I have returned! Miss me? Hm, I think not. Probably just wondering when the heck I was going to update, weren't you! You can't lie to me! Ha, anyways! Chapter 17 everyone!

-da idiot-

Chapter 17

She panted as she felt the last of the transformation subside. With a huff, she gradually stood, wavering slightly for she was still not used to the whole transforming bit. Her ear twitched as she heard someone nearby. Turning to look at the person, she identified by sight and scent it was Ayame.

"So, this is what you needed to do? I wonder what Kouga will think when I tell him." Ayame pondered aloud. Rei could hear the derision in her voice, sending her into confusion. After a moment, the light went on as to the reason for the scorn being sent her way. 'She doesn't like me, because of Kouga...Well isn't that ironic?'

She looked to her left then to her right, catching glimpes of Ayame's white wolves who began to circle her. She let out a sigh, or something that could pass as one, at the sight, cursing her bad luck that seemed to be endless. 'I hope that your luck is better than mine, Kagome.'

"Kagome! Are you all right?!" Inuyasha's voice drifted into her ears. She opened her eyes, remembering what was happening before the transformation. She got up with a jolt, turning to face the fight between Inuyasha and Yukio. Both fighters had a few cuts on them, nothing life-threatening, and were still going at it. Kagome cursed mentally at her temporary helplessness, not liking how she could not aid him much in her present form.

She looked up at the poison insects that floated overhead. The incessant buzzing reminded her that Naraku was watching the whole fight, but ignoring her for the most part. Kagome mentally smirked, coming up with a way to dispose of the little bug problem.

"Miroku!" Sango cried as he was cut in the arm by one of Kagura's wind blades. He groaned in pain before dodging another onslaught. He looked at Sango, occupied by the endless hoard of demons, Kilala watching her back as to be expected.

'This is gettin us nowhere. The demons are endless.' Miroku looked up at Kagura, and extremely bored expression on her face. 'We can't keep fending them off.' Seemingly out of nowhere, a blue stream of energy sliced Kagura's feather in half. Realizing she had to get away, she pulled another feather and transformed it.

"It seems I must be off." Kagura's voice said as she vanished from sight, taking the demons with her. Miroku collapsed into a sitting position, trying to regain his breath as he saw Sesshomaru's form emerge from the tree.

"Miroku! Sango! Kilala!" Shippou exclaimed, bounding after Sesshomaru to his friends. "I missed you guys!"

"Shippou? You were with Lord Sesshomaru?" Sango said quizzically as she walked over.

"Uh huh! When we were all separated, I ended up with him and Rin," his voice dropped a few notches as he finished, "I don't think he was happy with being stuck with me."

"Monk," Sesshomaru interrupted, "you will notify this Sesshomaru when you are aware of the whereabouts of Naraku." Without waiting for a reply, he turned and left, leaving a still hyperactive Rin trailing behind him.

"Well, that was just plain unexpected, but helpful." Miroku said dryly, still staring at the trees where Sesshomaru dissappeared into.

"We still have to find the others. I have a sneaking suspicion that Kagura was only preventing us from something that's going on with the others. Let's go." Sango proclaimed, provoking the rest into moving for their departure.

Rei stared at Ayame, though making sure to keep tabs on how close her wolves got. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but there was something off about the girl. An odd twinge ran through her body as she stared at her. 'What is it? What made her change her demeaner so quickly? The only time we were apart was when she left before me for the duel. It must have happened then.'

"If you are stuck in that form, then Kouga will be mine." Ayame pulled out a vile of some sort, a sickly red liquid sloshed around inside. "And this little thing is going to help me." Ayame smirked as her wolves began to close in as she herself walked forward.

Not likely how she was at a disadvantage against Ayame, Rei set to escape, running towards her left. A wolf blocked her path, jumping to tackle Rei before she got past. With swiftness she didn't knew she possessed, Rei rolled to the side, letting the wolf fly passed her, before running once more, once again cursing at her bad luck.

"Don't let her get away!" Ayame growled as she and her wolves took off in persuit. 'Why me?' Rei questioned dramatically as she glanced over her shoulder.

Kagome metally gave herself a pat on the back. She had successfully disposed herself of the annoying insects. She had lured them close to her, before tackling them and ripping them apart with her claws. The silver wolf turned one more back to the battle between Inuyasha ans Yukio.

"You seem to care a great deal about her. Who wouldn't? You half-breeds need to stick together, hm?" Yukio taunted, slashing at Inuyasha.

"Shut up! At least I'm not working for a derranged lunatic!" Inuyasha growled back, effectively slicing Yukio's arm with the Tetsusaiga.

"My, my. What a comeback. Though, I find better bantering from a dead dog."

"Gee, and here I thought you couldn't be any stupider. Now I know you talk to dead animals. What, your mommy ignored you as a child?"

'Wow, they are really into this aren't they?' Kagome thought, shaking her head at them. He ear twitched as she heard slight rustling behind her. Turning with a growl, she caught sight of the golden-haired wolf from the castle. 'Akira.'

"Psh, what a pathetic little doggy, taking his eyes off you. How predictable of him." Akira spoke, laughing at Kagome as she stepped forward. Kagome growled at her, finally realizing that they fell into Naraku's trap once again. "Now, now, be a good little wolf and take your medicine." A small vial with red liquid was held in her hands as she walked over to Kagome.

'I hate it when it's never this easy.' Kagome whined mentally, keeping her eyes transfixed on the demon before her.

"Sango, I can smell Inuyasha and Kagome nearby! And they're not alone!" Shippou exclaimed, panicking some-what as they flew through the air.

"This can't be good. Kirara, can you fly any faster?" Sango asked the neko-youkai. Kirara growled in response, flying faster than before.

"Oh, how delightful. It seems that Akira has found Kagome." Yukio purred as he glanced over Inuyasha's shoulder.

"What?!" Inuyasha pushed the pyro-demon away as he turned around, only to find Yukio's words true. "Kagome!" He rushed in her direction, only to be cut off.

"Ah ah ah! Can't have you interfering now can I?" Yukio laughed at Inuyasha's anger, provoking the half demon even more.

"Get out of my way! Wind Scar!" Yukio stopped laughing, narrowly dodging the point blank attack. He growled as he caught sight of Inuyasha about to attack Akira.

"Not quite what I planned."

"You can't run forever!" she heard Ayame yell. 'But I can surely try until I figure out a solution.' Rei glanced over her shoulder at the half dozen or so wolves chasing her, noticing Ayame was not among them as she had originally thought. Turning to face forward again had answered her question for Ayame dropped down from the canopy ten feet in front of her, leaving Rei not much room to stop her momentum.

A brown blur obscurred her vision of Ayame momentarilly before she crashed into said blur. She heard the wolves behind her slow down to a stop, growling at the newcomer as Ayame cursed to herself. Rei pickied herself up, shaking her head to fight the oncoming headache, looking up to uncover the identity of the person in front of her.

Misaki? Rei barked is surprise, catching the other girl's attention.

I think I waited to long in posting this. and for that, I apologize! Hope you all enjoyed and that you keep readin! You all make me happy! ha well, later! and don't ferget! review! just hit that little purple button

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-da idiot-