I would like to say a quick than you to all the wonderful reviews I have gotten!

This one is a bit shorter but i promise i will make up for it in the next chapter.

Chapter Twenty One

Awoken Again

They make it to the well in record time, Sesshoumaru setting Kagome on her feet. All around them the forest is deathly quiet. Kagome starts to head for the well but Sesshoumaru stops her. His hand on her arm is tense, and she can hear him growling slightly. His golden eyes are narrowed as he scans the perimeter.

"What is it?" Kagome whispers. After a second he turns away from the trees, pulling her toward the well.

"Inuyasha's been here. His scent is all over the place." Kagome's heart leaps.

"Is he transformed?" She asks quietly. He does not answer, but the grim expression on his face is enough. Without hesitation they leap through the well, Sesshoumaru's hand on her arm.

On the other side Sesshoumaru is the first out of the well house, Kagome sticking close to his back as they make their way toward the house.

It is nearing nightfall as they approach the house. Lights are on inside and as they near the house Sesshoumaru's growl deepens and grows louder. His eyes suddenly begin to tinge red and his lips curl back into a snarl. Kagome grips his arm and he seems to calm some. He pushes her back against the house, in a corner of the porch.

"Stay here until I return."

"Has he been here?" Kagome asks. He nods.

"Yes, and he might still be here. Stay here." He says firmly before disappearing into the house. Kagome huddles into the corner more, suddenly all the more aware of the approaching darkness. But nothing beats the fear for her family.

Moments later Sesshoumaru reappears, gesturing her to come inside. She follows him in, watching as he slides the door shut.

"Kagome, seal the door." He says, pointing toward the stack of demon warding sutra's that Sesshoumaru insisted the family keep near the doors and windows. Kagome, using her powers, applies the sutra straight to the glass before following him into the living room.

Kagome's mother and Souta are sitting on the couch, Souta's arm around his mother's shoulders. Kagome kneels before them, taking her mom's hand.

"Mom, where is he?" She asks quietly. Kagome's mom looks up and Kagome can see the small trickle of blood from her forehead where a small gash mars her skin.

"I heard him calling for you." Kagome's mom says quietly. "I was not sure what was going on so I went out to meet him. Thank heavens Souta pulled me back into the house in time." Kagome's mom shivers slightly.

"His eyes were red. Bright red and he was laughing. If it hadn't been for Souta putting the sutra's around the house and sealing the doors he would have come in." Kagome glances up at Sesshoumaru and he nods.

"Wait here, all right mom?" She nods and Kagome tows Sesshoumaru into the kitchen.

"What are we going to do? We have to find him." Kagome insists. Sesshoumaru nods.

"I'm going out there to try and find him. He won't go far. You stay here and seal the door behind me." He turns to leave but Kagome stops him by grabbing his hand.

"What are you going to do?" She demands. He turns back to her, and for the first time in a long time Kagome sees the mask slip into place. His face is emotionless and that scares her even more than his rage.

"Save him from himself like I should have done a long time ago." Sesshoumaru says quietly. "Stay here. If I'm not back by daybreak head back through the well and get back to the castle as fast as you can. Take the children, Rin, and Jaken and find somewhere safe." Kagome shakes her head.

"I refuse to just leave you like that." He stares at her then runs his talons through her hair slowly.

"Promise me if something happens to me you will take the kids and go." He says softly. After a moment Kagome nods, sliding into his embrace. He hugs her to him briefly before stepping away. Kagome releases the sutra from the door, watching as he disappears into the gathering night before putting the sutra back into place.

Sometime during the night Souta and Kagome manage to get their mother to sleep. Kagome quietly shuts the door to her mothers room then heads to the living room, joining Souta on the couch. They sit silently a moment then Souta speaks.

"He would have killed us all if he had gotten in, wouldn't he?" Kagome nods.

"When Inuyasha transforms like this, he does not know what he is doing. He is not Inuyasha anymore." Kagome says softly.

"Can Sesshoumaru really stop him?" He asks quietly. Kagome sits forward, rubbing her hands across her face in exhaustion.

"I don't know, I honestly don't know. I have seen them fight when Inuyasha was like this before. Inuyasha is nearly as powerful as Sesshoumaru when Inuyasha's demon blood is awakened." Kagome suddenly sits up with a gasp. Souta starts.

"What?" Kagome drums her fingers on her knee as she thinks

"Demon blood." She murmurs. Suddenly she rises, bolting for the door. Souta follows her.

"Kagome, what's going on?" He says, blocking her from leaving the house.

"I know how to stop Inuyasha now." She says, grabbing his arm. "Let me go. I have to find Inuyasha."

"Kagome, he will kill you in a heartbeat." Souta argues. Kagome glares up at him, Souta now standing easily half a head taller than her.

"If I don't he will continue slaughtering everyone that crosses his path. Sesshoumaru can't stop him unless he kills him, and I'm not even sure he can accomplish that with Inuyasha being the way he is now. I know how to stop him and save Inuyasha's life, but I have to go find him." Souta continues to block the door and Kagome grips his arm, more pleading this time.

"Please Souta, let me go. I can't lose Sesshoumaru. Please." After a moment he sighs and lets go of the door. Kagome removes the sutra and hands it to Souta before swinging the door open wide and stepping out.

"Seal it behind me!" She exclaims as she shuts the door firmly behind her.

Outside she pauses, suddenly unsure. The night around her is dark, the only light is from the city streets and buildings around her.

Following more of a hunch than anything else Kagome begins circling the shrine, careful to stick to the shadows.

Near the garden Kagome pauses beneath a tree after carefully checking the branches for any large residents, and she scans the grounds again. Nothing stirs for a moment, then as Kagome is about to rise she catches sight of movement in the shadows near the well house. Kagome freezes, staring at the spot. Not seeing anything in the darkness she shifts her eyes to the left slightly, relying on her peripheral vision to see into the darkness.

Golden eyes gleam in the darkness briefly, leaves rustling as something moves through them.

Kagome shivers as she realizes that he is moving closer and she glances about., looking for a safer place. A low growl starts somewhere behind her and Kagome jerks, glancing back behind her.

Sesshoumaru appears out of nowhere, leaping over Kagome to land squarely between Inuyasha and Kagome. Demonic aura's clash in the small area, Kagome feeling almost suffocated by it.

Without warning Inuyasha stalks out of the shadows, heading straight for Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha's eyes are a brilliant red, single jagged marks running down his cheeks. He almost seems to cackle as he works his fingers, the usual talons much longer and sharper now. Sesshoumaru stands firm between them, tense and ready for Inuyasha's attack, but the hanyou suddenly stops. Puzzled, Sesshoumaru glances behind him.

Kagome stands near a tree, staring at Inuyasha. The hanyou stares at her a moment, stunned at seeing her and he does not move as she walks forward slowly.

"Inuyasha, it's me. Kagome. Remember me?" She says softly, calling to him. His ears twitch then fold back and he begins to shift away. Kagome reaches a hand out toward him and he stops. "It's all right Inuyasha, please, calm down." She pleads. He glances between her and Sesshoumaru. Sesshoumaru remains motionless, watching his half brother intensely. The red in his eyes seems to fade slightly and Inuyasha backs away a step.

"Kagome…" She nods, taking another step forward.

"That's right. It's me…Inuyasha." His head suddenly snaps up, ears pinning back hard. He growls and Sesshoumaru tenses.

"You." Kagome stops. "You killed me." He growls. Kagome stops. Inuyasha's gaze suddenly locks on her chest and he laughs. "You have the jewel." Kagome's blood runs cold as Inuyasha laughs. "I will rip the jewel from your dead body!" He yells, launching himself at Kagome.

The impact never comes. Sesshoumaru leaps forward, slamming into his brother and sending them both the ground several feet away. Sesshoumaru rises first,, tackling his brother again and driving him back further. Kagome watches, helpless, as Sesshoumaru continually drives Inuyasha back.

To late does she realize his intent and she bolts forward as Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha crash into the well house.

By the time she reaches the well house they both are gone.

Souta comes running from the house and meets Kagome at the well house.

A large section of the side wall is gone, splintered wood littering the ground. A large chunk of the rim of the well is gone as well.

"Where did they go? Down the well?" Kagome nods.

"Sesshoumaru pulled Inuyasha back through the well." She turns to Souta. "I'm going after them."

"Sis, that's a bad idea." He says, grabbing her arm.

"I have to try and save him."

"And Risk losing your life in the process? What about the children? What about your two boys?" Kagome stops, staring at the well. After a second she looks up at him.

"I have a baby girl now too." She says quietly. "Her name is Keiko." Souta smiles slightly then his face goes firm.

"Think of your children." She nods.

"I am." She slips her arm from his hand and jumps down the stairs, pausing at the edge of the well. She looks back at Souta. "If I don't come back Souta, watch after mom." He nods, watching as Kagome leaps up and over the edge, disappearing down the well.

Well, what do you think? Please let me know!