You would not believe what happened to me. -.- Yes, I know, I'm the queen of excuses, but I'm serious. The floppy I had completely crashed. I lost the chapters not posted on here (like, three or four, but they were long one was 13 pages, 8, and 6 or 7 and 5 pages). I got so depressed. I was crying and everything. I've re-written all but one plus an up and coming chapter. I still have to do the chapter after this, which I'll probably do today. Don't give up on me yet! Lol.

"Satoshi, do you think you'll be able to fight your brother?"

"Do you think I'll have to? According to you, Tsukyo is in good shape, right? Maybe he's repenting, maybe he escaped from them long, long ago, heard about Tsukyo being freed, and came back."

"So you never took over Tsukyo?"

"No. I'd heard someone did, but I never saw him."

"So this might turn out peacefully after all?"

"Yes. But to answer your question, if it doesn't, I will fight him."

"Alright. Let's go it knowing anything could happen, right?"

"Right."

The trip passed silently, and Kagome felt her constant awake affecting her. With each passing mile she hoped more and more that Satoshi's brother did indeed have innocent intent.

When they could see Tsukyo, Kagome stopped to rest. Satoshi stood over her worriedly, but she shrugged him away. Once she'd caught her breath, she began walking into the town with Satoshi at her heels.

They strode through town and straight to the gate of the Dojiya's house. The gateman glanced at them and sent his assistant into the house. The young boy returned and nodded, and the gate guard opened to entry for them to pass through.

"Who are you?" Kagome asked immediately, facing the presumed brother.

"My name? It's something I forgot long ago. I arrived here and everyone greeted me as 'Satoshi.' I recognized it and assumed it was mine. People told me there was still no leader since Mitsukai had freed us, and that I should take over. I did. I heard stories about what happened here and I knew I couldn't be Satoshi. But I kept that name. But I see who Satoshi is now. Have you come to take my place?"

"No. If you can lead here, and keep the peace that exists as it does now, I see no reason to remove you. Tell me what happened to you 90 years ago."

"90 years? I awoke in the woods with no idea who or where I was. Do you know, Satoshi?"

"You are my elder brother, Unaroshi. The people who overtook this township killed our parents and kidnapped us. I don't know what happened to you; we were taken away separately."

"We're brothers?"

"Yes."

"Hello, brother. Long time no see, right?"

"Everything's alright?" Kagome asked.

"Yes, you should go to tan inn for some rest. I'm going to stay here and talk with my brother."

"Alright. I'll leave in the morning. Is there any particular message for me to convey to Mei Lin?"

"Just that everything is well, and I'll belong later in the day."

"Okay. Goodnight Satoshi, Unaroshi."

"Goodnight, Mitsukai."

Kagome woke up in mid-morning, feeling refreshed. There was an odd scent in the air, but she ignored it, passing it off as the remains of a skirmish between two demons. She decided to take the slightly longer route through the central territory--the one that would take her past the castle.

She began her journey planning exactly what to do and say to the lord. How she could temp him, persuade him, and otherwise convince him of the cause. It was sunset when she reached the gates of a small, ill-kept shoji castle. There were two guards at the front entrance with the same fallen-apart armor she'd seen in at the skirmish in Tsukyo.

"My name is Mitsukai. I'm here to speak to the lord; is he in?"

"What is your business here?"

"Like I said, I want to talk peacefully to the lord. If the means of entering must be forcible, so be it, but this can all happen quietly and happily if you will announce me and let me in."

The two looked at each other and one slowly nodded. The other went in and returned with a servant.

"This is Suma. She will take you where you need to go."

"Thank you. If all goes well you two will have a lot less to worry about."

Kagome followed the servant through the house, which was slightly better inside than out.

"Oji-sama, Mitsukai is here for you."

"Let her in."

The Central Lord struck Kagome as a coward. He was sitting in a corner with a sword in front of him.

"Oji-sama, I have a proposition for you."

"Is that so?" he asked doubtfully.

"Yes. I want you to join the west and north in search for a peace treaty."

"I will not! Do you know what kind of person Kikari is? She'll shred us!"

"Oji-sama, she'd do it if you didn't join them, she still sees you as an opponent. At least if you join the north and west you'll have strong allies. None of your citizens want to go to war; this change would be for the better."

"I've heard of you, Mitsukai. You're the one who helped defeat my forces in Tsukyo."

"Yes. And I can very easily destroy the rest of your warriors if you don't do what's best for your people."

"Who sent you here?"

"My conscience."

"Do you honestly believe my circumstance will be any better if I do as you say?"

"Yes. You're obviously poor, yet your land is the most fertile. Why is this?"

"I...don't know."

"The Lord of the West is a very strong lawmaker. Once this war is over he can aid you."

"He would not! Sesshomaru is a greedy pig!"

"You think he's greedy when you're the one subjecting your people to both sides of the conflict? Kikari will not be the only one attacking you if you don't do something."

"And you think joining Sesshomaru makes me any better off?"

"Yes! How much longer do I have to stand here and scream it at you?"

"Not anymore. If any more harm comes of my people, your head is the one on the line."

"I'm so glad for your decision. Please arrange a meeting with Sesshomaru as soon as possible. You won't regret it!"

Kagome jump-skipped out of the ruddy castle with a broad smile on her face.

"Our problems are alleviated?" the second guard asked as she passed out of the main gate.

"Soon!" She replied happily and burst into a full-speed run towards Inuyasha's village. The moon was just rising.

She was three-fourths to her destination when Inuyasha, Sango, Satoshi, Kikyo, and Miroku going opposite of her direction met up with her.

"Kagome, c'mon," Inuyasha said urgently, shoving her bow and a quiver of arrows into her hands, "Naraku's scent of overwhelming, if you didn't know it. We're gunna attack."

"When you say overwhelming..."

"He's got human blood all over him. I think Onigumo's attacking from inside of him and loosing."

"I see. But with the blood running in him, he's gotta be a lot weaker, right?"

"Exactly. We're gunna beat him, I can feel it."

Kagome ran faster. She knew the scent from the morning was Naraku now, and she knew exactly where she was going.