Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

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Ch. 13

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The mirror shimmered and crackled as Mina stepped into her abode.

"Lady Mina!" Myoga hopped onto her shoulder. "They have figured out it is you who has taken the fangs. What are we going to do?"

She turned around to look at the mirror, "It's about time, I was getting worried."

Totosai blinked, "What?"

"Oh, I knew they could put two-and-two together. I have the perfect cover story." Mina picked up the swords with a cloud of magic. "I have to go meet them, now."

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They were running towards the edge of the forest. "You shouldn't fight."

"Why the hell not?!" Inuyasha noted how his brother was only a little way ahead of him. 'If he really wanted to, he could just fly over there and leave me behind...Bastard.'

Sesshomaru's normally stoic voice held a note of concern. "I might be too distracted to keep your demon powers at bay, Inuyasha."

"Oh," He frowned, chewing on his bottom lip. 'That makes sense, but I don't like the idea of just staying on the sidelines.' He let out a frustrated growl. "Damn I hate this!"

The demon lord didn't answer, but he felt the same way. This whole situation was unnerving to say the least. "We've arrived."

With a crackle of thunder, a figure appeared in the thick of the trees. "Welcome to my home, sons of Inutaishou."

"Witch," Sesshomaru spat as he approached her. "What do you want?"

"I don't want anything." She scoffed, making the cloak sway around her covered face. "Especially not from you two."

"I don't get it." Inuyasha stepped forward, but still stayed behind his brother. "Why give us the stones, then go all evil on us?"

"You're not that bright, are you?" She crossed her arms, and shrugged. "Whatever, guess it couldn't hurt to spell it out for you. Those stones let me get inside your minds. That way, I could see if you two were worthy to wield your father's fangs."

With a sound of disgust and scorn, she said, "I found you lacking to say the least."

Until then, Sesshomaru thought he was just angry. Now, he was beyond furious! "Damn you." His eyes tinted red.

Unfazed, she went on talking. "Tell you what? If you can take the fangs from that tree behind me, you can be on your merry way, and I won't bother you anymore. Deal?"

Sesshomaru cracked out his lethal claws, "I do not 'deal' with humans."

"Heh, well then, if that's the way you want it." She readied to send a blasting attack.

Not hesitating, the demon lord unsheathed his Tokijin. "Inuyasha, get the fangs."

"Don't order me around!" He leapt onto a tree branch, hopped from one to another, heading towards the swords.

A sudden branch crashed into his stomach, knocking him down to the forest floor. "The hell-?"

"It's not that easy, boys." She gestured to the forest around her. "This place is my home, remember? Even the trees are your enemies here!"

Sesshomaru unleashed a strike at her, "Die, wench!"

She hastily shielded herself, "Not today!"

In a flash, Sesshomaru was in front of his sibling, slicing at branches descending upon them. "You're hurt," The pain wasn't bad compared to the others, but it wouldn't take much.

"Don't worry about me." Inuyasha was back on his feet, ready to fight. "She ain't that tough!" Inuyasha glanced at how far the tree was, "Damn it." Too far, with too many obstacles.

Another violent blast came at them, easily deflected. "Just stay out of the way." Sesshomaru rushed at her, intending to cut her head clean off her shoulders.

She managed to duck just in time, but her hood was sliced off instead. 'Oh no!' She gasped, as Sesshomaru turned to look at her.

He had a hitch in his breath. "Mina?" He was surprised, but that didn't last long. "I thought you had died years ago." He brought his sword up to attack again.

Inuyasha sliced an attacking branch. "You know her?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

Mina stuck out her tongue at him, "You're not my favorite person either!"

Curious, Inuyasha asked, "Who is she?"

"A favored servant of Father's. She's human, but her powers can give her a very long life."

"Why don't you like her?"

"She exists."

Mina gathered up her power into a blasting attack, "God, I hate you!"

Taking his chance, Inuyasha went for her from the side. "Shut up and die already!"

She effortlessly knocked him away. "You're so pathetic!"

Sheer agony laced through the boy. He fell to the ground, tried to get up, but could only groan. Sesshomaru charged at her, "Such a nuisance!" He readied with Poison Claws.

She shielded herself and jumped away. Seeing an opportunity, Sesshomaru concentrated, and quickly stole the pain away from Inuyasha. He hissed, feeling his body getting weaker from the drain. 'This has to end soon.'

Recovered, Inuyasha saw Mina moving back. "You're not gettin away!" He dashed over, "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

His claws slashed into her arm. "Ahhh!" She jumped away from him, tears brimming her eyes. "I was too careless."

Suddenly, Sesshomaru was practically in her face, "Die."

She dodged his claws, whirled around, and hit him square in the chest with her power. He let out a roar as he flew back, hitting a tree and knocking it over.

"Sesshomaru!" Inuyasha ran towards him.

Mina aims, ready to shoot the defenseless boy. 'Please, let my instincts be right!'

The demon lord saw what was about to happen, "No!" He tries to get up, but something sharp has a hold of his shirt. "Tetsusaiga..." It pulsed at him.

"Die, half-breed!" She built up her energy for a big attack.

It never happened, "Wind Scar!"

"Ahhh!" Mina screamed as the white light if power surrounded her. Sesshomaru watched as she was flown back into the forest, beyond his sight. Tetsusaiga crackled around his hand, so he released the blade.

"She's not dead." He moved to go after her.

"Hey! Don't!" Inuyasha blocked his path. "We won, alright? We'll get her later."

"Not until she pays." He tried to move his brother out of the way, but when his hand connected-. "Ah!" He dropped to his knees.

Inuyasha got down to his level, "Come on, don't be stupid." He looked at the singes on the injured hand. "Let's just get our swords and go."

"No," The demon gasped, gritting his teeth in pain.

"Come on," Inuyasha gently cupped the hand in his own. "You've done enough."

Sesshomaru looked at him, and Inuyasha returned the gaze. For once, they actually understood each other.

After a few seconds, the demon lord's gruff voice ordered. "Enough, let's go."

"What did I say? Don't order-!"

"I don't listen to useless ramblings." Sesshomaru grabbed his Tensusaiga. "Get your fang."

"Argh!" Inuyasha picked up the blade, reluctantly doing as he was told. Without letting his brother see, he smiled. 'Sometimes, I can't help but like him.'

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Mina screamed as a searing sensation consumed her body. 'Oh, god!' She tried to shield herself, but failed miserably as she was thrown back by the force of the blast. Tumbling, rolling, over and over again. 'Please!'

Darkness...darkness... 'I've stopped.'

She opened her eyes. It took effort, but she could do it. 'Why am I not dead?'

Something warm against her skin, on her chest. She discreetly felt around. "Oh," she let out a relieved sigh. "The medallion." Mina smiled, though she was bruised and battered.

'Inutaishou, always looking out for me.'

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A/N: Okay, the end is coming. It might be the next chapter or it might not, I'm dunno.

Tell me: Do you guys utterly despise Mina? Or is she an okay character? Do you want a continuation, or should I just stop this story when it ends?

Thanks for reading, everybody. Please review!