Serious warnings continue from the last chapter: dissociation, curse-induced psychosis, paranoia, hallucinations, threats of bodily harm and death from a loved one, self-blame and heavy guilt, hateful slurs, and lots of characters in bad places mentally


Inuyasha's world shattered around him as Miroku dropped to the ground with a gasp of pain. The barrier remained in place between them but Inuyasha ran forward anyway, his claws digging against the transparent surface as he shouted desperately at Miroku – asking if he was okay, if he could hear him, begging him to look at him… But Miroku was crumpled on the forest floor, his eyes squeezed shut and his fingers clenching in the earth. And then he shook his head, making a muffled noise of distress, and he took off running. Inuyasha screamed after him but he showed no signs of slowing. But then the barrier pulsed once, twice, and then dissolved. Inuyasha took off after him, desperation pounding into his muscles, and with a flying leap he tackled Miroku to the ground. He cushioned the monk's face with one hand while the other wrapped around his chest, trying to protect his ribs from the forest floor. Miroku's elbow immediately connected with Inuyasha's jaw, catching him by surprise. He adjusted his grip as Miroku began writhing under him.

"Miroku!" he pleaded. "It's me. It's Inuyasha! I'm not going to hurt you! Please, love, I just want to help you."

Miroku gasped out something unintelligible, and his breathing was growing increasingly rapid and shallow, his heart pounding against Inuyasha's hand on his chest. He was striking out, trying to shove Inuyasha away from him, and Inuyasha didn't know what to do! It was painfully obvious that he was causing Miroku distress, but he couldn't let him disappear into the forest, and the monk's frantic movements weren't stopping!

"If I let you go, will you stay here?" Inuyasha asked desperately. "Will you hear me out?"

Miroku's struggles subsided slightly, and Inuyasha could see him staring, wide-eyed, into the middle distance. With immense reluctance, Inuyasha loosened his grip and let Miroku clamber to his hands and knees. The monk still refused to look at him, was still staring hard at a place that Inuyasha couldn't see. Tears were falling down his cheeks, unchecked. Inuyasha took a few steps back. Miroku groaned and shut his eyes tightly once more, his knuckles turning white as he clenched his hands into fists. And then he gasped. And then he ran.

Inuyasha immediately followed him – he didn't have a choice. "Miroku! Come back!"

He had almost reached Miroku when the monk spun around and lifted his dagger. He lunged and Inuyasha leapt back, his mind a blur. Miroku stopped. Inuyasha froze. He could sense the Jewel shards pulsing, their power absolutely pouring from the monk, joining the stress and pain and fever in his sweat.

Miroku pushed desperately against the force that he could feel slowly staining his mind, eating away at his control. His body was reacting on its own, a deep terror pushing him away from Inuyasha – who he knew was Inuyasha! – even as he tried to fight whatever power was taking hold in his mind. He had to find whoever was responsible. He knew that he wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer. He could feel the Jewel shards pulsing in his chest, an inescapable presence which sent searing waves of pain through him. His mind was in a fog. Everything was harder to grasp, intangible like wisps of smoke. The creature in front of him stepped forward. He raised his dagger defensively. Wait… Inuyasha. He squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to be still. This couldn't happen again. He wouldn't allow it.

The creature lunged at him, claws poised to slash his throat. He dodged the blow and attacked.

Inuyasha swore and scrambled back as Miroku flew at him, the dagger aimed at his chest. He reached for Miroku's arm to block the blow, but instinctually he knew that the action would only frighten Miroku more. It was increasingly obvious that whatever curse had been placed on him was messing with his head. Instead Inuyasha leapt back and away – so long as Miroku was coming after him, not running away, he would let him be. He just had to hold on until Sango could track down the person responsible and destroy them.

He knew that it couldn't last forever. The nighttime air was freezing, and Miroku was already visibly shivering, his sweat-drenched robes clinging to his body, his feet bare against the snow. And then Miroku curled forward, his free hand grasping at his chest as he made a soft sound of pain. Inuyasha moved towards him. And Miroku shook his head frantically, and turned, and ran. Inuyasha had to follow.

xXx

"How do we get through?" Sango asked in frustration, hurling Hiraikotsu at it again because she couldn't just do nothing.

Kaede grumbled, finishing one spell and starting on another. None of them worked. Kirara attacked the barrier again and again from the air, circling it in the hopes of finding a weak spot, but there was nothing.

"The sorcerer must be inside," Kaede said, shaking her head. "I have rarely encountered this level of spiritual power. I know not how to combat it."

"There has to be something!" Sango insisted.

"Do you feel that?" Kaede asked suddenly, looking around behind them. "Something approaches."

Kikyo watched the others carefully as she walked towards them. How interesting. She may not have been the intended target, after all. Yet what reason would Tsubaki have to engage with Inuyasha and his followers? She had never shown interest in much outside of the Shikon Jewel before. Was that it? Did she seek to claim the shards that Inuyasha's new lover possessed? Surely so few would not draw her attention…unless she planned to use them to get to Naraku. The thought made her pause. Surely, Naraku couldn't have gotten a hold of Tsubaki?

She ignored the suspicious looks coming from the slayer and her neko, the surprise from her sister. She could feel the ominous presence coming from beyond the barrier, the miasma which surrounded it familiar, but not to Tsubaki. It would seem that there was more at play than a simple ploy for the Jewel. Kikyo concentrated an aura of spiritual power around herself and walked through the barrier.

"How is that possible?" Sango asked. "She walked right through!"

"Indeed," Kaede said solemnly. "Yet for what purpose has she gone inside? This does not bode well, I think."

"Do you think she will confront the sorcerer?" Sango asked.

"I cannot say," Kaede shook her head. "That she was drawn here makes me think that she came with a purpose. We must hope that whatever she does will help Miroku."

Sango swallowed hard as she stared through the barrier, following Kikyo's movements towards the hut. She didn't want to voice her doubts in front of Kaede for risk of offending her, but she had about as much faith in Kikyo's good intentions as a rabbit had in a fox.

xXx

"Miroku!" Inuyasha called out, right on the monk's heels but hanging back – he didn't want to have to wrestle him to the ground again if he could avoid it. "Please, just stop for a moment!"

"I can't!" Miroku shot over his shoulder, his voice tight and high with desperation.

Inuyasha growled and snagged onto the back of his robes, pulling him forcefully to a stop. Miroku refused to turn to him, instead staring out into the forest, impossibly tense. Inuyasha carefully placed a hand on his shoulder. "Love, please, just look at me."

Miroku wrenched himself away, but didn't keep on running. He was deathly pale, his breath coming in short gasps, one hand pressing against his aching chest. A shudder ran through him. "I don't want to hurt you."

Inuyasha's frown deepened, and he took a step closer. "Just tell me what's going on. What makes you think you're going to hurt me?"

"Get away," Miroku rasped, backing away, fear flashing across his expression once more. "Please. I can't-"

He stumbled. Inuyasha rushed forwards to catch him. And Miroku's dagger found its mark deep in his gut.

He gasped, more in shock than pain. Miroku was rigid against him, and then he pulled back, and there was horror in his eyes.

"No," he whispered. "No!"

Inuyasha ground his teeth, reached out a hand. "Miroku-"

"Stay back!" Miroku shouted, stumbling back, leaving the dagger where it was. "I can't stop it! The voice, it-" He cried out in pain and dropped to his knees. "Run!"

"I'm not going anywhere!" Inuyasha growled, grabbing Miroku's arms as he struggled. "As if I'd leave you." He fell to his knees in front of him, framed his face with both hands. "Miroku, listen to me – I know there's something in your mind. You just have to fight it. Sango and the others have gone to find whoever's put this curse on you. They'll sort it out. You just need to hold on!"

Miroku squeezed his eyes shut and a sob ripped from his chest. He was shaking, the world spinning around him. He could feel the presence in his mind pressing against him, more insistent than ever. An invisible hand had clamped around his chest, was squeezing ever tighter. He wanted to trust Inuyasha, and he knew that his mind wasn't his own, but he couldn't help the overwhelming feeling that he needed to find the person behind the curse. He couldn't explain it, but he knew that if he stayed back, someone was going to die.

xXx

"What shall I do?" a woman's voice asked from inside the hut. "Shall I kill him, or do you want him to go after the half-breed again?"

"Let him struggle for a while longer," a familiar voice smirked.

Kikyo silently notched an arrow and, without hesitation, sent it through the demon puppet which stood by the altar. The baboon pelt quickly disintegrated in a flash of her spiritual power. The figure of a young woman was left standing alone, staring at her in shock. Though her long hair was white, she looked no more than a youth – but Kikyo knew better than most that looks could be deceiving.

"Kikyo?" the woman gasped. "I'd heard you had stumbled back into this world."

"Tsubaki," Kikyo frowned. "I hadn't expected to find you here."

She glanced at the Jewel lying on the altar, seeping its corrupted evil into the air. That did not bode well. She lifted a hand and sent a pulse of spiritual power through the hut. It wouldn't be enough to break through that barrier – one which she had no doubt that Naraku assisted Tsubaki in creating – but it swept through the Jewel, purifying it for the time being. Interestingly enough, Tsubaki also stumbled back with a cry of pain. Yes, there was definitely more to this than met the eye.

xXx

Miroku gasped as the figure before him twisted and bent out of shape, Inuyasha's face morphing into something sinister and threatening. He reacted instinctively, struggling in the creature's grasp, reaching for his discarded dagger. It was going to kill him! And if it could mimic Inuyasha that well, who knew what damage it could do to the others once it found them! He needed to kill it now! But the creature was shrieking, diggings its claws into his arms, pinning them to the ground. Miroku writhed but his body was already drained, his movements weak. His ribs screamed from his struggles thus far, and the pain in his chest had grown to a constant agony. He was out of options. He tore his arms away, reached for the wind tunnel, but then the creature threw him to the ground, was pinning him down, snarling at him, teeth poised to dig into his throat.

"Miroku, please!" Inuyasha begged, but it was clear that he wasn't getting through. "I'm not going to hurt you! Please, love, you have to stop. You're hurting yourself!"

Miroku choked on a sob and continued to thrash, and Inuyasha could hear the laboured quality to his breath. He was ruining all the healing done to his ribs, and his fever was running his body ragged. Inuyasha tried to hold him steady but he wasn't listening! His monk was slipping away from him and he didn't know what to do!

And then a pulse of power came from the shards embedded in his chest. Miroku's eyes went wide and then he collapsed, completely limp. Inuyasha dragged him into his arms, hands frantic on his face. Miroku's face was pinched and his breath was still rapid, but it had lost some of its panicky edge. What did this mean? Had the others tracked down the sorcerer? Was it over? He pressed his hand against Miroku's chest, to where the Jewel shards still lay. He had no idea if the curse was still there, but the pain had barely faded from Miroku's scent.

He knew they couldn't stay there. He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of Miroku's dagger and pulled it from his flesh, gave it a cursory wipe on his leg before tucking it into his own robes. Carefully, he lifted the monk into his arms, grunting a little at the pain that shot through his gut, and snatched the staff from where he'd thrown it. He pressed a soft kiss to Miroku's forehead and turned back towards the village – he was surprised at how far they had travelled. He could feel the heat still radiating from his partner's form, the tremor in his limbs. He prayed that it was over. He didn't know if either of them could take much more of this.

As they emerged through the trees, the village in sight, Miroku began to shift in his arms. His hand reached out to grasp at Inuyasha's robes, his face twisted in pain. Inuyasha stopped and crouched down, leaning Miroku's back against his bent knee so that he could brush his hand down Miroku's cheek.

"Miroku?" he asked quietly.

Miroku made a soft pained noise and his eyes flickered open. He stared off into the distance for a moment before his gaze fixed tiredly on Inuyasha's face. His brow furrowed for a moment and it looked as though he was struggling to remember what had happened. And then his eyes cleared and horror flashed across his expression.

"Hey, hey," Inuyasha said hurriedly. "It's okay. You're safe."

Miroku's eyes darted down to Inuyasha's abdomen, where a deep red stain was spreading. "I did this," he whispered, voice wrecked. "Yash, I'm so sorry-"

"Don't," Inuyasha growled, hugging him close. "It wasn't you that hurt me. Don't even think that way."

Miroku squeezed his eyes shut and a shudder ran through him. "You should have run."

"I'm not gonna leave you, ever," Inuyasha said firmly. "You can't ask me to run when you're in danger."

Miroku sighed. "I suppose I can't argue with that, based on our history." He swallowed. "Still. I attacked you. I could have done much worse."

"That's a chance I had to take," Inuyasha insisted quietly. "Like you said, right? If I can help you, I have to try."

"It worked," Miroku murmured. "The voice is gone now."

Inuyasha brushed the hair from his eyes. "You think it's over?"

Miroku turned his head in the direction he had been running, frowning slightly. "I can feel the Jewel – it has to be most of the rest of it, with how strong it is. It's like it has a connection with the shards…"

"Sango and the others will take care of it," Inuyasha said reassuringly.

Miroku shook his head weakly. "We need to go after them. We have to help them."

"Miroku…"

"They're in danger," he said pleadingly. "Yash, you couldn't feel how powerful she is."

"She?" Inuyasha asked. "You felt the person behind the curse?"

"We have to go," Miroku said, pushing himself upright. He made it halfway to his feet before his knees gave out.

"Shit," Inuyasha growled, catching him and holding him tight. "Are you okay?"

"So maybe I can't walk," Miroku said, a little wryly, but he didn't even attempt a smile. "But we have to help them."

Inuyasha huffed a breath, the need to protect the rest of his pack wrestling with the sight of his injured partner. "You're going to hang back once we get there," he said eventually, reluctantly. "If you get worse, I'm getting you out of there. I can't say what I might do if you get hurt at this point."

Miroku nodded solemnly. He grasped Inuyasha's shoulder and pulled himself forward, trying to maneuver himself onto his back. Inuyasha stopped him with a gentle hand on his chest. Miroku looked at him questioningly, a little hesitant. Inuyasha curled a hand around the back of his neck and pressed their brows together, shut his eyes for a moment and just breathed him in. He leaned in towards Miroku's mouth, careful not to push, as he could sense the uncertainty there. After a brief pause, Miroku closed the gap, pressing their lips together lightly. He was the one to pull away. Inuyasha nodded, and with one final caress of Miroku's cheek, moved him onto his back. Miroku's arms were frail where they clung to his shoulders. After handing him his staff, Inuyasha held on tightly to his legs and took off, taking care to keep from jostling him as much as possible.

xXx

"How did you find me?" Tsubaki asked, stepping more solidly between her and the Shikon Jewel.

"Your powers were unmistakable," Kikyo replied levelly. "As are those of your new master."

Tsubaki's face twisted in fury. "He is not my master! He begged me for my assistance and gave me the Jewel as payment."

"You are a fool if you believe that," Kikyo sighed. "You have placed a curse on the monk, have you?"

"That is none of your concern," Tsubaki said haughtily.

"This is true," she smiled dangerously. "It is the Jewel which concerns me. You know that you have no claim to it."

"Do not mistake me for the stupid girl you fought all those years ago!" Tsubaki hissed, the scar flashing over her right eye, creeping slowly down her cheek. "I am not the same person you defeated."

"No, you are not," Kikyo said thoughtfully, reaching out with her mind. She could feel the youki emanating throughout the room, could see it twisting in the air. "You are yourself no longer, Tsubaki. You should have known better than to sell your soul to a demon."

"I bartered no such thing," Tsubaki snapped. "The demon is mine, and from its presence I have gained more power than you could imagine! Have you failed to notice that my body is unchanged, more than half a century later?"

"Youth is intangible," Kikyo said calmly, ignoring the bite of irritation which rose within her. "You cannot change the progression of time."

"You should know better than most that you can," Tsubaki smiled menacingly. "Departed souls, is it? Not even that body is yours any longer – it's just a fake. At least my youth is my own."

"And yet you need the Shikon Jewel to secure it," Kikyo countered. "Your power is not your own."

"And you gave up your power for some stupid, girlish fantasy!" Tsubaki broke at last, her voice rising in anger. "You fell in love with that mongrel and you were weak! You didn't deserve to protect the Jewel! It should have been given to me!"

"You, who would use it for selfish gain?" Kikyo asked mildly. "I think not."

"You wanted to use it to turn that beast into a human," Tsubaki hissed.

"Doing so would have purified the Jewel," Kikyo argued. "It's the only way to rid it of its power and prevent others from misusing it – as you would have."

"I only wish to take what is rightfully mine," Tsubaki said, and Kikyo could feel the youki rising within her, fighting with the spiritual power that both of them possessed. "By whatever means necessary."

"Such as a curse?" Kikyo smiled. "Do you wish this one to be cast back at you as well? Because I can arrange that."

Tsubaki growled low in her throat, the scar pulsing over her eye more prominently than ever. "You stole my face from me that day. I will not allow you to get away with it."

"Do what you will," Kikyo said loftily. "I care not what you seek to accomplish."

xXx

Sango growled and kicked the barrier, ignoring the jolt of pain that ran up her leg as she did so. She had covered Hiraikotsu with sutras and various poisons in an attempt to break through the barrier, had stabbed at it with her sword, had tried digging underneath it, and yet nothing worked. Kaede had attempted all the spells that she knew. They had both called out for Kikyo to let them in. It appeared that she didn't want the company.

Kirara landed beside them and Sango placed a hand on her head, trying to provide a little comfort. Kirara was snarling at the barrier, hackles raised, panting hard from her attempts to break through. There was nothing more that they could do – and yet Miroku and Inuyasha were counting on them. Different options flew through her mind – finding Sesshomaru and forcing him to break the barrier with Tokijin, finding Kouga and ripping the Jewel shards from his legs in the hopes that she could use them somehow – but all of them required time which they did not have.

Kirara glanced behind them, ears pricked, listening intently. A moment later, she turned and mouthed at Sango's arm. She had no idea what she had heard, but obediently climbed onto the twin-tail's back. Kirara took off running, and after a few bounds, leapt into the air. Sango scanned the forest beneath them, looking for whatever had drawn her attention. It took a while, but eventually she saw a splash of red moving through the trees in the distance. Kirara saw it too, and dove towards them. Sango gasped as she saw Miroku draped over Inuyasha's back, the deathly pallor of his skin and his sunken-in eyes.

"The curse has died down for the moment," Inuyasha said immediately as they landed in front of him. "Was that you?"

"I don't think so. We couldn't break through the barrier," Sango said nervously, and paused for a moment. "Kikyo could, though."

"She's here?" Inuyasha asked, stiffening, his eyes darting behind Sango to the forest beyond. "What did she say?"

"She didn't say anything," Sango shrugged. "She completely ignored us."

"She must have lessened the curse," Miroku said softy. "We need to go help her."

Sango gave both of them a deeply skeptical look, not failing to notice the blood dripping down Inuyasha's front. "Do you want a ride?"

She should have expected the soft growl and affronted look that Inuyasha sent her. Kirara took off and flew over them as Inuyasha ran the rest of the way to the barrier. Kaede looked displeased but not surprised to see them.

"Why would you come here?" she asked in mild exasperation as she walked over to them.

"I'm going to ask Kikyo to let us in," Miroku said faintly.

Both Sango and Kaede opened their mouths to ask what the hell he was talking about, and then a thin, barely-visible line appeared in the air, travelling from the monk's chest into the barrier. Inuyasha clenched his jaw, looking unhappy, and moved them closer to the barrier.

Miroku grimaced as he pulled against their connection once more, sending a wave of determination and pleading over to her, feeling a tug at his heart as she responded. A moment later, a hole appeared in the barrier in front of them. Inuyasha quickly stepped through, and the hole closed behind them. Sango swore and slammed her fist against the barrier, looking at them with wide eyes. Inuyasha pressed a hand against it from the other side, but they had no more success than she did.

"We'll have her let you in," Miroku said, resting his head against Inuyasha's shoulder in exhaustion. "Just give us a moment."

"Be careful!" Sango called after them.

Inuyasha nodded grimly and started towards the hut, adjusting his grip on Miroku as he did so. As they approached, he stopped and sniffed the air. "Naraku was here," he growled. "Or one of his incarnations."

"It can't only be him, unless he can now create incarnations with spiritual powers," Miroku murmured. "Only the strongest practitioners could have created a curse like this."

Inuyasha tore through the door and strode inside with purpose, not faltering when he found the eyes of Kikyo and some other woman boring into him.

"How dare you!" the woman hissed. "You are not welcome here!"

"Yeah, well maybe you should have thought of that before you decided to put a curse on what's mine!" Inuyasha snarled, gesturing at Miroku with his head.

"Oh?" the woman smirked. "Why, Kikyo, I had no idea that you had been so thoroughly replaced."

Inuyasha, Miroku, and Kikyo all shot her a glare.

"Release him!" Inuyasha growled, taking a step towards her.

"Stop right there!" she shouted, holding up a hand. The Jewel shard behind her flared with a deep red glow, and Miroku cried out in pain. Inuyasha froze. "I can kill him with a snap of my fingers. Do not test me, half-breed."

"Tsubaki, you are a fool," Kikyo said in a low voice. "You must know that if you kill him, Inuyasha will tear you apart."

"But is he willing to take the chance?" Tsubaki smiled, taking a step closer to the altar.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha asked dangerously.

"I want you dead!" Tsubaki snapped. "You and Kikyo, and that monk for causing me so much trouble." She turned her gaze to Miroku. "Naraku said not to underestimate you, and yet you couldn't even take care of a defenseless hanyou?"

"What?" Kikyo asked sharply, and suddenly there was a notched arrow in her hands. "You tried to have him kill Inuyasha?"

"What does it matter?" Tsubaki asked in frustration. "It wasn't as though it was you that killed him, this time. Besides, he's not yours any longer. What do you care what happens to him now?"

Kikyo darted forwards, two steps bringing her in front of Tsubaki, and she dragged her closer by a hand fisted in the front of her robes. "You can do as you please with the monk," she hissed, barely loud enough for the others to hear. "But if you harm Inuyasha, I will personally see to your demise."

"How dare you presume that I fear you!" Tsubaki hissed, shoving her away. "Your threats mean nothing!"

"It is no threat, but a promise," Kikyo said, releasing her, her calm restored.

Inuyasha growled softly, his eyes darting between them.

Miroku watched the proceedings carefully, glancing thoughtfully between Kikyo, Tsubaki, and the Jewel. The deep red light that filled the room had faded significantly since Tsubaki had last corrupted it, and it could be his imagination, but the pain seemed to be fading slightly as well. He glanced once more at the Jewel, which had turned far more pink than red.

"You must realize by now that you cannot win," Kikyo said, holding her position, pressing against Tsubaki's personal space. "You cannot defeat all of us."

"Is that what you think?" Tsubaki smiled. "And what will you do to stop me from leaving? Will you let the monk die?"

Inuyasha snarled softly.

"I already told you that I have no interest in his fate," Kikyo said. "The question is if you believe that you can fight the two of us that remain."

Despite her words, Miroku couldn't help but notice that she'd moved herself solidly between him and Tsubaki, though he supposed it could still be Inuyasha that she was protecting. The hut was full of shifting powers – the Jewel's unmistakeable presence and a strange youki which seemed to be coming from Tsubaki – but there was also spiritual power filling the air with an almost imperceptible hum. He cast another look over at the Jewel, then at Kikyo's hands, which had the faintest glow surrounding them. He reached out with his mind, just to be sure, and found smug satisfaction rolling through the connection that they shared. That was it.

"It's not so simple as that, is it?" Miroku asked, gently sliding off Inuyasha's back, ignoring his slight protest, though he still leant heavily against the hanyou. "Even if you do manage to escape, you must know that Naraku will not let you leave."

"He does not frighten me," Tsubaki said haughtily. "He has no power that I do not. The fool even gave me the Jewel!"

"He holds the power of many demons," Kikyo said softly. "And unlike yours, they are powerful. Unlike you, he knows how to control them."

"You believe that I cannot?" Tsubaki scoffed. "You have seen nothing of my true capabilities. I have already cast aside my mortal shell. Once I use the Jewel, I will have the power of the gods!"

"You may be able to hold the demons at bay with your spiritual power," Kikyo said warningly. "Even to command them to an extent, but holding that much youki inside yourself always leaves a mark. Is that not so?"

She pointedly traced a line down her own eye with one finger. Tsubaki went pale with rage, and her scar pulsed to life. "This was your doing, not mine!"

"A demonic curse is the same as a demon," Kikyo shrugged. "It was you that invited it in."

Tsubaki looked livid, but she was shifting back, towards the altar. Miroku caught Kikyo glance at him from the corner of her eye, knew that she had sensed him figure out her plan.

"Why do you believe that Naraku sought you out?" Miroku asked, ignoring the incredulous look that Inuyasha shot him. He needed to keep Tsubaki talking. "Was it for your shikigami? He has hundreds of demons at his disposal. He simply wants to use you to get to us, and once he is done with you, he will discard you and take the Jewel back. You do not know him as we do."

"You presume to lecture me?" Tsubaki asked with obvious disgust. "You, who are bound by-" She stopped, and whirled around, to where the Jewel sat pristine on the altar behind her. She turned on Kikyo with murder in her eyes. "You bitch! What did you do to my curse?"

Kikyo didn't bother with a response, merely took the spiritual energy which she had been gathering within herself, shot the monk a warning glance, and threw the wave of power out in all directions. Tsubaki cried out as it clashed with her youki, while Inuyasha was protected a faint barrier that Miroku had created. Not so Tsubaki's barrier, which had completely dissolved. Kikyo moved to take the Jewel but then a ghostly white shikigami serpent sprang at her from where it had been hidden on Tsubaki's shoulders. She batted it away with her bow, and it disappeared into the air, turning invisible once more. Inuyasha leapt at Tsubaki, but she slammed her hand down onto the Jewel. Miroku's cry made him freeze, and the moment he spun around to see if he was alright, the monk leapt at him, attacking him with his staff. Inuyasha swore and dodged, his movements restricted by the size of the hut. Kikyo turned on Tsubaki and notched another arrow, but then the serpent struck at her once more, and she was forced to drive it back.

"Get out!" she warned Inuyasha.

He nodded, trusting in her still, and leapt out the door, Miroku immediately following after him in his curse-driven attack. Kikyo barely waited for them to leave before she fired her arrow at the altar. It struck the wood just before the Jewel, where it burst with a flash of spiritual power. The monk was free and Inuyasha safe for now, but she knew it wouldn't last. She swatted Tsubaki across the face with her bow, knocking her to the ground, and stepped over her to grab the Jewel. The serpent got there first, snatching it in its jaws and slithering away. Kikyo aimed an arrow at it but then Tsubaki threw a sutra to the floor between them, bringing forth a barrier. Her arrow struck and hovered for a moment and then broke through, but the serpent had already disappeared.

A moment later, the roof of the hut shattered as the slayer's weapon tore through it. As the walls crumbled, she could see Inuyasha holding up the monk in the clearing outside, the slayer, Kaede, and the neko flanking them on either side. Tsubaki scowled and raised her hand, and the serpent appeared. It opened its mouth wide and venom began dripping from its fangs onto the Jewel. The monk cried out once more, Inuaysha's grasp on his arms the only thing keeping him from falling, and he began to thrash in his grip. Kikyo sighed. Enough of this. She jumped down from the ruins of the hut and walked towards them.

"Hold him still," she ordered, and Inuyasha obeyed. She placed her hand against the monk's chest and poured all of her purifying energy into the shards. He tensed and then sagged against Inuyasha. "The curse is broken," she informed them both. "But Tsubaki will still have a connection to the shards so long as she holds the rest of the Jewel."

Inuyasha growled and glared at Tsubaki, who stood in the hut, watching them closely, the serpent wrapped around her shoulders. "She's not gonna have it for long."

Tsubaki laughed, and her right eye began to glow, wisps of smoke and miasma beginning to swirl around her, seeming to emanate from her eye.

As the others formed a protective line in front of Miroku, Kikyo glanced behind them, to where she could feel an ominous presence lurking. Her gaze locked onto the single Saimyosho hovering above the trees, watching them quietly.

xXx

Kagura crept into the castle, hoping faintly that she might not be seen. She knew that it was a futile attempt. A pulse of pain shot through her heart and she growled, stalking through the halls to where Naraku was waiting for her, Kanna by his side. She was holding her silver mirror, the surface reflecting the carnage occurring at Tsubaki's hut. Things didn't seem to be going according to plan over there.

"Kagura," Naraku greeted calmly, and she could see her heard lying plainly on his palm. "I hadn't expected to see you so soon."

"And what of it?" she snapped. "Things would have fallen apart whether I left or not."

"You abandoned your post, and now Kikyo is set to reclaim the Jewel shard," Naraku said, eerily calm.

"Kikyo?" Kagura asked, her eyes darting to Kanna's mirror and her stomach sinking. The dead priestess was staring straight at them, her gaze piercing through the mirror. "Surely Tsubaki can manage her."

"We shall see," Naraku said lightly, turning back to watch the show as well.

"I can go back with an army," Kagura said, trying to sound calm but desperate to salvage the situation. She had no idea what Naraku might do if they actually lost the Jewel.

"Leave her be for the moment," Naraku said. "We can take care of Tsubaki after we see what she has planned. She may yet be able to inflict some damage."

Kagura leant back against the wall, crossing her arms. She didn't need to be told that her life depended on what happened next.

xXx

"Inuyasha," Tsubaki called out, as the smoke began to condense in front of her. "Are you truly that same dog that Kikyo fell in love with all those years ago?"

Inuyasha growled, shifting uneasily.

"I am feeling generous," she said loftily. "I will give you this final chance to flee, since she begged for your life."

"Sango, watch out for Miroku," Inuyasha said, gently passing his partner over to lean against Kirara. "I've got some killing to do." After a moment's thought, he pulled Miroku's dagger from his robes and pressed it into his partner's hand with a lingering press. He then took a few steps forward, his hand landing on Tessaiga. "Tsubaki!" he shouted. "I have an offer for you, instead. Hand over the Jewel and I won't gut you where you stand."

"Don't try to barter with me," Tsubaki snapped. "If you draw your sword, the monk dies."

Inuyasha froze, his hand still resting on Tessaiga's hilt. "The curse is broken," he said slowly.

Tsubaki lifted the Jewel and clenched it hard in her fist. "His life is mine to control."

Miroku shuddered in pain against Sango as she braced him upright, and they shared a worried glance. They both knew that Inuyasha wouldn't risk it. Miroku gave her a pleading look, and she bit her lip in indecision.

"I'll kill you for this," Inuyasha growled softly.

"You'll have to get to me first," Tsubaki smirked, as a giant three-tailed kitsune materialized out of the smoke in front of her.

Her right eye flashed and those of the kitsune turned red in response. The demon snarled and leapt at Inuyasha. He swore and dodged, slashing at them with his claws. To his utter frustration, the kitsune's chest turned to smoke and his hand passed through them without hitting anything. The kitsune snapped at him with large teeth and he was forced to give up more ground. He jumped back and landed in front of Miroku and Sango, Kirara coming to stand beside him with her teeth bared. He dropped his had to Tessaiga once more before snatching it away as though he'd been burned. Tsubaki started laughing.

Inuyasha bared his teeth as well and raised his claws, his youki thrumming under his skin. He didn't need Tessaiga to tear apart this demon. He didn't know if he'd stop once he got to Tsubaki.

"Can this be the same Tsubaki?" Kaede muttered quietly, her eyes fixed on the woman.

"Kikyo seemed to know her," Miroku said, wincing as another wave of pain shot through him. He saw Inuyasha throw a frantic glance over his shoulder as the kitsune attacked again. He leapt back, drawing the demon away from the others while still trying to keep himself between them both. When the Kitsune lunged, he jumped at it, amber youki spilling from his claws. The kitsune slapped him from the air with a giant paw and sent him crashing to the ground.

Miroku frowned deeply. Inuyasha was going to have one hell of a battle on his hands if he couldn't use Tessaiga. Sango was holding him upright, pain still bleeding from the Jewel shards at his chest, but she was visibly hesitating to join in the fight as well. Kaede was likely in a similar position, and Kikyo… Kikyo, the one person who might be willing to fight Tsubaki properly, was nowhere to be seen. Miroku grasped his dagger tighter in his hand, reached for his sutras with the other, contemplating. If the others weren't willing to risk his life, then he would have to take things into his own hands.