Author's note: Again sorry it took a while. Many exams this week.

With the jewel missing and Kagome not saying where it was Inuyasha was infuriated and Kikyou was discouraged. Not only was the jewel missing, but Inuyasha was a human. And to top that off Kikyou couldn't feel any of her miko powers.

She'd also felt the power drain her miko abilities when she'd stepped into the cave and she knew that her power wouldn't be regained until they left the cave. If there was ever a moment they wanted to be reassured of their plans it was now. They needed the jewel. "Patience minions," smirked Naraku. "We'll have all the time in the world to get the jewel after her mate is dead."

Kagome was chained to the large bridge. Kikyou stood beside her reincarnation waiting patiently with her bow slung across her chest and her arrows in a satchel on her back. She was ready to go ahead and get this over with. She already felt uneasy, as if something was off with herself but Kikyou couldn't tell what and it unnerved her to no end because she knew something was wrong, not just because her powers were gone.

Naraku at once clapped his hands together, "Kanna." The little girl came forward quietly wondering what her task was to be in this scheme. He reached out with one of his tentacles and lifted up her chin so she looked into his eyes. Suddenly Kanna couldn't move being captivated by Naraku's gaze. She was frozen in place as if bound by a trance, though she could think of her own accord Kanna could not move her muscles of her own accord.

"Now listen to me Kanna. I know in some way you have tried to help this miko on more than one occasion though I don't know how. But you are my detachment, you will follow my orders, your soul is mine… You are going to kill Kagura." Kanna's back went rigid at this order. "Nod your head yes Kanna." The small child's head nodded as a single tear trailed down her face. "Now go outside and wait for Byakuya's cue. When he signals you will kill Kagura." The child's body turned and she was sent walking towards the entrance to the cave. "That's a good girl," laughed Naraku watching his detachment leave with a bitter smile. The one detachment he'd relied on for so long was finally turning against him.

"What's going to happen when he shows huh spidey?" Inuyasha asked bitterly crossing his arms over his chest. Inuyasha was still unsure about the plans. Kikyou had hinted at something but hadn't fully explained everything. She'd merely told Inuyuasha that he would be able to finally defeat his brother. Just thinking back over that Inuyasha's self-esteem was boosted back up but he was fidgety as to how that was to come about. If we're both human how can I defeat Sesshomaru? We might have some even chances both being human but even as a human… I honestly can't imagine him not being stronger than me, Inuyasha thought bitterly, his confidence going back down after his musings over his half-sibling.

"Just wait for the sun to set mutt," murmured Naraku.

Byakuya stood in front of the only entrance to the cave, Naraku's battle area, waiting patiently for those who he knew had been following. Luckily enough Byakuya didn't have to stay cooped up in that foreboding cave with the river of souls screaming underneath the two rocky bridges. Unluckily he was now to serve his purpose, blocking those who would interfere from coming into the cave. The detachment glanced up at the sky; the sun was close to setting. They had less than an hour. Byakuya added little touches to his origami flower, buds here and there, leaves, all perfectly white and pristine made out of paper. He smirked when he saw Sesshomaru, Kagura, Kouga, Miroku, and Sango rushing towards them.

Shavo had been ordered to protect Rin and Shippo, to make sure they made it with Ah-Un and Kirara back at the Western Lands Palace to safety should Naraku try something. Shavo was also to leave because he didn't have a personal issue in the matter other than attending the children, though Shavo wished to follow after Kagura. Kohaku was also sent away with the children despite his worry for his sister. Sango had eyed him and the children before telling him nothing in words but in the look of her eyes. She didn't want another chance at possibly losing Kohaku to Naraku so he was to get his ass as far away as he could from the appalling being.

"You've appeared sooner than we anticipated. Too bad my lord won't get to play around with your miko," said Byakuya with a heavy heart as if it were really a pity. Thus incurring the anger of Sesshomaru as the demon lord's eyes lit up with fury. Byakuya nodded towards the opening of the cave behind him. "You my demon lord," he sneered bowing low in mockery, "are allowed entrance in to find your true love. And you better hurry if you want to save her. As for you four I will deal with you." Sesshomaru needed no more encouragement than the knowledge Kagome was inside the cave, and he sensed no lies from Byakuya, the demon lord glanced to the other four who just nodded back.

"Sesshomaru no! Turn back around! Don't come in here," came a scream from inside the cave, Kagome's voice. "LEAVE SESS-" Kagome's words were cut off and the group immediately tensed up. I'll come after her no matter what lays before me, she should know by now I'm as stubborn as she is, thought the demon lord to himself as he immediately pulled out his sword Tokijin.

"We can take him," grunted Kouga, "go save Kagome!" Sesshomaru flew past Byakuya he could hear the wolf demon call out behind him, "Go save my future daughter-in-law!" Sesshomaru didn't have the time to make out why Kagome would be Kouga's daughter-in-law though he reasoned that for whatever reason he would have to kick the wolf's demon ass later. Though at present he had more important matters to attend to. Saving his mate and pups.

"Just who the hell are you?" Kouga asked once Sesshomaru had disappeared.

"Allow me to introduce myself wolf prince, I am Byakuya," he sneered, "and I'll be killing you today."

"Four on one hardly seems fair," replied Sango lifting up her boomerang.

"That's because it isn't just him," answered Kagura.

"Ah, elder sister how nice of you to notice," smirked Byakuya as from behind Byakuya, in the dark recesses of the cave, emerged a lone small figure. Kanna. Her eyes looked to be not her own, they just stared out of her skull void and lifeless, back at Kagura.

"Kanna!"

The young girl stepped forward, with the mirror clutched desperately in her hands, so tightly that her hands were red where she gripped it too tight. "Die," whispered Kanna eerily in a voice that was not her own. "Kagura must die."

"Sesshomaru no! Turn back around! Don't come in here," Kagome screamed as loud as she could when she sensed his aura. It would be so much better should he turn around and leave because then Naraku wouldn't be able to get the jewel, her children would undoubtedly lie, she may die but at least he would be safe. "LEAVE SESS-" Kagome's voice was muffled by the one uttered word from Kikyou, 'Still.'

But her screaming was to no avail. Kagome's heart thudded in her chest, half excited to sense her mate near and half terrified of any harm to befall upon him. And she was damn well getting pissed off that she was still strapped in these chains and couldn't do anything about it with that frigging dead miko hovering over her grinning at the glow of the subjugation beads around Kagome's neck. Oh I never wanted to be a demon as much as I do right now. Your ass would be on the ground in pain now. Kagome's body contorted at the urge to turn into a demon

The demon lord stepped inside and at once a thousand lightning bolts seemed to strike him at once as he was sent ton his knees. The light dimmed after a moment leaving behind dark black hair, his eyes were at once a beautiful light brown, his markings had disappeared, his nail were dull, and his fangs were gone. Sesshomaru was human.

Kagome struggled against the chains. "Still," murmured Kikyou quietly with an evil gleam in her eyes as Kagome froze up against her own accord. Kagome wanted desperately to move, she wiggled very lightly sensing the impending danger. She could feel it happening, just outside the walls of the cave. Every whisper from Kikyou, though it froze Kagome up, didn't deter Kagome from trying to move even if it was a light wiggle. The pull on Kagome was so strong she knew Naraku's plan by now. The sun was setting, she could feel the pull of the moon as it raised its blossoming light into the sky. The rays of light from the moon Kagome could even feel reaching her from inside the cave pulling at her to transform. Kagome's demon moon was the same time as Inuyasha's so she knew what was going to open up tonight. Inuyasha was to turn human, but in this place he would turn demon instead. And she, Kagome who was to turn demon, would turn human instead. Stupid cave! Sesshomaru will turn human while Inuyasha is a demon!

"Sesshomaru run!" But it was too late. Inuyasha had realized Naraku's plans as well and was now a demon pouncing upon his pray as the beast from within took over with more strength than his brother had at the moment having been rendered to a mortal human. Sesshomaru was knocked off the bridge by the force of Inuyasha's arm smacking into him. He felt pain in his back as he'd never felt before, though Sesshomaru tried not to show it, as he flew through the air. "SESSHOMARU!" Her screaming his name woke Sesshomaru out of his surprised stupor and the now mortal lord reached out, before falling to the river of souls, and grabbed hold of the smaller bridge quickly hoisting himself up onto it.

"The only way you can defeat me is to trick me. Hn," Sesshomaru growled, his anger coming off him in waves as he glared up at his brother who jumped down onto the smaller bridge. Inuyasha waved his hand in the air quickly, ready to cut off Sesshomaru's head, when Kagome murmured, "Sit." The demon was sent tumbling to the ground his arm shooting off target and leaving just three scratches down Sesshomaru's shoulder.

"Still," Kikyou hissed again as Kagome's body jerked unmoving once more, the dead miko wrapped a cloth around Kagome's mouth as Kagome cried out for all she was worth, "Sit, sit, sit, sit, SIT!" Inuyasha kept hitting the bridge bringing the dirt that made it crumbling with each try. Finally her mouth as bound and Kagome's eyes seethed in their glare on Kikyou. A few more sits and the bridge would've collapsed sending both men tumbling into the sea of souls beneath their feet. Sesshomaru had managed to swipe a few tries at Inuyasha, though they weren't as strong given his human condition. Tokijin was still alive to his touch but its strength was weakened being handled by a mortal human instead of a demon lord.

Inuyasha was quick to get up chuckling as he lapped at the blood on the edge of his clawed tips trying to intimidate his elder sibling, he even ran a finger along his own bloodied chest and goaded, "Is that all you've got human." Though Sesshomaru lacked the strength Inuyasha had at the moment Sesshomaru wasn't intimidated in the least.

Kikyou placed the tip of her arrow underneath Kagome's chin, "What shall we do with her now Naraku?" Kikyou asked watching in delight as the two half brothers battled it out with their swords on the smaller bridge. It was obvious one would have to concede soon for the small bridge was cracking under their weight.

"We. Oh how delightful of you Kikyou. No but the truth is when Inuyasha so focused on his brother it is what will I do to both of you?" Kikyou's eyes widened as she lifted her hands up to unleash her spiritual energy on him. Nothing happened and Kikyou's heart sank laden with fear in her stomach as she realized the predicament she was in.

"I made these caves. I have the power," he sneered smacking Kikyou with one of his tentacles sending her falling to the ground.

Kagome struggled against the chains. Her eyes were riveted on her love below but now she knew that impending doom was in front of her she had to break free. If Kagome could get away from Naraku then her Sesshomaru would be able to leave the fight without a reason for staying behind. She was the reason he was fighting now. Kagome summoned what power she could, she was to be a demon tonight after all which meant she was rendered a miko in this cave, and weakened the chains as much as she could.

Naraku began slapping Kikyou around, she tried to pull out her bow and arrow but they were knocked out of her hand and sent flying down bouncing along the small bridge close to the edge. As Kikyou tried to get around Naraku towards the opening of the cave he knocked the breath out of her with a horde of tentacles smacking into her stomach sending Kikyou flying across to the wall and falling limply on the ground. Tears fell down the dead miko's eyes as she cried trying to get up slowly. It hurt. Everything hurt. And yet it shouldn't. She was dead after all… There was a ringing in her ears. It was her heart beating loudly over everything. She was alive. Kikyou's eyes lit up with knowledge as she realized what was off with her body.

"This place makes everything opposite of what it should be," sneered Naraku watching Kikyou's eyes widen, "with the exception of me." Kagome immediately jerked from her chains, without the notice of Naraku for his attention was so riveted upon Kikyou's demise. I may hate her but I can't see her die, Kagome thought to herself as she channeled her miko powers into her hand. Naraku walked, towering an intimidating aura, over Kikyou with his hands flexed with long knives of pain. "Too bad you're going to die Kikyou."

"Inuyasha," screamed Kikyou getting her love's attention in the midst of the fight. Inuyasha's eyes flashed yellow, losing its red luster in that moment as he cried out, "Kikyou." It had taken nothing but the one he loved calling out for help to bring him back to his own mind despite being in a demon body. Inuyasha looked to his brother and they both nodded in assent to one another. Naraku, having seen the agreement between brothers, flicked his wrist in a quick motion and suddenly demons melted out from the walls of the cave coming towards the two men hindering their process towards their women.

As Kikyou screamed Kagome sent her miko powers hurtling towards Naraku's back. He cried out in pain and rounded on her.

"I forgot you are a miko now," he growled. Suddenly his tentacles were wrapping around Kagome and Kikyou, tight as the bindings of death. "I won't be making that same mistake twice."

Kagura was fighting against her own sister. And somehow or another Kouga was left to fight with Byakuya.

Where were Miroku and Sango? His hand had been their demise. And not his Wind Tunnel either. It had been his other hand. Kouga had decided to forgo family pain for Kagura, considering it would've been hard for her to take on her sister, by fighting Kanna at first leaving the rest to fight Byakuya.

When Miroku, Sango, and Kagura had surrounded Byakuya the monk had tripped and his hand had automatically reached up to cup Sango's rear in his blindness. When he opened his eyes Miroku realized he'd accidentally felt up the male detachment's rump instead of his wife's. The origami had been turned upon him as well as Byakuya's illusionist powers.

So now Sango and Miroku were currently hanging by a strong paper origami rope over a bottomless pit. Or at least that is what appeared to them. In reality they were hanging from a nearby tree freaking out over nothing, the ground was six inches from their squirming feet.

Kouga rolled his eyes, "You'd think they could get into real trouble," he grumbled as he fought Byakuya and Kagura was left with Kanna.

"Kanna. You can fight this hold, whatever it is he has on you. Think of what you saw. You saw me being free and now I am. I know you can't see your future but I see it, I see you free of his hold," Kagura breathed flicking her fan open. She didn't want to hurt Kanna but she would protect herself if the need arose. Kanna lifted up her mirror, Kagura flicked out the fan to create a wind that moved Kanna's hands away from being pointed towards her.

"Kanna I will fight you if need be." Kanna lifted up the mirror once more and was close to pointing it at Kagura but the wind sorceress flicked out her fan knocking down her sister. "Kanna remember dammit!" The little girl got up once more. Kagura roared, "Remember!"

Kanna raised the mirror and pointed it at Kagura. Now that she had a soul Kagura could be controlled. And it was with great pain that Kagura's body bent forth at her soul having been caught in the mirror. An image of Kagura flitted in the mirror banging against the glass trying to get out though she knew it was to no avail. Kagura's body stood up and pulled out her fan, her eyes mirrored her sister's. They were both being controlled. Kagura's hand lifted up her own fan and she flicked it so the wind gathered around snipping at her and sending cuts all across her body as she stood there mute.

"Kanna," breathed Kagura, her voice fighting to come out from her still lips.

Suddenly Kanna's eyes flashed recognition for one moment and in that moment Kanna used the mirror on Kagura making the wind witch lift up her arm and flick it at Kanna as hard as she could. "Attack me," were the only two words Kanna let out of her mouth. The wind sent pain through Kanna and it was because of that pain that she was able to control herself for one moment. That was all it took. "Goodbye Kagura," whispered Kanna. The wind that she made Kagura control was swift and hard, harder than Kagura had ever allowed with its strength.

And in that moment Kanna was hit by it sent to the ground, the mirror was shattered by the force breaking Kanna in the process. Kagura's eyes opened wide, flickering back with life. "KANNA!" The little girl was on the ground and her body was slowly breaking into pieces like the glass mirror she had carried around for so long. "You're so stupid Kanna!"

"Kagura… now we can both be free… prick your finger," the last words Kanna said were so odd that Kagura didn't understand her at first until Kanna grabbed hold of Kagura's hands and brushed them against her breaking face sending a prick of blood to Kagura's finger as glass broke off into it. And then the young girl shattered. But her death wasn't in vain, in that price was what was left of Kanna for Kagura, her energy. Kagura stood up knowing what to do as quiet tears trailed down her face.

"You will die," Kagura cried out looking over at Byakuya. He lifted up his head to smirk evilly.

"What's wrong sis? Can't deal with Kanna's death. She wasn't worth your tears." Kagura shrieked angrily at those words as she teamed up with Kouga.

"Now tell me where the jewel is," Naraku thundered as he ripped off the bound cloth around Kagome's mouth.

"I have it," Sesshomaru growled from where he stood fighting demons. Everyone went silent. The demons stopped moving by a flick of their master's hand freezing as still as statues.

"What did you say mortal?"

"I. Have. It," the three words came out distinctly as Sesshomaru pulled back his shirt to show the glowing pink jewel resting around his neck.