A\N:

Hey everyone!

I am currently not in a very good mood. Am suffering from severe case of writer's block (for this story especially) and that's why I haven't been updating. I somehow managed to squeeze this chapter out, but I haven't been able to do anything else that really effects the story in any way... I don't much care for this chapter, but it's all that I could manage so it's all that there is... I don't know how long till the next chapter... until the writer's block passes I guess... Gomen, but, when a writer suffers from writers block, there's really nothing you can do to fix it... Oh and I've also got to go a place I really don't want to go and see people I really don't want to see (aka my relatives) so that kinda sucks.

Believe you me, when you get a bunch of crazies like that all together in a room, it's hard to stop the violence.

Oh, and before I forget, last update was not, as I'm sure most of you noticed, chapter 512. That was a mistake--forgot to delete the 1 from 51 and ended up with 512. Anyway, just thought I'd clear that up a little bit before I continue...

-Clouds of the Sky - No, that's fine. I like the title of that chapter too. I like having fun when I'm picking out the titles for chapters, but try to keep them somehow related as well. I actually really wanted to write a chapter along those lines because most of my reviewers seem to have picked up on my habit of rambling. Yay, I'm contagious! -- And, if you are a loser, at least be glad that you're an honest loser.

-lunerox - "Someone gets bored easily"? ... Hm. Now I'm a little confused-- someone get's bored with the story easily? Otherwise I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about... Unless it's in relation to something I said, in which case I still have no idea what you're talking about, but I really probably should... Or something. Lol, sorry, didn't sleep much last night... Anyway, do I like country? Ummm, how can I put this nicely... thinks about it for a moment Nope, there's no way to put it nicely, so I'm just gonna say no and leave it at that.

-wolfygirl13 - Lol, thanks! -- to chibi-Sesshomaru, Do itashi mashite, which (i think) means you're welcome. You really should probably lay off the sugar though... Think about it, you were threatening me with rubber duckies... Now, I don't know, because I've never been attacked by rubber duckies before, but I don't think they're the best weapon in the world... Especially when you're anime counterpart uses two swords, a whip and poison claws... -- Anyway, to wolfgirl13, that was more than I needed to know about Jaken, but thanks anyway. (although when I first read through your review, I read it as Jakotsu, so when I came back I was a little confused... then again, when I first saw Jakotsu I was pretty confused, cause I thought for sure he was a girl, so... ) -- Well, if you need help finding Chibi-Rin and Shippo, I'd be... well, a little scared of looking through a chocolate factory full of hyper chibi's, but I'd still help. Or you could always just promise Inuyasha some more pocky and stuff if he'll sniff em out for you. -- Chibi-Sesshomaru rules Mars, Jupiter and Saturn? Huh. Bet the astrologists didn't see that one coming. Then again, there's not a whole lot to rule up there is there... no wonder he's currently on earth. -- Evil Canaries? Hm. Maybe they should get some help from the Bird's of Paradise. Although, I always kinda liked Pluto myself, so it's a little surprising to me that there are canaries on it... Still, you use whatever you've got, don't ya?... Ah ha! It always comes back to the sake doesn't it? For shame, chibi-Sesshomaru!... Lol, okay, just kidding. I think I've had a bit too much sugar myself, so I should fit right in there! Don't worry chibi-Sess, I'm not gonna take you're stuff if I come and visit. Just so long as you don't pelt me with rubber duckies, we should all get along fine. I'm glad things are looking... conscious for chibi-Inu (gotta cut back on the names-- after a while it gets really exhausting to type out things like "Chibi-Inuyasha and Chibi-Sesshomaru"... which is weird, why do they have such long names when it's rumoured their father's name is something like Toga? oO) -- Okay, anyway, that was off topic, so what was I saying? Oh yeah, I'm glad Inu's concious again, and you're right, after a while he would probably suffocate himself... I don't know about his sanity though, you might consider asking Shippo or Rin-- maybe they did something to him. Slipped something into his pocky or something. Poor chibi-Sango. I'd offer her to come over here and reccuperate, but lately it doesn't seem like anybody on this end is getting any sleep either, so I don't know what good it would do... Lol, anyway, that was a really, incredibly long rant, and I think if I keep going here I won't have enough ranting energy left to answer the other reviewers, so I guess I better get to that... Still, glad ( -- I really need to find a new word ) you could enjoy it, and hope you get the chocolate factory back in working order soon!

-The Grand Dungeon Master - Thanks! I'll see what I can (or can't) do!

-Lord Makura - Umm... Well, I don't think there's any Sess-Inu in this chapter... checks chapter nope, there isn't any. Still, I'll see if I can't get some more of them interacting in one of the next chapters... Maybe. Like always with my stories though, there is no guarantee.

-Jtmscola - Lol, well what's wrong with that? Maybe your friends aren't into anime, or maybe you just don't want to share it with them. Could be a possessive side, neh? Lol, okay, ignore that last comment. "It's like I'm leading a double life." Well that's definitely an interesting way of putting it. Seriously though, you might just not want to talk with them about it because you either have other things you'd like to talk to them about, you don't think they'd be interested, or you just enjoy keeping it to yourself, or for an entirely different reason that I haven't thought up yet altogether. Any of those is fine. When you're watching/reading anime, you enjoy it, but when you're with your friends you enjoy other things. Just as long as you are enjoying it, that should really be all that matters. Yeesh, what the hell am I, some sort of psychiatrist giving you a psychoanalysis? Woosh! Lol, sorry, I probably should have warned you, when you ask me for advice/opinions on a topic, you're going to get that, and a whole lot more until you're pounding your head to try and make me stop talking and wondering why you were stupid enough to ask me a question in the first place. Guess it's just a bad habit of mine... -- Anyway... so you go to the art school? Pray tell, what is the art school? Sorry, but I don't like my own schools well enough to pay attention to the names of others. -- As to the kids' and Kikyo's song (which I very nearly strangled her for everytime she said it), I don't know if it is an actual song, but in the anime it was used an awful lot whenever Kikyo got near children, so I figured I just use it. I could hardly go and use a modern day song, even if it was on in Japanese. Can you imagine Inuyasha singing something like "Fukai Mori" to Miroku?... Well I can't, and if you can you've got a better imagination than me. -- I'm glad you don't mind how long it takes me to respond, but to me, when it comes to updating, a week literally feels like a month. It's strange, I know, but the other day I was certain I hadn't updated one of my stories in over a week, and I looked at it and it had barely been 4 days. I don't know why it is, but it does help keep me updating faster, which everyone really seems to enjoy. Well, everyone except people who don't like the story that is. --Glad you're enjoy it still, and, as long as you leave a message (and I don't accidentally skip over it) I'll always respond!

-Bluer Sky - Lol, now why does everyone say that? Inuyasha has a mind, doesn't he? He's from the same bloodline as Sesshomaru, so of course he has to! But yet, whenever he seems to start using it, people are looking at him like he's a nutjob. Even in the anime they wouldn't let him be contemplative... sighs poor little Inu, nobody can cut him a break. -- I don't know when Inu is going to see Kagome. I know she hasn't been in there a lot lately, but that's because I've been focusing on Inuyasha and then Miroku. I'm sorry if you miss her (I sure as hell don't ) and I'll try and get her in soon, but, as I'm sure I've told you, this story isn't in my control. I have no ability to direct it in anyway. All I can do is give random ideas to my muses and hope that it nudges them along in that direction.

-Black Betty - Lol, well I'm sorry that this update took so long... I know what you mean, my teachers are more than a little difficult as well. And I don't get spring break until the end of this week!

-Jennie555 - Lol, yep, 52 and counting! Lol, people now seem to be caught between telling me that I've got a lot of chapters and this is becoming one of the longest fics they've read, to asking me when it's gonna end. Actually, I rather prefer the first one, since it seems less like people are eager to get this story over with... Lol, anyway, believe me, I don't know where I find the time for this writing either, since this story has only been up for about 4-5(?) monthers, and I've been torn between it and all my other little stories. Guess I'm just amazing! -- Gomen that this chapter has taken so long-- the next one will probably take a while as well... writer's block, can't be helped...

-xolovexinuyasha - Yeah, I am soooo sorry about that. I don't know what happened, since, for some reason, you're last review caught my attention more than the other's. I went back as soon as I saw your message and posted a reply to your last review at the top of the chapter, but I don't know if you saw it or not... anyway, I am very, very sorry, and I'll try not to let it happen again!

-Inume-blue - Lol, well, if you don't care if they sing well or not, then everyone can sing. I was actually more surprised that I made him sing in general, than just that he could. My muses never cease to amaze and scare the shit outta me. -- Lol, yes that mad sense, and It's really awesome to know that you think that. It seems like it's a very hard task to accomplish when you word it in that manner... -- Well, I don't know, to me it looks like you spelled "to save my life" just fine...

-Kitsama - Well, I can understand why most authors don't touch on it. Face it, in the anime Inuyasha doesn't get much interaction with anyone other than Kagome that isn't brash or harsh toward them, or unfair toward him. Seriously, he should probably learn to get a bit of a grip on his attitude (although that is why we love him) and they need to learn that Kagome isn't always right. Very rarely in fact. Anyway, they hardly have a buddy-buddy relationship going for them, especially since Inuyasha sure seemed ready to turn on him in that episode "Farewell, days of my use." Still, keeping in mind that they do travel together and do worry about each other, I thought I'd soften and knit their relationship a bit closer together in this. -- Now, quite personally, I cannot usually leave Sango out of a story, because if I do, then I have no female counterbalance to stop me from strangling the life out of Kagome. Since Kagome and Kikyo however are both in this story, I had to take it out a little bit on all are other fav characters in general just to keep the plot going. Seriously, I don't like either of those characters very much. But Kagome is much more tolerable than Kikyo I suppose, even if her voice is almost enough to make my ears bleed. -- Yes, I am that kind of author. What was your first clue-- Naraku-slave Inuyasha? The hanyou being captured by Kiyko after all his memories were erased? Kagome locked in a prison with no food or anything? Or Miroku being in a fairly fatal situation with his wind tunnel? Yep, I love my angst, and I am a fairly sadistic person (one of my fav shows is AFV) so the more angst and turmoil I can put them through, the happier I am! -- Me? Beta? ... EEP! hides under desk I don't think that would be a very good idea. Trust me, I don't even beta my own stories... and when I do, I usually miss everything. I think I might be a little ADD (hence the way my plots always jump about so much) so I can't focus on things like that very well... No offence to you, I haven't actually read any of your stories, but I just am not cut out to be a beta. Although I recently almost became one by accident do to a failure on my part to stress the fact that I am not a good beta... Anyway, gomen, but I think I have to decline. If I knew of any beta's you could use, I'd recommend them, but, since I don't personally use a beta, an never have, I don't actually know any, so I can't really be any help in that department... Okay, tell me I made at least a little sense and didn't come off as a complete maniac in that, and I'll be very happy and surprised indeed... Still, I understand what you're saying about having a beta. Perfect spelling and grammer ain't everything-- and I can say that because I don't have them! It's nice to be certain... But I'm just not the right person to do that sort of thing... comes out from under desk Ah! That's better! It's much easier to type from up here! Still, if you want, I can see if anybody here wants to be your beta!

-kaginufan88 - Lol, yep, every story need fill-in chapters, although that wasn't actually supposed to be one of them. It was actually supposed to give us a bit of Inu-Miroku interaction (even if one was asleep) since I don't know how much more of that there is going to be once the other's show up... Or should I say, if the other's show up. Lol-- I don't know about the album, I haven't heard that many songs by Evanescence. I like Bring me to life, Haunted and Lies by them for certain, but I'm not sure about any of the other songs. I understand what you're saying though-- she does have a very unique and (no pun intended) haunting voice, and I too try and sing along with her... unfortunately, my own voice sounds like somebody's strangling a cat, and so it doesn't exactly work out all that well... Still, I've been told I'm one of the best singers in my family! Which isn't saying much since none of them can sing worth a damn! -- Lol, I should introduce you to my dad-- he likes bands like the eagles too. Not me. I suppose my genre would be rock, but, in general, I just listen to whatever comes on, and, if I like it, I'll add it to my playlist. Trust me, my songs are very mismatched-- I'd have something like "What we're all about" by sum41, then go to something completely opposite, like Greensleeves or something like that. Not that I listen to a lot of classical or anything (if that even is classical) but that's definitely a song that appeals to me. I don't know why... -- No, I'm sorry, I currently only have virtual pocky. If I had real pocky, I would have no way to share it with you anyway, so that would kinda such... -- and don't worry, if I ever date someone from, or go to Japan, I'll be sure to do that. Though I don't think that'll happen anytime soon. Then again, a few years ago we almost moved to China, but that's hardly the same thing...

-Wish-full Thinker - Lol, yeah I understand what you're saying. I don't know if I entirely agree with you, because too much of anything can slow everything down, and I like reflections, but I understand where you're coming from. Anyway, you left a comment on one of the other chapters-- a challenge of sorts, or so you claimed it to be "use more imagery, and use "show, not tell" writing. Such as, instead of narrating Kagome's feelings all the time, try to incorporate them into her actions. SHOW the reader what's happening, don't TELL them." Now, I realise it's a little late to be getting back to you on this, and I do admire your faith in me for giving me such a request, but first of all I have to say that, even slightly unsure of how one would go about doing this, do you realise how difficult show not tell can be? To try and express a really deep emotion with just a touch or gesture and not thought or words? Woosh! It doesn't have a plot behind it, but man, when you give a challenge, do you ever give a challenge huh? And who knows, maybe one of these days, if my muses ever get back in working order, I'll take you up on this! After all, I've never been one to back down from a challenge... if it catches my interest, that is. Now I just need to think up a story I can put up with that and then write it... yeesh... -- You're welcome for everything! Even if it is only virtual, whatever helps! -- And you're right, since you got even more of a warning then most people, you probably should have known. Lol, then again, you haven't seen my other fics, which would make my warnings and that fic seem very mild, so I suppose you're not entirely at fault either. You had no idea how bad it could get... still don't for that matter! But at least now you'll tread with a bit more caution, neh? Lol, although I don't think I'll be posting anymore fics like that on this site...

-Almandine-Azaleea - Lol, I personally like Otouto bettter, but, considering Sesshomaru calls Inuyasha that so often, I figured it would be good to turn the tables around on them once in a while.

-Kuroi - Yep, poor Miroku. Don't worry, it'll probably break soon. I didn't go through all this shit to get him healthy and out of there just to have him die on me! (Damn monks)... -- Yep, I am very Canadian! From the land of Canadia, where everything revolves around Hockey and beef. Seriously, people are still incredibly upset about the flame's defeat against Tampa Bay. Have you ever seen those stupid decals people put on their trucks of that little evil guy peeing? Well they've come up with some down here-- the little guy is wearing a flames jacket, and he's peeing on a tampa bay logo. Yeah. Like I said, everything down here revolves around hockey and beef. Still, don't let that, or your encounters with me discourage you from coming down for a visit some day!

-cocoke5 - Really? You think Inu and Sess are like themselves? That's strange, a whole bunch of other people have been saying that they're OOC. IN a good way, mind you, but still OOC.

-RamblingPhilosopher - Lol, yep, Inu's already lost them all once. I don't think he's quite ready to do that again. -- Sorry I made you cry, btw.

-Box Queen - I'm sorry to hear that. Then again, you wrote that review a few days ago, so maybe you're feeling better now... crosses fingers

-angelwing21 - Oh, that really sucks. My computer broke once... a while ago... I'm still not sure if it's fixed though... it still seems to run just as crappy as it did back then...

-sourapple10000 - Lol, I think it's contageous! I think you gave it to me now! Oh well, I still look forward to seeing another chapter from you... Hope you're feeling better soon!

-Wings of Fayth - Lol, just a thought, just a thought!

Woosh!

Do you guys realise it took me nearly two hours to respond to you all? Woosh! It's a good thing I had some free time on my hands, neh?

Brood

Naraku frowned slightly as he gazed at Kana's mirror.

It told him nothing.

The glass was a dark shade of swirling grey, and refused to shift to reveal anything to him.

Which could mean only one thing.

Someone was interfering with the void's powers.

A very powerful someone at that, to be able to obstruct the mirror like this.

He turned his crimson gaze toward the shielded windows, gazing out at the dark world that surrounded his castle-- the world he had created, but apparently did not entirely control.

'Someone is conspiring against me.' He thought with amusement. There was no one left powerful enough in the world to defeat him. He had ensured of that. The only one who stood any sort of chance whatsoever was Sesshomaru now, and, though the demon would never admit it, he knew that Sesshomaru would never put the ningen or toad he dragged along with him at such risk as to leave them unattended for long enough to come and kill Naraku.

It just wasn't a smart thing to do.

The rest of the demons and people who had ever stood a chance he had overturned and usurped so that they didn't stand a chance.

There was no reason why he should worry.

So why then, was something nagging at the back of his mind-- as though telling him he had forgotten someone or something and was a fool for doing so.

Why had a feeling of unease settled around him and his castle?

What was coming?

Who could possibly now have the power to awake such feelings within him, when even the greatest and most proud youkai's had been brought to their knees by him now?

It didn't make sense.

Not any of it.

What could this new complication that had arisen possibly be, and why was he only just sensing it now?

Naraku narrowed his eyes slightly at the window.

Perhaps, as unlikely as it may be, it had something to do with the half-breed dog, Inuyasha? Or maybe Kikyo... Maybe she had found him again and was seeking revenge... or maybe... someone else had found him now and was healing him.

Which would mean that all his work had been undone... the hanyou would come to fight with him again.

And, as unlikely though it may be, he knew the half-breed would have a chance at winning.

Naraku frowned slightly and glanced at Kana.

Even if she was just a void, it was never good to reveal anything, especially fear, in front of her. He had control over her, yes, but, on occasion, he had learned that she had revealed things with her mirror to people like Kagura without his consent.

It wasn't a betrayal necessarily, but still not something he was interested in having used to his disadvantage.

He dismissed her and she left without incident, leaving him to go back to his brooding, wondering who or what was coming and, more importantly, how they were managing all of these things.

Written to the background music of Lies by Evanescence , though I really don't know if that's at all relevant.

Glossary

Ningen - Human

Youkai - Demon

Hanyou - Half-Demon

SPECIAL THANKS AND LOTS OF VIRTUAL TREATS FOR: Clouds of the Sky, lunerfox, wolfygirl13, The Grand Dungeon Master, Lord Makura, Jtmscola, Bluer Sky, Black Betty, Jennie555, xolovexinuyasha, Inume-blue, Kitsama, kaginufan88, Wish-full Thinker, Almandine-Azaleea, Kuroi, cocoke5, RamblingPhilosopher, Box Queen, angelwingz21, sourapple10000, aaaaaaaaaand Wings Of Fayth -- Most of whom, thanks to my bad influence, seem to have become ranters-in-training!

CMoC: Wires - Athlete, We are one tonight - Switchfoot, Perfect - Simple Plan, Crazy - Simple Plan, We Believe - Umm... Good Charlotte, Weapon - Matthew Good Band, Calling all angels - Train, Blurry - Puddle of Mudd, Away from me - Puddle of Mudd, For you - Staind, Lies - Evanescence, I write Sins, Not Tragedies - Panic! the Disco, and (what I think may very well be my new fav song!) So far away - Staind ( -- Seriously, you should check the last one out! That is, if you think I've had any good taste in music thus far... )