Disclaimer: Don't own Inuyasha.

Chapter 25

"How is she feeling?" Kagome asked Sesshoumaru who was caring for the unconscious Tiana inside Kaede's hut.

Tiana was in the bed that Kagura had previously been resting in. Her face was pale, not her regular pale, this pale was pasty and looked as though she had been dead for several days but the small rising of her stomach told them she was indeed alive. Though something that concerned them all was the flaming read mark on her shoulder that looked as though it was burning like lava as well as the bruise that was on her hip.

Tiana's clothes lay next to her though they couldn't lift her sword so they left it where it was.

"She should wake soon." Sesshoumaru replied coolly. It wasn't often that Sesshoumaru would take the role of healer however Kaede knew next to nothing about healing demons so Sesshoumaru wordlessly offered as he knew more about demonic medicine than Koga or Ayame.

"She's mated to Naraku…" Kagome breathed as flashes of what Naraku had said to her in their one on one conversation flashed in her mind and things began to make sense as she thought about it.

"Naraku was in love with her…" She sat next to Sesshoumaru and placed her head on his shoulder, the side of her face pressed against his pelt, in the corner of her mind she thought about how strange it was that she could feel so very comfortable with him. She never had this comfortable feeling with Inuyasha. Usually if she were to do something like this with him it would feel awkward.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow at her words and looked from Tiana to Kagome. "How would you know that?" he asked.

Kagome smiled sweetly and looked up at him, her eyes glistening with a strange light. "He told me."

XXX

"Kikyo… how did you know to come here?" Inuyasha asked the undead Miko who was sitting next to him, her bow in her hands. The others had left them to be alone but neither noticed that the others were close and watching them.

"I sensed a disturbance in Naraku's energy…" Kikyo replied coolly looking up at the hanyo.

"You mean?" Inuyasha questioned his eyes widening in understanding.

Kikyo nodded understanding what he meant. "Yes. I am able to sense Naraku at all times…" she flicked her bow's string. "Now however it is as though he is gone. All I can sense it Onigumo and his darkness."

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha said softly not knowing what to say to her.

XXX

"I wonder what their talking about?" Miroku whispered to Sango. Him, Sango and Kagura where crouched behind a large bush watching the pair. Koga and Ayame had gone scouting for any signs of Naraku and or Onigumo and Rin, Jaken and Ah-Un were at the other side of the village with Kaede.

Sango nodded in agreement to his words and strained her hearing to hear their words however it was hard as it seemed their voices had lowered.

Kagura snorted lightly. "Who gives a shit?" she muttered angrily. "Let the lovers have their oh-so-precious time together." Kagura's voice sounded vicious and spiteful.

Both Miroku and Sango raised brows at her tone and they turned away from Inuyasha and Kikyo to look at Kagura who was glaring at Inuyasha and Kikyo with her arms crossed.

Miroku suddenly grinned as a thought crept into his mind. A thought that might not be that inaccurate considering the expression on Kagura's face and her body language. "You're in love with Inuyasha." his lips formed an evil grin that reminded Sango scarily of Shippo.

Sango suddenly grinned as she realized that Miroku was onto something, what with Kagura's expression and all. Sure she should probably be angsty and everything what with all that's been happening lately but she deserved some fun. "You know what Miroku I think you're right."

Miroku's grin widened when Sango agreed with him.

Kagura glared at the pair. "What the hell do you two know?"

Miroku chuckled lightly feeling some of his old cheerful self come back to him. "You're not denying it." he said simply.

Sango chuckled, it was nice to have this kind of humor again.

Kagura growled before huffing and stamping off in a rage, ignoring Sango and Miroku's snickers.

XXX

Inuyasha's head shot up as he heard movement and he watched as Kagura stomped off in her rage, anger and annoyance. What could be wrong with her? He thought as he watched her walk off to another part of the village.

"So Naraku's old minions come to you for aid?" Kikyo questioned slight humor in her voice.

The humor went unnoticed by Inuyasha who seemed more content with what was wrong with Kagura. "Yeh." He replied not really hearing her statement. What is wrong with Kagura? He continued to think over and over again.

Kikyo sighed she was beginning to realize that perhaps Inuyasha had moved on from her. A sharp pain clenched in her chest at that thought.

"Inuyasha…" She breathed but her voice was not heard by him.

XXX

"Kagome…" Sesshoumaru said very slowly. "You were alone with Naraku? and yet he did not harm you? Merely spoke with you?" His voice and facial expression told Kagome that he was concerned, worried, angry and slightly impressed. although he had witnessed the end of their conversation he still couldnt believe it.

She nodded. "Yes. He didn't hurt me though." She paused for a moment as though in thought. "I think he just wanted someone to talk to… sometimes ones enemy will be a better listener than ones friend."

Sesshoumaru nodded somewhat impressed by her wisdom, although he knew she was intelligent he was still surprised by the wisdom she showed considering her young age.

"You two are cute." Came a voice form beside them.

Kagome jumped and looked down to see Tiana looking up at them through a cracked eye. Sesshoumaru had known she was awake but he simply didn't care at that moment, though he did now. "What of it Tiana?" he asked coolly.

Tiana laughed lightly, her voice croaking somewhat. "I have no problem." She closed her eyes wearily. "In fact I accept your relationship very much." Her words made Kagome go red.

Tiana coughed lightly and lifting her arm out from under the blanket and pressed it against her chest. "What happened? All I remember is…" her eyes scrunched closed as she tried to block out the images of what had happened.

"Kagome." Sesshoumaru said coolly. "Can you please leave us?" his voice left no room for argument.

Kagome nodded staring at him wide eyed but she followed his command and left the room.

"She didn't need to leave Sesshoumaru-" Tiana began only to be cut off when she was abruptly pinned to the wall be Sesshoumaru who had his arm around her neck.

"You mated Naraku." He growled his cold eyes glaring at her.

Tiana seemed unaffected by his words and met his cold gaze. "What of it. from what I know and what I learned yesterday the true enemy is somewhat called Onigumo… the Naraku I mated would never do what I witnessed yesterday." Her voice was filled with her conviction and her loyalty to her mate.

"I've seen Naraku do things of his own choice. NOT Onigumo." Sesshoumaru swiftly replied.

"I don't care." Tiana said simply. "What about you? You've done evil, you tried to kill your own brother and she still found it in her heart to love you. Where is the difference?" he voice became cold but held its calmness.

XXX

Why is he doing that to her? Kagome thought as she watched the scene through a crack in the door to Kaede's hut. She was a fair distance away from the hut but she could still see inside but she couldn't hear what they were saying.

XXX

"Tiana…" Sesshoumaru said softly, he had no idea how to retort to that without sounding like his brother so he settled with letting her down. "Naraku is dead." He added softly.

Tiana shook her head. "No he isn't."

XXX

Kanna looked down at the Koi that were swimming around the pond the she had had made for Naraku. "I hope this is too his liking." She murmured as one of the Koi pocked its head out of the water to look at her.

Why is it staring at me…? she thought as she stared at the little orange fish that was staring at her wide eyed. "What do you want?" she asked the little fish slight annoyance in her voice.

The fish seemed to smirk at her before it did something that kanna would not have believed unless she had seen it. The fish turned around so that it's tail was facing her, its head looked back at her and it winked before raising its tail and splashed water in her face.

Kanna's eyes widened as she looked down at the fish. Its smirk seemed to widen as it swam around the pond like a child pretending that its done nothing wrong.

"What is with that fish…?" she whispered as she watched the fish.

"Hello Kanna." A dark voice said from behind her.

Kanna's eyes widened as she turned around and saw Onigumo staring at her. His blood red eyes pouring into hers, filling her with an emotion she was still very unfamiliar with. Fear.

"Master Onigumo." She spoke knowing full well that that was not Naraku standing in front of her. She could tell from the slight changes in his appearance and those cold eyes.

Onigumo smirked in response and looked down at Kanna. "We will be moving to the northern castle. They're defenses are stronger than this pathetic excuse for a castle. Besides… the north will soon have its barrier up. Nothing will be able to touch me." he turned to leave. "Come now Kanna."

Kanna nodded but instead of following after Onigumo she looked back at the Koi. She felt almost bad to leave the Koi on its own with no-one to feed it.

Onigumo looked back at Kanna and glared at the fish. Slowly his hand raised until it was pointing at the Koi. "Die fish." He said simply before a beam of red light shot out of his fingertips. With an array of reds, blues and whites the pond exploded leaving behind no trace that the pond ever existed.

"Come now Kanna." He said coldly turning again to leave.

Kanna's eyes widened as she looked down at the black dent in the ground that was once the pond she had made for Naraku. "The fish… its dead…" she breathed. She then looked back at Onigumo's back. A strange feeling of sadness overcame her as she thought of him murdering the fish. She didn't understand these emotions as she had never felt them before. All she knew is that she wished that the fish hadn't died.

"Come now Kanna." Onigumo's voice broke her from her thoughts.

"Yes Master Onigumo." With that Kanna followed after Onigumo.

XXX

"Naraku is alive?" Sesshoumaru asked his voice sounding stunned. It wasn't possible, was it?

Tiana nodded and placed her hand over her heart in a loving gesture. "He is." She then said. "I would be in a similar position to Ginta if he were. Besides," she flicked a strand of hair out of her face.

Sesshoumaru stared at her, after everything she was acting like her normal self? It was strange for him as he had seen her after the death of her mother and her sister so he had assumed she would be like that.

"Besides," Tiana continued. "If he were dead I wouldn't have felt the pain that Onigumo received when he was pierced by that wenches bow."

Sesshoumaru's eyes widened as and understanding took him.

"Now," Tiana began a grin forming on her lips. "What do you say to hunting down Onigumo and getting my mate back?" she placed her hands on her hips.

Sesshoumaru smirked lightly. "You seem happy." There was a slightly perverted tone in his voice but there was also concern.

"Yes I am happy I had the best night of my life and soon once I get my mate back I think I'll have a better night." Her grin widened.

Sesshoumaru smirked but on the inside he felt bad for Tiana as he could tell she was just putting on an act. He knew no-one would be this cheerful after loosing their mate. Unless you were his mother or Atagra but he wasn't going to go there…

"Tiana, Onigumo's scent has disappeared. Unless you have any ideas of where to search we cannot 'hunt him down'" He spoke to her calmly however his voice showed that he was somewhat annoyed with the situation.

His eyes suddenly widened as, without her knowledge, Tiana's markings formed on her face. He opened his mouth to say something but she cut him off.

"I'm going to get some fresh air… I think I need it." she then walked out of the hut. Once she was out of the hut she smiled at Kagome who was standing not that far from the hut as though she had been waiting for them. She had to raise a brow though when she noticed the strange look she was receiving from the Miko.

XXX

Inuyasha's head shot up as he sensed Tiana. He let out a low growl. He was angry at her for mating Naraku but there was another part of him that felt pity for her. First she had lost her sister to him apparently and now she had lost her mate. "Kikyo." He spoke gaining her attention.

Kikyo looked up. "Yes?" she asked softly.

He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Is it true that I murdered her sister?"

Kikyo's eyes widened at that question. She knew exactly who he was talking about, though she didn't know how to respond to his question. "Inuyasha… you don't understand just what you're asking me to answer…" she was avoiding answering and both parties knew it.

Inuyasha sighed. "Kikyo please I need to know. What happened that night?"

Kikyo sighed and began telling Inuyasha her side to the story.

XXX Flashback XXX

Kikyo sighed and walked into her hut where the Shikon jewel was being kept. She smiled she had just been talking with Inuyasha for a long time and she felt that she was getting to know him better a feeling that warmed her heart.

Once she was in the hut she barely had time to breathe before she was flung into the wall by a bear Yokai.

Kikyo cried in pain and slowly opened her eyes as pain shot through her body. Her eyes widened as she saw the bear looming over her. Its eyes flashing red and his mouth was wide open showing his sharp teeth, a line off drool line down his mouth.

She gasped as she saw the beast draw its attention from her and to the jewel. She tried to pull herself up to a standing position but another wave of pain shot through her. "S-Stop!" she cried.

The beast ignored her and with a swipe of its claws shattered the box in with the jewel was kept and was holding the gem in its claws. With an approving growl it ran off taking the jewel with it.

"I-Inuyasha…" she croaked rising from the ground. Her eyes widened and her heart sped up as she saw that the jewel was gone. "Gods…" she gasp. She the ran for her bow which was in the corner of the room. She grabbed the bow and ran out of the hut where she saw Inuyasha running to her.

"Kikyo!" he called. "I sensed a demon, are you alright?" he questioned once he reached there.

Kikyo looked at him with eyes that showed she was trying to hold back panic. "Inuyasha, the demon… he…" she looked away as guilt took her. "He took the jewel."

Kikyo flinched when she finished her sentence, she was expecting some form of strike from him or for him to yell at her or SOMETHING but when no strike, no sound came from him she looked up. Her eyes widening at what she saw.

His claws were clenched so tightly that his palms were bleeding, and was it just her or were his claws getting bigger? And sharper?

He began to growl like a rabid animal and he let out a snarl as his eyes clenched shut. His aura flaring red sent of dark waves of energy.

Kikyo stepped back from him. "Inuyasha…?" she spoke wearily.

"Jewel…" was the reply she received though it didn't sound like Inuyasha's voice. This voice though it came from Inuyasha sounded dark and demonic.

Inuyasha's eyes shot open to reveal blood red that could only come with his demonic side. "Jewel!!" he roared before shooting off after the jewel.

XXX End Flashback XXX

"You found the jewel and it was with Tiana and her sister, they had stolen it. you murdered the sister and took the jewel back." Kikyo explained to Inuyasha who was listening to her with wide eyes. "When I went back to the village I found you sleeping on the ground and the jewel was placed back in its place…"

Kikyo paused for a moment before continuing. "I wanted to ask what had happened to you but when you awoke you remembered nothing…"

"S-She stole the jewel…?" Inuyasha asked stunned.

Kikyo nodded.

Inuyasha's head shot over to Tiana's figure. His eyes narrowed at her. He opened his mouth to say something only to slam it shut again as he realized something. "Why couldn't I remember anything?"

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