Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha or any associated character.

No, I am not dead.

Here is another instalment so I won't say any more so you can get to and read it. Other than I apologise for how I left the ending *snickers*

Chapter 14:

Since the dawn of time its self there has always been a balance of good and evil.

Amastu, the God of War.

Amaterasu, the Goddess of the Sun.

Brother and sister.

Yin and Yang.

Amaterasu and her Sun represented life. She lived and breathed it. Ningen were her children, and she gave them a providing home on earth. The lived peaceful lives and cared for the lands, living with it and not on it.

Jealous of Amaterasu and her ningen children, Amatsu created his own. Youkai. They too were housed on earth.

Amatsu wanting to best Amaterasu created his children superior is all aspects. Superior is size, strength and speed. They were born and bred to kill and rid the earth of Ningen.

What Amatsu didn't foresee was the possibility that the two races could co-exist and some even, fall in love. Over time, this phenomenon of inter breeding became more and more apparent until the earth was riddled with Hanyou.

Enraged, Amatsu took action.

Feeding his children lies about the deceitfulness of ningen and their cruelty; he planted seeds of doubt, fear and anger in many youkai. Then using his divinity as a God, possessed ningen. He forced the ningen to attack youkai villages, hunt them and kill.

Before too long, both races despised one another.

As the war raged on, Amaterasu intervened. She created the Firerat. A creature so ethereal, so deceivingly powerful that even Amatsu himself was distracted from his mission.

The Firerat was a Celestial fire elementalist.

Their coats could withstand any heat and most blades; they sparkled like a fiery red gem. Their pelts were harvested and used in battle.

But it wasn't only that, that drove people to hunt. It was said that a being who ate the heart of a Firerat could temporarily control fire. Ningens abandoned their hunt for Youkai to concentrate on Firerats. The youkai did likewise. Amatsu was awed by the beauty and strength of the Firerat too but soon realized Amaterasu's plan.

Centuries past and an uneasy peace was reached between the ningen and youkai as they happily hunted the Firerats. But it was when the Firerats were near to extinction that Amatsu's influence was brought to the forefront once again. Small wars were re-started.

Tsukuyomi was born on the longest night of the year under a full moon. Her parent Firerat was the alpha of the species pack and Amatsu hadn't wasted a second in the attempted destruction of the next generation of Firerat.

After all, the Celestial species was the only distraction to the war he so wanted to re-create.

It was rare for a Firerat to birth a young. One every couple of centuries, and Amatsu was determined to eradicate the species and start the war that had finished so many years ago.

Gaia, Tsukuyomi's mother was killed, but Amaterasu was able to save the youngling. The Sun Goddess took Tsukuyomi and raised her as her own.

As the escalation of the warring between species grew, Amaterasu began to worry. Her precious children were beginning to be over powered. Tsukuyomi came to her one day. Red fur aglow a silver shroud, electric blue eyes distant and pure white.

She had spoken of a past and a future.

Of the warring species and a savior.

A ningen girl, not of this world; and a Youkai lord, the most powerful of them all.

Together they would unite the two species, and Amatsu's plan to eradicate one or both would be put to an end.

Tsukuyomi had foretold the Great Prophecy; the savior of the ningen and youkai kind.

As the Prophecy spread throughout the youkai villages and even some ningen, Amatsu became angry and doubled his efforts in destroying any chance the species had of peace. He initiated hunting parties to look for this so called savior, the girl that would possibly bring life to the prophecy.

He vowed to find her and kill her. No matter how long, or what lengths it took.

*

As Tsukuyomi reminisced about the ancient events of the past she couldn't help but wonder about the prophecy.

It had been her who predicted it. Yet, the onna that she followed, was she really the one? She was so small, so delicate and Tsukuyomi was even more concerned that Sesshomaru and Lara had yet to really get along. They were constantly arguing.

The duo were supposed to get cozy enough to produce a child but if they kept up how their relationship was progressing, that was never going to happen. Constant fighting, niggling and the throwing of mud into each other's face was not going to bring them closer.

Tsukuyomi heaved a sigh, her ribs still hurting from being attacked by the Dark Rat whilst defending Lara. She had been severely weakened by the attack against Amaterasu, still recovering she offered little help when in battle these days and she was grateful that the Western Prince was the most supreme youkai alive.

Tsukuyomi got up and trotted over to Rin. Prince Sesshomaru and Lara had been gone for a while now and the child was starting to get restless.

The Prince had said they would be back soon, but that had been when the sun was still high in the air, it was starting to set now.

What had happened to them?

Tsukuyomi closed her eyes and spread out her senses. She couldn't feel any danger. She could feel the western prince though. His aura seemed conflicted.

The Celestial smiled to herself. There was lust hiding underneath all of the Prince's confusion. Perhaps Sesshomaru had started listening to his sporadic part of his brain or dare she say…. His heart….

Tsukuyomi truly believed in the Prophecy, after all it was she who foretold of it. Unfortunately though, Sesshomaru seemed to be taking it by surface value only. He was not looking at the deeper meaning. It would be his and the Onna's coupling and conception of the child that brings Youkai and ningen together, not the child itself. For the youkai to see their most powerful, accept and love a human, their baser instincts would kick in.

A youkai is just like an animal. Whilst they have different types, different clans, all in the end answer to THE alpha. And that alpha is Sesshomaru. Lord of the Western lands. They would learn to accept and live peacefully with ningen whether or not they wanted to. Instincts reigned supreme in youkai nature.

The same with the ningen. If they saw that the strongest of the youkai would happily take a ningen as his lady, mate and bearer of his heirs, then they too would see how easy it could be to live with youkai. Especially when the order was put out by the Prince not to attack ningen. If youkai were to be in ningen's presence and not attack then surely the ningen would see a different side to the youkai species.

She sighed as she nuzzled Rin's face, the child giggling loudly. They had long way to go if youkai and ningen were ever to be at peace with each other.

When would the Western Prince unchain his heart, and when would the onna stop being such an obdurate pain in the neck?

Tsukuyomi prayed to Amaterasu that it would be soon.

*

Amatsu snarled enraged as he kicked one of his guards in the shin. The guard was brought to his knees.

"Must I ask again? Why was the girl not killed?" The guard trembled with fear. Hoko had seen Amatsu's mercilessness. He killed without a second thought and the Firerat guard knew that when Amatsu had that expression in his eyes – the exact one Hoko could see now – someone's life was forfeit.

"Why!!??" Yelled Amatsu as he flung Hoko across the room.

"Because once again the Western Prince was able to thwart us and get to the girl before Kostu could retrieve her." Amatsu studied his cowering guard for some time.

It seemed he kept underestimating his son, Prince Sesshomaru. He was indeed the most powerful of them all. Amatsu quickly applauded himself for creating such a powerful being, but stopped as he realised this one youkai could bring an abrupt stop to his annihilation of the ningens. The ningen onna traveling with the prince had to be destroyed.

"Where are they headed?" Spat Amatsu.

"T-to the village of Edo. My lord." Hoko bowed and rested his head on the floor, palms flat down. He did not want to die; he as a Firerat himself, albeit darkened by Amatsu's influence, just had a child and his mate was home waiting for him.

Amatsu paced.

His long strides even and calculating. They were both in humanoid form, Amatsu's flowing cape billowing behind him. Thick boots padded on the floor as the armor covering every inch of his body clinked with each movement.

"The Firerat turned to her true form to try and fight off our forces. But she was not strong. I believe that she was wounded and weakened when we attacked her mother. She has yet to recover."

"Good." Sneered Amatsu as he leaned against the mantle of his fireplace. His jagged jet black hair creating a shroud around his profile, his silver eyes haunting and evil.

"Forgive me my lord for being so bold, but I believe that with Kami Amaterasu out of the way, and now a weakened Tsukuyomi, you chances at success look very bright.

Amatsu scoffed.

"Do not be a fool Hoko, Amaterasu may have been left bleeding and fatally wounded, but she is a Kami. She cannot die."

Amatsu looked straight at Hoko then.

"Gather your forces and create a large army. Large enough to slay a youkai army. Go to this place of Edo and destroy my son, the Western Prince. And anybody else who tries to oppose. Bring the onna to me. It will be my hand that fells the so called savior of the Great Prophecy." Hoko bowed deeply and turned to leave.

It seemed he would not be seeing his mste or child for a time once again. He transformed into his black Firerat form and took off at a run towards the barracks.

*

He didn't know what came over him. He didn't know why he felt possessed to touch her, but he did. As Sesshomaru ran his hand up her thigh he grasped her bottom tightly. The onna let out a soft moan as she kissed him deeper, her hands knotting in his hair.

He was disgusted with himself, kissing a ningen.

Why would he do something like that?

Especially with particular ningen, she was nothing but a major thorn in his side. As the onna leaned in and grinded her hips against his, Sesshomaru decided enough was enough, he was fast losing any will he had to stop what was happening. He refused to lose control to his baser needs. Sure, it has been a long time since he had a decent rut, but he would not let his annoying lust for female flesh lower him at all.

Sesshomaru grabbed the onna's face tightly between claws, kissing her deeply one last time -he couldn't help himself; his traitorous body just felt the need to keep going - before he turned her face from him abruptly.

He could immediately smell her confusion, he didn't care.

Leaping from the water Sesshomaru shook himself dry and waited for the onna to follow suit. Sesshomaru could still smell her emotions. They were thick in the air. Confusion melted to fear, then anger, then settling on hurt and finally sadness.

It seemed an age to Sesshomaru, before the onna finally exited the water. She didn't stop behind him.

She didn't dry herself.

She didn't speak.

She didn't even look at him; instead walking straight past, back the way they came. An almost haunted expression on her features. Sesshomaru could not begin to fathom why she seemed so upset. Though after a few minutes of contemplation, a snort of arrogance filled the air at his realisation.

She was upset that someone as great as him would not engage in an act of mating.

What an impudent onna. Sesshomaru followed the seemingly despondent onna all the way back to the camp.

Her clothes were soaked through, her hair was damp and sticking to her face and she was shivering violently. The onna was going to get sick. Grabbing a dry kimono from the satchel on Ah – Un's saddle he walked stoically up to her and held out the kimono for her.

It was a moment before she made any movement, but when she did Sesshomaru was unprepared.

She turned to him slowly and gazed at him with her big blue eyes. All the hurt and sadness the world could hold, present. But within an instant that hurt was replaced by anger. The onna ripped the kimono out of his hands and started yelling at him. The thick piece of material that Sesshomaru had tried to hand the onna was thrown, rather forcefully, back into his face.

Sesshomaru hadn't seen this tantrum before. Usually the onna's tantrums were only half hearted and not at all meaningful, but this one; Sesshomaru could smell nothing but unadulterated rage and hurt permeating the air. He stared at the ningen as she shouted to anyone and anything not caring about his sensitive ears.

It wasn't this yelling that bothered him though, it was the moment she stopped and stared at him. Her shoulders slumped, her face... disappointed.

He could feel...something... inside churn.

Sesshomaru watched the onna slowly make herself comfortable near a tree and sit down, arms wrapped tightly around her knees. She was still shivering.

Who was this onna? Anyone in their right mind would never act as she had and continued to do around him. Yet she seemed to go out of her way to annoy him. Sesshomaru could decapitate her anytime he wanted to.

Yet, he didn't...

Why?

"Jaken." The little kappa jumped to attention.

"Y-yes mi-milord."

"Watch the onna and Rin until this one returns."

"B-but milor-"

"This one trust's that he will return with neither of them harmed." With that Sesshomaru turned on his heel and left. The kappa knew what would be his fate should either ningen be hurt. Sesshomaru trusted him to protect them with his life.

He had something very important to do; some questions that needed to be answered.

Bokuseno's forest was not far, perhaps two days travel. As one of the oldest youkai alive, the old tree knew most everything. He would answer the Inu's questions. And perhaps Sesshomaru could finally be rid of his headache; one in the ningen form named Lara.

*

I promised myself that I wasn't going to ever get another boyfriend. That included developing a crush on a stupid demon lord. How could I have been so stupid? And when he had kissed me, he had been the one to make the first move. I thought that maybe he had thought I was a good... something.

I don't know.

I shouldn't have let him take-over my mind... or my body like that. I had let myself fall into a false security. I forgot who he was... is.

Sesshomaru. Killing Perfection. Lord of the Western Lands. An emotionless, loveless bastard.

As I cradled my knees in my arms I vaguely noticed Sesshomaru say something to the others and disappear into the forest. Figures, disappear when something doesn't go right.

Pathetic wuss.

It was nearly dark and the material of my saturated clothes was beginning to freeze. The birds had started nesting for the night and Jaken was running around the camp yelling orders at Rin.

The little girl chirped back at him, I couldn't understand how she could be so happy with someone barking at her like a bitch on heat.

Rin ran around the camp picking up tiny twigs and making a stack of kindling for the fire. She really was cute and even though I felt like shit I still couldn't help but smile at her. Jaken was still yelling, but she simply smiled back and rummaged through Ah – Un's satchel for food. Dancing over to me, Rin crouched and I could feel her warm eyes boring into me. But before I could look at her a large crash sounded from the quickly darkening woods and Rin was in my lap quicker than I could blink.

She was quivering and her breaths were rapid. Clutching me tightly she hid her face in my lap. Jaken had frozen mid tirade and was holding his staff in a defensive position and Ah – Un was on his feet.

For an eternity the eerie silence reigned, but eventually Jaken lowered his staff and motioned to Ah – Un to relax. Rin was still stiff and tense in my grips and it took me but a moment for my maternal instincts to kick in.

I fussed over her like an excited grandparent would their only grandchild; and after moving closer to the fire and sitting next to Ah – Un's huge protective body, Rin relaxed. The young child shared the food that she had retrieved from the satchel with me – old dry pear or apple is not a tasty evening meal - and forced me to change into a dry kimono.

Let me tell you. Refusing the demands of a 10 or 11 year old girl is impossible. When they stand there with that bottom lip trembling and the tears welling, there is absolutely no way that your willpower will be stronger than hers.

I very quickly changed kimono's and curled up next to Ah – Un, Rin in my grasps. Even Jaken sat rather close for a human hating toad. I was kind of concerned that I would catch a wart or two. But it was when I heard the soft growling coming from the forest that I let him stay where he was.

His tiny back sat rigidly and his grip on his staff was making his knuckles turn white. Rin's eyes were wide with fear and they were darting all about the place. She needed some rest; it had been a long day. But if she kept up her tense facade then she would be awake all night. An idea struck me.

Unfurling myself from my tangle of Rin and blankets I crept to the other side of Ah – Un where his saddle and my bag was. I delved into it but couldn't help but get a shiver down my spine as I felt like an ice cold breath was being breathed down my neck.

I found what I was after in record time and was back by the fire within seconds.

I unwound the earphones of my iPod and checked the battery level. Not much left, but it should get Rin to sleep. Giving the young girl the head phones she knew exactly what to do with them.

Ahhh. This young lady would adapt well to 2010.

Rin looked at me expectantly as I scrolled through my play lists. What should I play her? I eventually settled on some African music. It was mixed with modern instruments and my mother would often play it for me at night when I couldn't sleep. I was sure, too, that Rin would not have heard this sort of music.

It seemed I was correct. Rin's eyes boggled at the roaring of the lions and the trumpeting of the elephants; and soon her breathing had leveled and her eyes were heavy. Rin slept soundly that night, not troubled by the ominous sounds of the forest.

I on the other hand was petrified. I could not close my eyes for fear of being eaten. The trees and bushes were rustling and – I don't know if it was the trick of the fire light or what – I could see eyes watching me. Scary bright yellow slits, exactly like a cat.

I gripped Rin tighter, glad that she was not awake to experience the feeling of being watched, stalked. Jaken sat rigid clutching his staff tightly for most of the night, but even he, just before dawn slumped backwards. Little snot bubbles forming every time he took a deep restful breath. Ah – Uh had wrapped himself around us protectively, his tale forming a nice, albeit hard, pillow to sleep on.

Still I didn't allow myself to succumb to sleep. It was too important that I stay awake and protect everyone. Instead I sat there with Rin on my lap, willing myself to concentrate. There was something out there I could feel it, but whatever it was, was not coming near us. It freaked me out.

Not to mention that I had a lot of silent time on my hands now and thus my mind had plenty of time to think about him. I didn't want to think about Sesshomaru. I had obviously gotten the wrong message – that he was a kind of nice person that was just waiting for the right woman to come along before marrying – and made a fool of myself.

Who was I kidding? I was not a woman. I was a pathetic girl trying to be a woman. I was not pretty. I had gone from slightly too plump to underweight and weedy, I was certain that I had some horrible re-growth happening with my hair. Don't die light brown hair black unless you are going to get rooted regularly –I laugh every time I say I am going to get rooted because I am only getting the roots of my hair re-colored. My friends all think I am delusional. It's not my fault if their heads are in the gutter – I haven't been able to wax or shave for a long time now. I was way over due. It was gross. Well I thought it was anyway. I felt like a Neanderthal all bush-pig like and what not. Maybe if I got a sharp enough knife I could shave. That's how the men did it in the olden days wasn't it? What I wouldn't give for a razor!!

I thought about what Sesshomaru thought of me all night, and with each new thought my impression of myself got worse and worse. For someone of his caliber, I was a feral! I wanted to cry at those thoughts. A feral! Me! I was not a feral back home. I was respected and had many friends. Now I was here, lost, looked upon with disdain AND A FERAL!!!

I held my silent sobs in. I didn't want to wake anyone so I changed my thoughts as best I could.

Alas, by the time the sun had started to peak over the horizon I was exhausted and my self-worth was that of an ant being auctioned off against a 10 ton slab of solid gold. Not much at all. My muscles were sore from being so tense all night but the forest had calmed and was now abuzz with happy birds waking and singing to the rising sun.

Jaken stirred as a particularly loud bird greeted the morning. The little imp jumped up groggily and wiped the now dried snot from his nose. Looking around and wiping the sleep from his eyes he caught my eye. He stared at me for a while before paling.

He jumped and started the fire again and rushed into the dark forest. I was so confused. He almost looked concerned for me. The sun was getting higher and higher and I decided that it was a good idea to wake Rin.

"Rin Rin! Wakie wakie." I whispered to her while smiling. As she roused I sat her and myself up. I couldn't believe how quickly it took little girl could wake. She was up bouncing around like a monkey on crack before I could even say 'Good morning.'

I went to follow her standing and stretching but soon found that it was the worst possible idea. Apparently my legs had fallen asleep last night and they didn't want to wake up. I fell flat on my face in agony as my legs were attacked by pins and needles.

Rin rushed to my side a worried expression on her face, but for her; I sat up and smiled as best I could.

"I am just going to sit here for a while Rin. This patch of ground is comfy." I said patting the bare, hard, and cold gravel next to me. She quirked her brow but shrugged and started poking the fire with a stick.

Jaken returned not long later with two fish. I scrunched my nose up.

"I am not eating that Mr. Toad." I said and turned my back to him. The stinging in my legs had almost completely disappeared and I was somewhat relieved that I could stand. I was busting to go to the toilet.

I tottered into the forest and squatted. It really was hard to do so wearing a kimono. I had to bunch it all up to make sure I didn't pee on it, and then I had to make sure I didn't pee on my feet. Let me tell you, that was a feat in itself. I almost always got my ankles.

As I was quietly squatting doing my business I couldn't help but feel like I was being watched once again. The cold shivers from last night ran up my spine and if it was even possible my pee froze to an icicle; the air was suddenly that chilled. I thought, though it might have been my over-active imagination, but I thought I could hear a low growl.

Being paranoid, alone and easily scared I didn't even bother finishing what I had to do before I ran flat out back to camp.

The mood was lighter there, friendly yelling between Jake and Rin and Ah – Uh scratching against a tree. It took but a moment for me to forget that I had been creeped out a moment ago in the forest.

The day wore on and when we didn't pack up and go anywhere I presumed that we were waiting for his majesty to return. It kind of irked me. We could do just fine without him. But although I felt safe, I couldn't stop the feeling of being watched from creeping into my subconscious.

I made sure to accompany Rin where ever she went and didn't let her leave my arms reach. Alas, she was a child full of energy and my sleepless night had exhausted me. The only thing that kept me going was the fact that I seemed to have reserves of adrenaline and Rin's perfect smile and sweet laugh.

As the sun began to sink to the West, the feeling of aloneness, cold and of being stalked once again swept over the camp. Though it wasn't just me who felt it this time. Rin ran to my side and buried her head into my waist, Jaken stood to attention and I could hear Ah – Uh growling quietly but menacingly.

*

"No. InuYasha SIT! -Here you go Shippo. The big meanie has already had his serve. It's ok.-" Kagome handed the upset kitsune a fresh bowl of ramen and he dug in greedily. It was silent for a few minutes as the subjugation spell wore off and InuYasha was able to leap out of his crater.

"Wench! What was tha-"

"Sit InuYahsa. I have a name and until you learn it I will continued to use my favorite word!" Again it was silent and again after a pause for the subjugation to wear off, InuYasha jumped from his now deeper crater.

"But he stole the last of my potato chips the other day ka-go-me..." Articulated InuYasha with a sneer.

"...And it's not like you to-" InuYasha froze, his ears swiveling in each direction. Kagome was instantly peeved. It was not like InuYasha to ever stop in the middle of an argument when he was adamant he was right; especially an argument about ramen. She was about to ask what was wrong when InuYasha made a move.

"Shit." Said the hanyou as he bolted from the door. Kagome was even more annoyed. He knew she wouldn't hurt him. What was his problem? Hand on hips Kagome stepped outside of her hut.

"SIT!" Kagome said rather forcefully and irately. She heard some obscene words fly and the gratifying crash as she stalked up the annoyed hanyou.

"Now InuYasha. What is the matter? It is not like you to go running off from an argument. I thought you weren't scared of any fights? Or is it me you are scared of?" Kagome was standing in front of him hands crossed over chest, lips poised.

"Screaming...girls...demon.." Was all she was able to make out, but immediately she paled. He was going to help someone in trouble and she had delayed him. Instantly she felt awful and dropping to her knees apologized and helped brush him off.

"I am so sorry Inu, I just thought... well I was stupid." She didn't even care that he "keh'd" at her.

"What direction are they in, I'll meet you there."

"They are coming from the west. A bit into the forest I think. Its only faint, but I can hear them."

"Go!" It was all he needed to hear as he turned into a red blur.

Kagome bolted back to her hut.

"Shippo stay here and tell Miroku and Sango there are some people in trouble in the forest. InuYasha and I are going to help them." She gathered her bow and quiver of arrows and ran in the direction InuYasha had taken off in.

Kagome ran hard and fast, thankful that she had traveled so much lately and that she was as fit as she was. After what felt like an age of running she could hear the commotion of battle and the usual noise of InuYasha yelling insults. She burst through some bushes to find a very bloodied and battered InuYasha. The demon was not big, but it was fast and calculating.

It saw that InuYasha was not a trained warrior but someone who was naturally strong. He found all of InuYasha's openings and used them to his advantage. InuYasha let loose another windscar, but the beast was too quick. It dodged and in the blink of an eye had pinned InuYasha to a tree, clawed and scaly hand wrapped tightly around his throat.

"Kagome!!!!" Screamed someone. Kagome looked around, shocked that she heard her name spoken as such. There was a definite accent to the words. She could just make out two figures. One of a little girl she recognized as Sesshomaru's ward Rin. And another she hadn't seen before.

How does she know my name??

There was something odd about the woman. The way she held her posture, the way she wore her kimono, her hair...

"Shoot an arrow. He's killing InuYasha!" The woman screamed in hysterics. But Kagome could do nothing.

She....speaks...English...

No one in this time knew English; it was a completely foreign language. But how then did she know? Before Kagome could contemplate any further there was a firm tugging at her leg. She looked down and Rin was looking up at her with wide watery eyes.

"Please Lady Kagome. I don't want Lara to die. Save her."

"Huh?" Kagome looked back to where she had last seen the woman and Rin standing. But the woman was not there anymore. Kagome's line of sight trailed to InuYasha and the demon. The woman, Lara Rin had called her, was sneaking up behind the demon with a rather large piece of wood in her hand.

"Oh no!" Breathed Kagome as Rin clutched her side. Kagome heard the woman speak, well yell loudly.

"You fucking bastard. InuYasha can't die. He's not allowed to, he's InuYasha. I'll fucking kill you and your fucking stalker face." With that Lara lifted the piece of wood high and smacked as hard as she could. The demon didn't flinch, instead dropping a now unconscious InuYasha and turning to look at her with death in his eyes.

Kagome watched Lara back away slowly still holding the wood, still yelling.

"Yer bitch. Come take me on! Mother fucker I will mess you up so bad. I'll kung-fu you until you are a pile of mush!" Kagome notched an arrow, not wanting to believe a word of what she heard. The woman was speaking English. She was seemingly unafraid and talking to a youkai as if she was playing Tekken on the Play station.

"Move. I can't get a clear shot without hitting you. Lara move." Kagome breathed to herself.

Lara was standing in direct line of the youkai, still slowly walking backwards and if Kagome were to shoot, she would surely hit Lara. But what other choice did she have? Kneeling on the ground she took careful aim.

It was imperative she down this youkai, he seemed strong. Heck, he was strong enough to side-line InuYasha, and if it wasn't for Lara, he would be dead. There was no way Kagome could take the youkai on if she was left by herself with just her arrows for weapons, her miko powers still being honed and trained were useless. She had to shoot, it was the only way to save their lives now and any that the youkai may decide to pray on next.

"Kami Amaterasu, I beg you. Let me hit the mark. Forgive me for any injury I cause to an innocent." With her prayer said she let her arrow fly.

In the Publishing Room...

Lara: Have you found her?

Sesshomaru: No.

Lara: I have looked EVERYWHERE!!

Sesshomaru: Obviously not everywhere if you have no found her.

Lara: Well lets look in the shed. Its pretty messy out there she could be hiding somewhere amongst all the crap!!

Sesshomaru: *Nods* agreed.

Lady *hiding behind couch* Are they gone??

Inu Tachi: *Nods*

Lady: *Blows air horn* Party time!!!

Kagome: Happy Birthday Lady!!

Sango: Yer happy birthday!!

Lady: Thanks thank :D Now, what presents did you get me!!!

Thats right everyone... its my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woot :D Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!! Happy birthday dearest me... Happy Birthday to me :D I am soooooo old right now :( Its kinda sad haha

Anyway.... I have another little game to play :D Gosh I love to play games hahahaha. If you can guess my age... I will let you ask ANY question about the story you like. And when I mean any I mean ANY :D lol

Now, I know you want to kill me ince again for leaving it like that, but I was struggling to even get a chapter written, not to mention choosing where to stop it lol so you get it like that :D Big thanks to -my-forgotten-rose- for betaing :D I'm hoping this story has no mistakes in it now lol

Well... I have to go to my lecture so I need to stop typing :D *yay* says all you guys haha

Until next time (I swear it will not be as long this time)

~ Lady D. xxxxxxxxxxxxxx