The ground shook violently in the village. Kagome ran out of her hut feeling the unmistakable surge of massive demonic energy cut through the forest. One was familiar and the other she couldn't place.

She grasped her quiver full of arrows along with her bow and ran in the direction her spiritual awareness directed her.

"Kagome!" Sango called out from behind her. She turned seeing Sango, Miroku, and Kohaku fast approaching her on Kirara.

She held out her hand as they went by and Miroku grasped her pulling her onto the demon cat. It was fluid and a move they had done many times over the years.

Once situated she grasped onto Sangos shoulders.

"That's Sesshomarus energy, isn't it?" Sango asked.

"Yes and he's transformed." Kagome affirmed.

"What enemy could be around that would force Lord Sesshomaru to have to use his true form?" Kohaku wondered gripping his kusurigama tightly.

"Whatever it is, I think we may be in for quite the fight unlike one we've seen in a long time." Miroku stated.

The sky around them began to blacken. The smell of burnt woods and acrid soil assaulted their senses. Thick air made it hard to breathe as soot, then finally burning embers, threatened the humans air supply.

Kirara went higher allowing a better view and some relief from the fires that ravaged the land below them.

"There!" Kagome pointed. Sesshomaru was unmistakable in his true form, clearly injured he seemed to be holding something down with his large front paw spewing his poison saliva onto it.

In an eruption the being flew out from his grasp sending a flaming cauldron of poison flying into the air and forest.

"Ah!" Miroku exclaimed. "An Akuma!" He gripped his staff more tightly and readied his talismans. "I don't know if these will work."

"You mean those are real?" Kagome ogled the being.

"Honestly Kagome it surprises me that you are still so surprised when it comes to these matters." Sango said.

"Okay!" She said standing unsteadily on Kirara. She grasped an arrow and pulled her bow string taught. The demons head was nothing more than a charred skull. "Hit the mark!"

It's back was turned to them. It's body seemed to dissipate into smoke allowing the sacred arrow to pass straight through it.

"What!?" Kagome shouted in shock. The demon was engulfed in flames as it materialized a blackened blade and turned its attention towards them hovering slightly above it.

"Hiraikotsu!" Sango slung the heavy weapon at it only to have it easily deflected with its sword. It rushed them catching Kirara off balance. "Kagome!"

She yelled out as she fell. Clutching onto her bow she was able to reach into her quiver as she tumbled to the earth. "Please don't miss." She pulled the arrow only to have the creature swat it away. "What is this thing?!"

She felt strong arms wrap around her as they landed safely in a tree, one of the few left standing. "Why are you here?" Sesshomaru demanded.

"To help!"

"Your presence is a hinderance!" He stated. "It is not safe for any of you!"

"Sesshomaru, I felt your energy! I haven't felt you use that amount in years." She said. "I was worried about you!"

"Stay here." He commanded jumping from the branch he had set her on and transformed back into his true form.

"Sacred sutras!" Miroku managed to land a few on it and it almost seemed to slow it down somewhat. Kohaku saw the opportunity to throw his deadly blade at it.

The demon growled as he was hit and impaled. Kohaku hurled the being down with the chain wrenching the sickle from its chest. Sesshomaru easily caught it in his open maw bringing the demon back down to the ground.

Kagome watched from her perch as it burned him as he held it in place. "Oh no! Sesshomaru!" Quickly she pulled out an arrow and pulled it taut against her bow string. "This time I won't miss! Sesshomaru, close your eyes!"

He glanced up in time to see the sacred arrow come flying straight towards his face. Tightly he closed his eyes feeling the sacred energy burn the Akuma and sending it back to the netherworld where it belonged.

Kagome watched as Sesshomaru wavered and fell on his side. "Sesshomaru!" Kagome shouted readying herself to jump down.

"No Kagome! The areas covered in Sesshomarus poison! You can't go down there!" Sango shouted as Kirara came closer to her.

"He's hurt! I can't just leave him down there!" She retorted. Miroku grasped a talisman from his bag and tossed it down to where Sesshomaru lay. It landed on his body causing him to transform back to the guise he generally held.

"At least this way we can bring him back to the village." He said.

"Thank you Miroku." Kagome said gratefully feeling tears well in her eyes.

"Kohaku, our armor should protect us for a short time. At least until we can get him onto Kirara." Sango glanced at her younger brother received an affirmative nod.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" All eyes turned to see Jaken arriving on An-Un. "What have these humans done to you?"

"Jaken? Where have you been?" Kagome asked noting for the first time it had been years since she had seen the kappa demon.

"Who cares! I must attend to my lord!" He swooped down quickly towards Sesshomaru.

"Looks like you've got some competition Kagome." Sango joked.

"Ew, no." She replied as Kirara landed next to the fallen demon. Jaken fussed and pointed an accusing finger at them all.

Kagome grasped onto Sesshomarus hand as soon as she could and held him against her for the trip back to the village.