I. Hate. Exam. Week.

Otulia: Just write…it'll be soothing and therapeutic and all that jazz.

Resolutions

"No! This isn't supposed to happen! He said that no one would be able to get in!"

All eyes turned to the young woman in purple as she stamped her foot and crossed her arms in a huff.

"That liar! I'll kick his butt for this. I never should have believed him. He was probably just trying to get me in trouble, anyway!"

Rin gasped. "I know you!" she exclaimed. "You nearly knocked me over in the market!"

She stopped her ranting and peered curiously at Rin. A bright smile suddenly lit up her face. "Rin! It's been such a long time since I saw you last!"

"In the market?"

"No, silly! Back before the wind witch stole my Fluffykins from me!"

Everyone would have fallen on their butts in shock right then and there if Ayumi hadn't screamed.

Antheron glanced sideways at her twin. He stood, calm and composed, completely at ease in front of the angry crowd of bat demons that had surrounded their manor demanding some sort of an explanation. She didn't know how he could do it.

She was a mess, herself. Only Amoyael's strong presence at her side kept her from breaking down. Everything had gone wrong. It wasn't enough that their mother was still unconscious and that they had no explanation to give to the bat demons to keep them from rioting. No, they just had to have been met with a small group of half-demons rushing InuYasha and Shippo into the safety of the manor, both unconscious and gravely injured.

And no one knew what had become of the others who had gone after Sesshomaru. For all they knew…they could be lying dead in a tunnel under the city. The very thought made her want to rush to the tunnels immediately. But she could do nothing until the bat clan had been pacified.

For what seemed like eternity, no one moved. The snake demon had caught up with them and had silently gotten its coils around the person closest to the door; Ayumi.

Kagome was the first to break from her stupor. Quickly drawing an arrow across her bow, she took careful aim. "Let her go," she commanded angrily.

The snake simply tightened its hold on her and let out a hiding laugh as Ayumi cried out in pain. "I think not, foolissh miko. Your powerssss cannot harm me, or have you forgotten already?"

Kagome prepared to let the arrow fly, but suddenly found she couldn't move. Kishitaro stepped forward, leaving a warning thought in her mind. Let me handle this, Kags. This snake is crafty; he'll take advantage of your temper to get someone hurt.

Realizing that he was right, she mentally agreed to stay out of it. Immediately, Kishitaro released his hold on her, and she lowered her bow.

"Let the human go, snake," he demanded angrily, voice low and threatening in a way that Kagome hadn't thought possible for him.

"What'sssss thissss? Are you challenging me?"

"She has nothing to do with this. Let her go. Your fight is with me."

More hissing laughter rang throughout the cavern. "Thisss ssshould prove to be very interesssting. Very well. I will kill the human wench after I have dealt with you." The snake demon tossed Ayumi into the air. Kagome's breath hitched in her throat as she watched her friend hurtle toward the ground, Kishitaro making no move to catch her.

A flash of white, and suddenly Sesshomaru was beside her, setting Ayumi on her feet. Both were shaking, Ayumi from fright, and the taiyokai from fighting the spell binding his demonic abilities.

"Good," Kishitaro said, glaring daggers at the snake. "Now I kill you."

"No you don't! He's mine!"

He whirled around in time to see the girl in purple charging toward the snake, Tokijin in hand. Just barely managing to get out of the way in time, he, along with everyone else, watched as she swung the sword down in a powerful arc, red energy crackling around the blade and shooting toward the snake.

"No!" they heard it hiss. "Thisss issssn't possssible!"

The energy collided with the snake as it tried in vain to slither backwards into the labyrinth. The impact was deafening; hissing screams combined with the crackle of electricity.

When the light had died down enough to see, nothing of the snake demon remained.

Kagome gaped at her. "I thought only Sesshomaru could wield Tokijin without being possessed by it."

Sesshomaru straightened suddenly. "I remember you now," he said slowly, stalking toward her. "Gisela. You were quite the nuisance several centuries ago."

Rin gasped. "That's right! You were the crazy, obsessive stalker who wouldn't leave Lord Sesshomaru alone!"

And I've run out of steam, an entire week after I started. Wow. Special thanks to Twentay for keeping me entertained.