wonder if it just runs in there family." Sango said

"Maybe." Kagome said

A loud sound of metal on metal echoed threw the area. Both jumping back, and at it again. Blocking each others attacks.

Shippo, Sakura, and Kirara watched. "I wonder who wins this one." Shippo said

"Yea." Sakura said

"Mew!"

For some reason the more she fought with it, the more the sword seemed easier to control. Enjoyed it almost. Jumping out of her brothers range, and slashed downward. He blocked it. It kept on like that for what seemed like 2 hours! If they kept there timing right. A cloud of dust clearing. Blade to each of there throats. Breathing heavier then before.

"Looks like a draw this time bro." Mika said

"Yea right I went easy on you." Inuyasha said

Putting her sword away, trying to think of a name for it. If it had hers friends blood in it well she had to call it something. Thinking of a name was that harder part. "Was that you or Nami fighting?" Inuyasha asked

"Me, the sword can't use my shadow powers." Mika said.

"Never knew you two could fight that long." Miroku said

"That's nothing." Inuyasha said

Sitting against a tree, hands behind her head. "I can go up to 4 non-stop. Well that's the record I hold with Tora anyway." Mika said

"4 hours and 45 minutes really." Nami corrected

Mika rolled her eyes.


Everyone had been trying to put off going into that forest, now at the entrance. It looked a lot worse. Shippo had a death grip on Kirara. The dead trees, and fog that seemed to settle at the forest floor. The ground dry and cracked, dead planets every were. No light entered it blocked by a dark cloud over head.

An ominous aura radiated from this place. "OK listen Kirara just go straight threw, don't stop for anything." Mika said

Kirara growled. "Good."

Mika covered Sakura in her outer blue haori. Someone tapped her on her shoulder, "Here, this might help remind us its not real." Kagome said, black cloth in her hand, everyone else already tied it on the arm. "Good idea, thanks."

Kirara had already went ahead, nothing happened. At lest she was right on that. "Ok well lets hope we see each other on the other side."

Entering the forest from different areas, they all felt something in the back of there minds. Inuyasha, thinking he could out run the thing, ran threw the place full speed. When an eerie dark voice seemed to enter his mind. "You can't run from your fears Inuyasha, the three trials you must pass or you will never see your love again."

Out of know were, hit in the head hard enough to pass out.


Kagome,slowly walking threw the forest, looking every which way. Having her bow and arrows ready. When a denser fog rolled up. "Young miko from another time, you test your will and heart. Though from another time, you heart belong to the young hanyou. Now will you make it out to see him again." a voice said

Looking around farcically, when a sharp pain hit her. Knocking her out.


Miroku walkedthrew the forest, eyes closed hoping avoid this. It did not work. A slight shaking of the ground and he almost lost balance. "So you lecher of a monk, you test yourself. Though you ask many to bear your heir, there is only one you hope will before the void sucks you in as well. Now let us see if you can make it threw."

The voice said, a vine crept behind him knocking him in the side of the head. He passed out.


Sango held on toher weapon tightly she walked threw, listening for anything. Hearing a crack behind her she spun around. "Slayer you hold many fears I see, loss of your brother, as well as the one you hold close. Test you heart, to see if it holds true."

As the others, she was knocked out soon after.


Going threw and stopped, looking around. "Ok lets get this damn thing over with!" Mika growled

The thick fog rolled up. "Mika I see you have returned. I do not see your pack though, I guess you have yet to free them. So how do you expect to get threw when you have no one, your love gone, your best friends not around. How do you plane to survive. I can already see you have many fears, many more then the last time. Some even I could not handle."

"Well lets get it over with! If I die, I die fine! You want to feed on my damn fears then get it over with!" Mika yelled

"As you wish young hanyou."

Expecting it a sharp pain went threw her head, and total blackness took its place.


Growling low, he sat up. "What the hell happened?" Inuyasha his head, when he noticed something. His hands, where smaller. Looking his claws were still small, and he was shorter. Standing up he looked around. He was in the courtyard where his mother lived.

"What happened?" he asked himself

"One of the bullies hit you a little to hard.." someone said behind him, it was his sister, she had a black eye as well as other bruises.

"What happen to you?" Inuyasha asked

Mika looked at him for a second, "Couldn't let them hurt my brother and get away with it." she shrugged

"You know mother says not to hurt them!" he yelled

"Well its about time we change that rule! She doesn't know what they do when she's not around. Now come on we better get going." Mika said helping her brother up. Then she noticed the weird thing on his arm. "Where did you get that thing?" she asked, pointing at the black thing tied to his arm.

He looked at it, "I don't know."

"Well we'll figure that out later, lets go moms probably already worried." Mika said

The sun was setting and they saw the castle, seeing there mom up ahead. "Want to race?" mika asked

"You bet!" Inuyasha said, both running as fast as a 8 year olds could. Both getting there at the same time.

"Beat you!"

"You wish!"

Then their mother saw the bruises, but let the two play for a while. At the time play fighting. When it got late, they went in. When suddenly it hit Inuyasha, he started remembering everything and knew what was going to happen. Running ahead, he already saw the dagger flying inches away from him. Blood was soon every where.

"No!"

When another sharp pain hit him.

This time when he got up he was normal, "Must have been a dream." Inuyasha thought looking around. But the black thing was still on his arm. Looking around he noticed something, this place. He knew it from some where. It was an old shrine. (Just letting people know I made this event up!) Suddenly the smell of blood hit him, not just any blood.

Shooting up, he got a better look at where he was. It was some where he had been before. Suddenly the windows darkened only to reveal the no moon. "Crap!"

His hair turned black, dog ears gone along with his senses, claws, and fangs. Hearing a scream from across the way. He ran towards it. Cursing how slow he was in his human state. Suddenly he saw Shippo be thrown threw a door. "Inuyasha!"

"What the hells going on?" Inuyasha yelled

"The demon, it has Kagome! The others can't fight it off!" Shippo cried

Running in the others fighting off a giant lizard demon, a bloody body next to it. It felt like a ice cold dagger just got shot threw him. "Inuyasha! Get Kagome out of here!" Miroku yelled, fending off one of the things arms.

Finding an opening, forgetting he had no defense if this thing saw him. Getting past the thing was the easy part. Seeing Kagome like she was, that was the hard part. Three gashes ripped into her side.

Wrapping he in his red haori, he got out of the way just as a claws came crashing down. Seeing Kagome out of harms way, Miroku saw his opening. "Wind Tunnel!"

The thing was sucked in leaving nothing behind. Neither Sango or Miroku knew the extent of Kagome's injures yet.

The possibility of her living were slim, Inuyasha wouldn't take that for an answer. Three days the odds looked bad, he never left.


Waking up to a dull throbbing in the back of his head. He got up, and looked around. He was in Mushin's temple. Getting up he noticed he was much shorter. He walked outside, noticing a bright purple light. "No!"Miroku thought.

Running across the temple to where the light was brightest. When he was close enough, he saw his father, wind tunnel out of control. Getting to the steps that led down he tried to run to him. But Mushin stopped him. "Its to late!" he yelled

"Father!"

It was to late, the wind got stronger and the void bigger. When there was nothing left but a crater in the earth.


Feeling some shaking her, her eyes shot open. "Sister you fell asleep. I can't blame you though, been on steak out all night." Kohaku said

Smacking herself mentally, how can she be so stupid! A few second later the demon came out. Killing it seemed to easy.

When it seemed dead something struck her father and the others, when a sharp pain came from her back. Turning around to see her brother holding the blood stained blade, eyes blank.

Suddenly Kohaku's eyes turn back to normal, hands shacking. "What have I done?"

Suddenly the archers get ready to fire. Hitting him and Sango in the back. "No!"


Waking up to a dull head ace, not having the slightest idea where she was. Not able to remember anything. It was sunrise as far as she could tell. "Hey sis, guess your up."

"Oh hey Tora." Mika said sitting up.

"So you ready for the fight today, Ryuu said its going to be hard." Kimsune said

"We can beat 'em." Mika said, "Were the others at?"

"Huh, oh they'll be back soon. They just went to get something." Shadow said

Looking at the neko demon and her other two friends she shrugged it off. "Surprised you didn't go with Ray, you two haven't been more then 5 feet from each other anymore." Mika laughed, seeing slight red come to her friend.

"That is not true and you know it!"

"I don't think so." Kimsune laughed

About an hour later the others came back, "Were have you guys been?"

"No where." Iva said

"Sure, ok so when are we going to fight this clan of yours Ryuu?" Mika asked

"Today hopefully." Koro mumbled

The trip was quick, as was the battle all though very painful. Shadow had to fly Ray back. Getting to a place near her brothers village to rest for a bit. Even though she had a really bad feeling about it.

"Well if you guys want to stay here at lest let me check this place." Mika growled

"Your hurt too you know!" Koro said

"Not as bad as you guys, just let me make sure. I'll only be a second." she said

"Fine."

Walking around about 2 miles out and around she didn't see or sense anything, when a sudden power surge of miko energy caught her attention. Not to mention the smell of blood thick in the air. "No." she growled

Running as fast as possible she ran smack into a barrier, landing on her back. Landing on her bad side. Hissing low, and not able to use her sword at the time cause of her wrist. As fast as the barrier was there is was gone.

Running past it the scent of blood was so strong. She knew something had happened. Jumped over a fallen log, finally getting there. Only to feel like a white hot knife just went threw her. Her pack lay, dead.

They demon in her head went nuts, tears fell. Landing on her knees, she felt dead. How could this happen! She was supposed to be the leader of th e pack, protect them. Now this! Hearing something, her mind snapped "Koro!"

Getting up she found him, another icy knife stabbed at her, this time aimed full on at the heart. She wanted to drop dead right then and there. To die with them! Her hand went to the dagger at her side, wait. Since when did she have a dagger?


From what Kagome could tell it was late in the night. Slowly getting up, she looked around. She was in the middle of the forest. "What am I doing here?" she wondered when she saw the faint glow of Kikyo's soul stealers. Her heart sank. She knew what was going on without even looking.

The place seemed to change though. Several soul snatchers wrapped around her, tying her to a tree. Kikyo had a sick smile on her face. Kagome shuddered. When she heard foot steps. "Inuyasha."

He could not see her, and the whole in the earth kept on getting deeper. "Inuyasha!"


A tall woman stood at the exit of the forest. Watching as all of this took place. 5 bubble like things floated in front of her. Dressed in all black and purple, narrow red eyes watched. "So it seems Mika is much easier to break now. She might have made it threw that, but will she want to return from her paradise? As the others, but I think hers would be most interesting, though most people might not know this is the possibility of their future." she laughed a dark voice, a raven landed on her shoulder.

"The girl is weakening, I have feeling she will not survive the last of the trials." the raven said

"If she does she is the one I will fight. She will live, the real Shadow Killer is coming back I can feel it." she said.

"You plan to tell her the cure of such a thing?" the raven asked

"She can only do that. Now as for her friends, they might have some troubles." she said


Fighting the demon in his head, another dull pain entered his head. The demon blood settled, as if he had control. Without looking, he felt the scars on his face, his claws much longer. Though fangs were not. He had control, he knew what was going on. Hand going to his neck for an odd reason, feeling two fang marks.

"Fangs marks? That means..." he thought.

"Took you two long enough to figure it out." someone laughed

Finally realizing someone was next to him, looking up seeing his sister a little away. Stupid grin on her face. "Guys been gone all night lover boy, the others are starting to worry about you two." she said

"Why are you here!" he growled harshly

"You wanted the monk to find you?" she laughed

Thinking over time, "What about Naraku!"

"Bro what did you do last night? We killed Naraku 3 years ago." Mika said

"What about your friends, the others?" he asked

"Ok you got a little rough it looks like, hello bro they've been find. You think the eye color change it normal?" Mika laughed, he just noticed her right eye was ocean blue.

"So that means, never mind." he growled

Then focusing on the person next to him, her hair now slightly longer with silver ends. Curled next to him. "Ok bro do you have short term memory loss or something? Me and the gang we just came for a visit you numbskull, I still run the hanyou village you know. Anything you want me to fill in?" she asked, "That Sango and Miroku already have like 5 kids, and you and kag are expecting?"

"We're what!" he almost yelled

"Ok you are really lost it, when you found out you ran around this place telling everyone! How could you forget that?"

Suddenly a flood of memories hit him, everything his sister said. "Ok now I remember. But the wolf is never away from you, were's he?"

"He's training Sakura. Well when ever you two feel like it, come back soon." Mika and walked off.

Even if this all did make sense something wasn't right, he still didn't remember anything he just went along with it. What was he to complain though? Naraku was dead, Kagome was with him, the others were doing great. He was full demon but still had a human heart. Why worry?


Having no clue why that dream had occurred he tried to figure out where he was. Opening his eyes he was staring at a shrine ceiling. Something laying next to him. Looking over he almost jumped, Sango lay next to him, and the more surprising thing was, well the lack of clothing on each of them. "We, but how?" he thought, though very happy also really confused.

Looking at his cursed hand, he soon learned it wasn't cursed! The wind tunnel was gone!


Shacking slightly she did not want to look, afraid she would see everyone dead. But it never came, in fact she heard her brother and fathers voice outside. Feeling someone holding her, she froze for a second. Opening her eyes slowly and saw, "Miroku!"

The laughing of her brother and father were followed by children. They were calling her father, grand father. "Then that means.."


Slowly opening her eyes, almost blinding by the suns rays. Birds chippering loudly. She could tell she was in the feudal era from the cleaner air. Not knowing were she was though. Feeling something pull her closer to whoever it was, her heart got stuck in her throat. Until she saw silver. Then wondering how this happened.

Seeing something glow on her finger, looking closely she saw what looked like a wedding ring! "Me with Inuyasha!"


Growling low in her head, sharp jolts of pain in her head. Until something tightened around her waist. Stopping for a second trying to remember where she was, but having no idea. A steady heart beat calmed her down, as well as the scent around her. A light pulsing on the side of her neck kinda sent things back into her head. Sighing in her head she leaned back, demon in her head happy.

"It was just a dream, things changed since then." she thought, "The gangs fine, he's gone, Kinomi's dead."

Opening her eyes slightly, and looked over her shoulder. A light smile crept to her. "Thinks turned out better for me then I thought." she laughed in her head.

"Yo Mika! Koro! Do you plan to stay up there all day?" Ray laughed

"I'm going to kill him." she growled

"Your not the only one." growled Koro.


"There dreams simple but seem so far out of reach. The monk and slayers trials had already become one as the miko and the hanyou's brother. Just as his sister it seems." the demon laughed

"The girls quest is also a great deed, she wishes to build a village for ones like her. If that were to happen many half demons live past there young age." the raven said

"Yes, one deed that will bring many wars as well." the demon said

"Yet she has no care." the raven stated.

"The others have similar quests, but some will have many troubles. Now let us see how they fair against this." the demon said

"I still think you should change the trials it is almost impossible to fair against this." the raven said


Things were as good as they could get, he even got along with his sisters friends! Which was almost impossible. Shippo was slightly taller, and was followed my Sango and Miroku's kids a lot.

The village didn't care less what he was anymore. Even if things were better then he could hope, something kept on nagging him in the back of his head. Even if the memories of Naraku's death seemed real they just didn't seem it.

When a sudden rage filled his head, he didn't know what is was! The demon blood in his veins raged, and the want for blood great.

Knowing he would hurt Kagome if he did not gain control. But his efforts proved useless, suddenly he blacked out. All he saw was red, blood.

After second, he had control again. But he didn't know how long it had really been. Afraid to look up, he looked at his claws. Dried blood, as well as fresh coated is claws, the worse thing was. It smelled like Kagome's blood!

"No I couldn't have!" he thought.

Shooting up he looked around, dead bodies littered the area. Not paying as much attention to them. Finally finding her scent he raced for it, her scent seemed cold, dead! "No I didn't! I couldn't have done something like this!" he yelled

Finally coming upon a body that held her scent, though he couldn't tell. Afraid what he might find, he gathered all the courage he could and looked at her. It was Kagome, claw marks around her neck, and three slash marks on her side.

"No!"

He knew his claws did that, he did it! He killed her, he killed his own mate! Hands shaking. Things went black, "You did this, you killed her. Her and your own child. You had no control and look what happened." a voice said

"No."

"You did, you killed countless others. You killed the one that meant most to you, why do you still walk this earth when you did such things."

"I just want to be with her that's all!"

"Then join her in the afterlife, join all the ones you killed in the after live. That's what you deserve."

Hands shaking already leaving long gashes in his arm. "Do it, your pain will end everything will end."

"Its not real." he growled

"Oh yes it is."

"No its not! Even my demon side couldn't hurt her! This isn't real!" he yelled

A cold laugh filled the area, "Smart hanyou, one of the first to get threw without killing ones self. You are free." the voice said

The darkness gone, he was on the hard dead dirt floor. Bloody gashes every were on him, emotionally drained. Hardly even to stand up straight. Standing up, using a tree to keep straight he meet the demon at eye level.

"Good job Inuyasha, you must take these traits from you sister. Second to pass threw these woods." she said

"Sick wench." he growled

"You saw what could happen in your future, you also saw what could happen if your selfish enough to get the two things you want most. Take it as a warning." she said

"How do you know!" he yelled

"I know all, I know what's going to happen to Naraku, with the jewel, and what your future holds. I know who and who will not die in the last battle, so as I say again take it as a warning Inuyasha." she said

"So you want to fight me or not!" he growled

"It is not you I wish to fight, though very close. She eluded me last time, but I very much wish to fight someone with my power." she said

"I swear if my friends don't make it out, I'll kill you." he growled

The demon put her hand to his forehead, and a black shock hit him knocking him out.

(Another one up! Any weapon name ideas please tell me! Anyway please tell me what ya think and Review please!)