For the next few days, the camp became a training facility. Any demon with skill in fighting or weaponry came forward to teach the others the basics of their craft. For the most part the groups self-selected based on interest and aptitude. Those that couldn't fight devoted themselves to caring for those that could. Meals and breaks were sparing. Sleep was almost nonexistent. And Kagome, who had never held any real responsibility before in her life, was unequivocally the leader of it all.

"Naraku himself will be a wild card. He's easily angered and very violent, but I've only ever actually seen his physical strength. He's also got weapons to subdue demons, and he may have other powers at his disposal that we don't know about. We should be prepared for anything. Of course, to get to him, we need to get through his guard first." Kagome laid out the sketches she had made of every security member she could recall in the household. The demons gathered around her, picked them up and passed them around, studying each face in turn. There were some itemized lists below the pictures detailing any facts she thought might be helpful. "Of course, we'll try to convert them to our cause first, and I'm sure some of them have more than enough reason to turn, but we will be prepared to fight if they don't."

"I know this one." Kagome turned to the speaker, glancing at the picture in his hand. It was a lizard demon.

"Do you?"

"Yeah, he was in the cell next to mine a few years ago."

"Did you get along?"

"Yeah. Nice guy."

"You can be assigned to him, then. There are twelve of them in total, and we can spare two fighters for each of them. Choose as you will and decide within your partnership how to approach your guard. I know their schedules, and I will be passing them around next. Look for the name of the guard you have picked." She took out a second stack of papers and distributed them as groups started to form.

"You will have tonight to plan. Tomorrow morning we will discuss what to do if your guard is neutralized quickly and you are able to help with the main fight. If you do not choose a guard, you will be with me, facing Naraku from the first. Those interested in that course, step aside." A sizable portion of the group did so, and Kagome nodded at them solemnly.

"I'll leave you to talk. We meet again at dawn. Come dressed for battle, because when that meeting ends... we attack." A cheer arose and Kagome smiled half-heartedly. Then she bowed out of the hut they had gathered in and made her way back to her own.

Before she had taken more than a few steps, Inuyasha was at her side.

"How are you feeling?"

"Exhausted. Anxious. Inadequate. I don't know why everyone trusts me to put this together."

"You're doing phenomenally."

"We'll see tomorrow how I've done."

"Yes. Tomorrow. So don't think about it until then. Rest."

"As if that's possible." Despite what she said, Kagome let the tension leak out of her body as she entered her own hut. Her knees buckled, and Inuyasha deftly caught her. He was used to it. In the last few days he had been her constant support, hardly ever away from her side. It was Inuyasha that always made sure she ate the food that was given to her, always coaxed her away from planning when it got too late, always told her to pace herself when she exerted too much energy training. Her training was a little different than everyone else's, as she was working with the power within herself. She had no guide, and so had no voice of experience to correct her or stop her from going too far. This resulted in her pushing herself to the point of unconsciousness more than once, and when she woke it was always in a warm and comfortable place with Inuyasha right next to her. She was grateful, and yet she could tell that the role wore on him. She wondered if he slept at all.

Hopefully it would all soon be over. Tomorrow they would fight and if they were successful they wouldn't have to worry about Naraku anymore. And hopefully then, the gnawing guilt about her mother, the sense or despair, and the rage that had been consuming her recently would fade.

Inuyasha lifted her legs and lay her down on her bed. "Rest," he said again.

"You're right. I know you're right. We have a good chance, don't we? We're organized, we're fit, and we're ready. I know we're ready. Don't you think we're ready?"

He smiled. But before he could answer, a chorus of screams echoed from outside. Dozens of voices cried out at once. Propelled by a shot of adrenaline, Kagome raced back to the door, Inuyasha as always beside her.

The scene in front of them was staggering. Almost half the demons in their immediate vicinity were reduced to writhing, choking, screaming bodies, all clutching at their necks. Some fell immediately. Some struggled to stand or communicate some last sentiment to those around them. But they all eventually crumpled under the crippling pain searing through them. Then, all at once, they all suddenly and sickeningly went slack.

There was a thick and heavy silence, broken only by the soft whimpering of those nearby who had lost loved ones. No one moved.

"How?" Kagome cried out finally, stumbling out and falling to her knees amidst the bodies. "How could it be so many at once? Unless..." She turned her wide, frightened eyes to Inuyasha and saw the same realization in his that she had just reached. She still wasn't sure how he'd one it, but this was unmistakeably Naraku's move.

He knew they were coming.