Chapter 17

"So you have finally come, tell me was it worth it in the end. Did you think the jewel would have shown you mercy after a few hundred years my son?" The great Toga continued to pace in front of his throne as he talked. His son had been staying away from the royal castle since he gave word to his father about the curse. It was his guardian monk Miroku who insisted they return to the castle.

It was shortly after InuYasha was cursed that Toga appointed Miroku to this position, but Toga also allowed him to decide if he truly wanted this job. To be cursed with InuYasha, and live until the curse under InuYasha was gone. For some reason the monk was willing to live as long as it would take till the jewel and InuYasha died. Still the great Toga was angry that it was now 200 years since his son was cursed and still no end to the jewel.

InuYasha only stood and allowed his father to speak. He had no defense, no answer, and now way to know this curse would last this long. "Keh, you act like I'm enjoying this hell father? Do you think I enjoy watching women die because of me? To know I have tried to get the jewel from their bodies and save them only to find it's useless. Or that another youkai has done his dirty work to get the jewel as well."

Miroku the guardian monk approached InuYasha and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Believe me great Toga, your son has changed a lot over these years. He wants to be free and is tired of suffering. We have no answer on how to get the jewel safely from these women. It seems that it is reborn after it's removed from the body of the woman. The jewel seems to know how to continue living once it's host is gone."

Still Toga paced and his anger was growing. "All of this because you wanted power and loved a woman. A woman that was strong in spiritual powers. Why on earth did you think such a woman could love a youkai? You both knew nothing of love and because of this you and these women are forced to suffer." Toga stopped pacing and took a seat on his throne. He was out of ideas as well on how to handle things. He was a leader, a royal ruler of his lands. This however was not something he knew how to fix.

Miroku could see the frustration and also the worry in Toga's eyes. He was fighting with himself on how to save his son and most importantly, the women from future deaths to come. 'I wish I could give you the answers you seek my king. However I will end this living hell for you and InuYasha.' Miroku's thoughts ended as a now frustrated InuYasha began to growl, followed by a few curse words and InuYasha storming out of the room.

The tree branch he was sitting on began to slowly move from the winds. The crimson moon clouded over by dark clouds, just like his human heart was being clouded. Still his mind was untouched by the darkness of his youkai half. "Could it be that he has given up on the jewel? No he wouldn't give up so easily. He is waiting for the right time to make his move." InuYasha said to himself. He could tell that his demonic features had already surfaced. His fangs and claws were much longer. And his voice had turned more youkai like.

Suddenly the branch he was resting on moved downward and a scent of wolf suddenly came to him. "So I finally found you mutt!" Koga's brief words were followed by a hard punch to InuYasha's face. InuYasha wasn't ready for the attack and was knocked from his place. "You ain't getting away that easy, you damn murder!"

InuYasha growled as he countered, attacked and punched Koga in the gut. "Just what the hell are you talking about? I've been here all night so far, you better explain yourself wolf!" InuYasha hated to say it, but he had been reliving his past. And the hell of everything that has happened so far in his life. He chose to get as faraway as he could from Kagome to keep her safe from his youkai side. And now it turns out maybe it wasn't for the best after all.

Koga punched his fist into the palm of his hand as he moved closer to InuYasha. He was ready to attack again. "As if I'd believe you mutt, we all know it was you who did it. Miroku said you came crashing through Kagome's balcony doors. And since she's not her I'm guessing you killed her and took the jewel. Your demonic features are proof enough for me." Kago finished his words just as he started to fight once more.

Hearing Koga's words worried InuYasha. "You damn idiot! Can't you see it wasn't me, you'd surely smell her blood on me if I did kill her." InuYasha shouted back, as prepared to defend himself from Koga's next attack.

Koga tried to land a hard kick to InuYasha's chest, but only managed to strike the tree behind his opponent. "You damn dog, don't try and fool me! I know it had to be you, who else would want your ugly face?"

"You damn idiot, did you forget Naraku can change his appearance at will. While you're here fighting me, he's the one who has Kagome. Dammit I can't believe you left him do this."

Koga stopped and stared at InuYasha. He really didn't know who to trust anymore. "Just hold on mutt face. So why would Miroku tell me it was you? Surely he would've thought it was Naraku?"

InuYasha found this news just as confusing. Miroku knew of Naraku's tricks just as he did. So why would his guardian monk not know this? "Koga I think we have more than one fox in the hen house this time." Koga looked at InuYasha with great concern. Just what was going on and who had Kagome?

Darkness, pain, sorrow, tears and blood. All of these things were what she was feeling. The coldness of the floor and the wetness of the blood on her body. It felt like days when it was only a few minutes since he had taken her. She remembered nothing of who he was or his voice. She only remembered his claws grabbing her and piercing her flesh. He said something about X marks the spot, just before she felt a sharp claw start to carve into her flesh. "P-Please don't do this." Kagome begged, but it was to late. And now here she laid waiting for whatever hell would come next.