InuYasha woke to daylight. His bones ached inside of him as if he were old as time itself. His hands, he noticed, lacked claws, and his sense of smell had filled significantly.

He was human.

But that couldn't be. It was a full moon the night before and the sun was as high in the sky as it could get. Beside him lay his friends, each of which looked duller than usual, as if they'd lost a part of their essence.

"Kagome is out searching for Kaedae. How are you feeling?" Sesshomaru's brat sat beside him, a silent hatred in her eyes.

"How are you awake before me? What happened to us." He struggled to sit up, but she was forceful in shoving him downwards.

"Stay still. Nothing on your body was hurt, but he stole your demonic energy. Whatever wasn't locked away has been absorbed and we aren't sure what kind of effects it will have on you all."

He settled down, turning to stare at his brother. His demon markings were fainter than usual, like old tattoos. He looked peaceful, as if the dream he was having was sweet. If it weren't for the rise and fall of his chest he'd have feared that he was already dead.

"Wait," he glanced around the wooden cabin, taking note of the sounds of chirping birds. Mrs. Higurashi sat in the corner, eyes downcast and shoulders slumped, "where are we?"

Rin sighed heavily, "we're back home. It seems that the demon Akutoki is responsible for our displacement," she shot another dirty look at the housewife in the corner, "as responsible as he can be anyways."

"Where are Shippo and Sango?"

"She is out gathering food. I'd have preferred to do it, but she got really emotional whenever she saw that dad wasn't waking up, so," she shrugged, eyes inspecting the wood.

"And Shippo?"

She bit her lip, clenching her dress in her fists, "stuck on the other side. They gave us the traitor instead."

"Traitor?"

Rin got to her feet, "stay put, would you? And yell for me if dad wakes up." She hurried out of the hut, taking a deep breath as she went. If not for Kanna, Shippo would still be by her side.

Could she understand her desperation? Of course, but her actions had horrendous consequences and Rin wasn't mature enough to feel enough sympathy.

"How is he?" Sango was carrying a tuna on her back, shifting from foot to foot as the fish wriggled within the woven basket.

"Same as always. He hasn't moved, but InuYasha is awake."

She nodded, heading inside to greet him.

"- I wished on a jewel and prayed to the Gods for my daughter's return. If I'd known that Akutoki was a demon, that he'd hurt you all and destroy time as it was, then I would have never done it. My son is all alone in modern day Tokyo. My father is in medieval Japan without access to any kind of basic medication."

She hung her head again, she'd done this to herself. Whether she meant for it to happen or not, she'd invited this beast into their lives.

Time was a loop. If it weren't for her wish then demons would have never faced a monster masquerading as a God. She wouldn't be responsible for a genocide! Maybe, if she hadn't been so foolish, they'd all live.

Sango hunted down the old equipment she had stored in her old home, looking for something sharp enough to gut the tuna with.

"Mrs. Higurashi," she could feel the icy drip of her own voice, but she was powerless to contain it. Sesshomaru hadn't moved, hadn't made a peep, and it was all her fault, "your display of guilt is moving, but there are things that need to be done. We don't live in your magic world anymore. Please help Rin gather firewood."

When she was gone Sango sat beside her beloved, cupping his cold cheeks. It was as if he were dead, but his breathing continued and his heart still beat.

Their bond was supposed to offer the best of their abilities to the other. Kagome speculated that the only thing that kept him alive was the trickle of humanity that he'd absorbed from her.

"He'll wake up, Sango. We just need to unlock his yoki." InuYasha stared at his brother, a guilty and victorious stabbing having it out in his chest. He'd mocked him for being half demon, but now he lay there dying because he lacked the humanity to withstand Akutoki's attacks.

She rose from her place beside him, there was work to be done.

"I'll finish up with the fish and then I'll check on him again. Will you keep an eye on him?"

"Rin has instructed me to stay put, so, yes. I will."

She nodded and with one last longing glance she left.

XxXxXxXxXx

(Mild Trigger Warning if you're suicidal. Skip to the next chapter. If you message me I'll give you a friendly recap :))

Shippo stared at the space where his friends once stood. There had been a burst of light and then nothing. He was alone and the building was crumbling.

He jumped from the window, transforming into his signature bubble. If he was left behind there may be others.

Sota was standing at the edge of the window, eyes shut tight. He could hear the boy whimpering that he had to be brave, that it was die or be killed.

"Hop on Sota! Is your grandpa in there?"

"No! And Monk Miroku ran through the building before the beams collapsed. I don't know if he's alright."

Shippo floated to the ground, dropping off the boy, and floating back up. He cried out for the monk, screaming that if he'd died he'd never forgive him.

"Shippo!" His name was being called from the fourth floor, "how many can you take at a time?" Miroku was holding an armful of children. Women screamed from the collapsing room.

"I'll tell you when to stop."

They worked in tandem as the building crumbled around them. Miroku was on the floor, staff in hand, creating a barrier in an attempt to keep the debris from crushing them where they stood.

Shippo struggled to float back up to the fourth floor. The suite was empty, but Miroku was sweaty from over exertion. His legs crumbled beneath him as the building collapsed. Shippo dove into the fray, dodging heavy chunks of concrete as he headed for his friend.

"Shippo! Leave without me." He was crawling deeper into the fray, "I'm choosing this! Now go!"

The fox staggered, taking a beam to the back. Choosing this? How? Why? He tried to take a few more steps forward.

"I can't leave you!"

"Just go, Shippo. I blew it. Buddha, I blew it and if she's happy with him, then fine, but I won't stand by and watch my wife love another man."

Shippo was struck dumb. He hadn't witnessed the flirtation and the adultery, but Rin had been thorough in her tales.

"You can't make that call!" Shippo advanced on him, ignoring the bleeding that made his shirt stick to his skin. He grabbed his friend, shrieking when the sutra hit his forehead.

It was like he was being torn apart, but he wouldn't let go. He tugged and he dodged beams of metal and sheets of plaster and concrete until they were both falling. They both landed on something soft. It was like being enveloped in jello, and before he blacked out for good he vaguely wondered how Miroku was pure enough to purify him.

A.N./ I love it when shit hits the fan :) also. Y'all thought Miroku was vibing. Ha. Certified not vibing. Also! The next few chapters will have some heavy self harm themes on the modern day portion. Proceed at your own risk.