(Inuyasha and Co do not belong to me. I just like to write about them. A/N: I'm starting to believe that Sess-chan is the one who is trying to prolong this fic to epic proportions.
Sess-chan: I am not and besides nothing less than an epic would suit the great Sesshoumaru.
See, when they start talking to you that's the time to run! Well okay, not Sess-chan, Jaken, yes - after you beat the holy heck out of him. And don't worry, I'm pretty sure that Jaken will snap out of his hatred soon enough and his loyalty to Sesshoumaru will win out in the end. And another note- Kagome's school uniform is mentioned - it's not a mistake, just part of the plot! Gah! I'm SO trying to finish this thing, but it's like the characters have took over! Ahhhh! Thanx again for the comments!)





Kanashimi no Hate ni - End To Sorrow - Twenty-Five

Maritsuko the Shapeshifter/Onigumo's Plans

The youkai was disgused quite well - it had to be since he was in the world where the humans ruled. It came up through the well, a small shard of the Shikon attached to it's forehead temporarily. This youkai - Maritsuko - was a shapeshifter, and in fact had started out life as a fox-kitsume long ago, but in the course of his long life, Maritsuko had always desired power - much more than he had as a fox-youkai.
He of course ran into the newly corrupted shard of the Shikon and had been taken in by Kanna'na, the soul-stealer. But Maritsuko was picked for this job and while his original body had been left behind to rot, a semi-permanent body was his to command for now. He was free of the shard but not really, for Kanna'na still held control of his soul - even from here. He could shatter Maritsuko's soul in an instant since they shared a two-way connection. Maritsuko did not wish to die the living death of the soul, oh no. He wanted to partake in the Power that was to come.

Emerging from the Boneater's Well, Maritsuko looked up to the heavens and smiled. It was night here. Good. Perfect for what he was ordered to do. It had been easy to get to the well from that miserable village, disguising himself as the old hag miko that ran the place.

Silently and swiftly, he made his way to the door that separated the well from the outside and cautiously looked out. There was no one about although he could hear the wail of some inhuman beast in the distance. It was a constant sound, and Maritsuko attributed it to this strange world that these humans had inhabited. Maritsuko could not say how he knew that the Bone-Eater's Well was a path to this world, only that he knew that there were people here that had a connection to the resurrected miko.

With an inhuman speed, Maritsuko made his way to the dwelling that was aglow with bright lights. These humans must have employed some sort of youkai magic to produce such a light, but it would not matter. He gave himself the illusion of invisibilty as he looked into the window. There he saw a woman, an old man and a young human boy sitting at a table getting ready to eat. They were wearing strange garb, all except for the old man, who seemed to be wearing decent clothing at least. Maritsuko closed his eyes and relied upon the shared memory of the reincarnated miko, Kagome to change into her image. Maritsuko opened his eyes and looked down at himself. Perfect. Right down to the indecent green and white kimono! He smiled and and with a flick of his hand, opened the door that led to the kitchen.

"Eh? Who is it?" Maritsuko heard the old man exclaim, but he said nothing. He could shape shift, but he could not duplicate Kagome's voice. He walked into the kitchen and faced the ones who were seated at the table.

"Kagome!" The old man looked relieved. "We were wondering just what happened to you, granddaughter!"

The woman went towards Maritsuko and suddenly stopped with a slight frown. Damn, the bitch knew something was up, he could feel it.

"Hey, Kagome! Why are you wearing your old school uniform? You haven't worn that in ages!" The boy looked at her oddly.

Bah! Maritsuko frowned. He had them where he wanted them! Smiling cruelly, he concentrated and the Shikon fragment glowed to where even the humans could see it.

"A - a Shikon shard!" Sota exclaimed. "That's not Kagome!"

"What!" Grandfather exclaimed sharply.

"Sota..get away from here.." His mother said. "Where's Kagome? What have you done with her?"

Maritsuko's eyes were hard as he smirked at the unfortunate humans. "You'll see your Kagome soon."

"Sota! Run! NOW!" The mother shot her frozen child a look. "You too, grandfather!"

"No, I'm not leaving you here alone, woman!" The old man snapped, holding up several scrolls guaranteed to ward of evil youkai. He always had some on him just in case.

Suddenly the shard in Maritsuko's forehead bathed them in an eerie light, but Sota managed to scramble out of the way before it hit him. Sota watched in horror as his mother and grandfather screamed as they were sucked into the shard!

"Mom! Grandfather!!" Sota felt tears in his eyes.

"You're next, brat.." Maritsuko grinned ferally.

"Ahhhhh!!!" Sota ran as quickly as he could outside. Surely this was a nightmare and he'd wake up and Kagome would be all right. Everyone would be all right! He ran to the well-house, slamming the door behind him, panting for breath. He made it! Boy, he forgot how dark it was in here. Even at his age, he hated the dark - ever since that thing had dragged Kagome in that fateful day.

"Open up, boy!" Sota nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Geez! I'm not that stupid!" Sota felt his knees knocking.

Then all became quiet - errily quiet. Maybe it was gone, whatever it was. Maybe this was really a nightmare and he didn't see his mom and grandfather sucked up into that jewel thing. Cautiously he unbolted the door and peered outside. Nothing. Visibly relieved, Sota took one step and suddenly heard a yowl which made him jump ten feet.

"Aaaaahh!"

"Meowr?"

Sota felt stupid. It was Buyo, their fat cat.

"Man, Buyo, you scared me!" Sota kneeled down to pet the oftentimes clumsy cat. Buyo meowed and then flipped over on his back, wanting to be petted. Sota petted the cat and heard it purr. He smiled.Yeah, that's what it was, it was just some really weird -

It was then that he saw Buyo's paw extend as if they were stretched out. Quickly they wrapped around Sota tightly as the cat grew and then changed before Sota's shocked eyes. He recognized - Inuyasha!

"Hello, boy..remember me?" Sota saw the jewel embedded on his forehead and was startled out of his initial shock into action.

"Let - me - go!" Sota pleaded.

And then the shard glowed with it's errie light, focusing on Sota's pale face.

"Nooooooo!!!" Sota screamed. "Kag - go - me!!!!"

Sota was sucked into the Shikon shard.

Maritsuko changed back into his true form as he got up. He smiled. He had done well. However, there was not much time to reflect on that. The youkai sprinted towards the open well of the Bone Eaters, and emerged on the other side, his prizes within the shard...

*****

"Uh.." Shippo's eyes tried to focus when he smelled a familar scent. His eyes flew open as he saw the familar figure kneeling near him, her face filled with concern.

"Kagome!!" Shippo launched herself into her arms just as he used to, snuggling against her.

Kagome laughed. "Shippo-chan!" She hugged the little kitsume back. Sesshoumaru, who was watching the whole thing, frowned.

"I found you! I really found - yiiiiiii!!!!!! " Shippo's eyes grew very large as he saw Sesshoumaru glowering at him. He ducked under Kagome's arm but then peered out again as he remembered that he was supposed to protect Kagome. He launched himself onto Sesshoumaru's leg, biting him with his little teeth for all his worth. Rin giggled at Shippo and Kagome looked horrified. Sesshoumaru peered down and flicked the little kitsume off his leg like one would shoo off a fly. Kagome caught Shippo, preventing him from hitting a wall. She gave Sesshoumaru a look.

"Do you MIND?" Kagome asked.

"Yes I DO." Sesshoumaru said.

Shippo then looked up at Kagome. She had changed! What had evil Sesshoumaru done to her?

"It's all right, Shippo. Sesshoumaru is on our side."

Sesshoumaru lifted his chin haughtily as if to refute that comment. It was the equivalent of Inuyasha's 'Feh.' or so it seemed to Kagome.

"What - what happened to you?" Shippo looked fearful. "And where's Kirara?"

"There.." Kagome smiled. "See? She's winding around Rin's legs."

"Kirara likes Rin!" The little girl looked very pleased. Jaken, standing nearby, did not.

"As to what happened to me..it's a long story. Sesshoumaru had nothing to do with it, but I'm turning hanyou or demon, I'm - not sure. Where's Sango and Miroku?"

It was then that the little kitsume quickly told her what happened to Sango and Miroku and that they had been looking for her.

Kagome paled. "Inside the Shikon itself? Then if this Kanna'na has gathered most of the shards.."

"Uh huh, Kagome.." Shippo said fearfully. "We've got to get them out!"

"You're right, Shippo." Kagome's eyes grew dark as she rose. "I should have went to find the shards to begin with. Now Naraku or Onigumo may have all the shards and that mean trouble here and in my time."

"No." Sesshoumaru said flatly.

"I've got to save my friends!" Kagome exclaimed.

"You won't help them if you go out with nothing to lead you. That little wall-hanging.."

"Hey!" Shippo exclaimed and then abruptly squeaked as Sesshoumaru pointed a claw meaningfully at him.

"That little wall-hanging will be of little use to you." He finally finished.

"Well, I'm not sitting here waiting!" Kagome balled her fists. Damn, but didn't he understand?

Rin, looked up from Kirara, concerned.

"You will be a fool if you venture out now.." Sesshoumaru said. "You have no leads as to where they are. You may be able to follow that cursed Shikon, but you would travel the world before you could find their trail. That would be futile."

He had a point there, Kagome thought. And Onigumo - that burned up youkai, he seemed to be fixated upon her. Could it be that they were coming here? Her eyes widened. Surely not! No, no one would be fool to challenge Sesshoumaru...

Unless they possesed the shard.

"I think they will come here.." Kagome said softly.

Sesshoumaru raised a brow. "If so, they will die by my hand."

"It's not so easy as that", Kagome shivered.

"It is for Sesshoumaru. Come, Rin. " And with that, he left the room. leading the disappointed Rin out.

Jaken stood there a moment, his eyes unreadable, his thoughts troubled and confused. They were like that when he wasn't consumed with hate for Rin and Kagome. He felt something within him flare and then he felt the hate well up in him again. This time Kagome caught the look and snapped, "Toad, where are those Shikon shards you picked up?"

Jaken snapped out of his reverie. "I don't know what you are talking about, you deluded female!"

"I think you do." Kagome's blue eyes flashed dangerously as she extended one of her clawed hands.

"K- kagome.." Shippo squeaked. "You're - you're scaring me.."

"Get away from me.." Jaken hissed. "Only Sesshoumaru-sama is my master! Don't think because he's rutted with you, that you're suddenly the mistress of his house!"

Kagome blanched. It was bad when a disgusting little toad like Jaken knew about your sex life.

Jaken quickly exited before she could question him further. Damn, she suspected! He clutched at the baboon skin pouch that was under his robes and he felt relief flow within him. Soon this would all be over and things would be as they were..

****

Onigumo stood upon the high hill that overlooked the Western Lands and sighed audibly. He was free but then he was not. Soon, soon, he'd have a wonderous body, powerful, strong, and with the power of youkai souls and the Shikon no Tama, why he'd be invincible. His burned lips curled over his blackened teeth. The ultimate crime, oh yes. Thief of all thieves that had ever lived. He, Onigumo would show them all, show that baboon-fool Naraku, he with all his, 'kukuku's' and stupid utterings.

And of course, when he was in his perfect body, he would have the miko-incarnate by his side, in his bed for as long as he desired. He did not think he would ever get tired of her. He would have many lifetimes in which to corrupt her slowly, making her his devoted slave and lover.

At first he had felt sheer rage when he found out that the dog-demon had taken his woman carnally, but now that Onigumo had some time to think about it, it would not matter. Soon the dog demon's body would be his once he was dead, his soul drawn into the mirror. Once there, he would make sure the dog-demon's soul was destroyed utterly. Then he, Onigumo would take his body and celebrate his victory over his miko in the most delicious of ways. Gods, how he hungered for that woman! She had been a blight to his soul, he had wanted her that badly.

It was then that he caught a stray wisp of thought and then he sensed them. Ah, Maritsuko had been successful. The miko-incarnate's family and her friends were within the shards. Now it would not be so easy for the miko to challenge him. In fact, she would be on her knees begging him to spare their lives before it was over!

Onigumo chucked softly. Feh. Weak human heart, eh? Turned out rather strong. He had been a fool to detest being human - hence Naraku. But Naraku would have his uses.

He, Onigumo would inflicit Naraku upon the miko's unspecting world..