So, I'm finally back.  Thanks to all those who supported me when I was mad at my friends and parents.  I'm feeling especially depressed right now because I just got a 0 on a government essay worth 60% of my final grade because I didn't put a few sentences in quotes.  My dad assumes I just didn't try hard enough.  Bull shit.  My mom understands, but she's still upset.  Shit, man, I should've put quotes on the sentences, but I shouldn't have gotten a damn 0.  Government is a waste of my time, and the teachers' presence on this planet is a waste of my time, all my fellow peers' time and the precious air we're losing every time a tree gets cut down.  In case you didn't get the point yet, I'M PISSED.  On to the story…

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inu Yasha but I'm still working on the keychain thing…

            The past few days had been a very hectic time for Miroku and the others.  He kept lapsing in and out of consciousness, and every once in a while, a small amount of blood would seep between the man's lips when he coughed.  Even Inu Yasha was worried about the monk, but he dared not show it; he didn't want anyone thinking he'd gone soft.  Kagome tried her best to help Miroku, but her limited selection of herbs made it very difficult.  It would take at least a week to get back to the well and to Kagome's own time, and that was much too long.  Traveling with the monk could be his downfall, but leaving him without Kagome's knowledge was just as fatal.  The travelers had no choice but to bide their time and wait…

            It was on the fourth day that the group had fled the late lord's mansion that a very unwelcome guest arrived.  It was a dark day, the clouds loomed over head, threatening to burst and spill their contents upon the weary band beneath them.  The breeze brought with it a sense of unease, seeming to warn the people of what was to come.

            Inu Yasha sniffed the air, catching the scent of an unpleasant visitor nearby.  The hanyou fingered the Tetsusaiga's hilt anxiously and hopped to the ground from his seat among the tree branches.

            "Is something wrong, Inu Yasha?" Kagome asked from her seat by the fire.

            "Sesshomaru," the demon muttered.

            Kagome gasped, and Sango readied her boomerang.

            "Alright, Sesshomaru, we know you're here!" Inu Yasha called angrily.

            The aforementioned yokai stepped out of the forests' shadows.

            "Let me guess, you came to steal Tetsusaiga?" Inu Yasha said mockingly.

            It was then that the smell of blood and sickness hit the hanyou's nose in full force.  It was weak a moment ago, just tainting the edges of his senses, but now the scent was heavy in his nostrils.  Sesshomaru looked at his brother with pain and desperation in his eyes, and then collapsed.

            "What…what the hell?!" Inu Yasha said, completely in shock.

            Without warning, an eerie cackle broke the humid air.

            "Naraku..." Inu Yasha growled.

            "Why didn't I sense him before?  Why didn't I sense Sesshomaru either?"

            "Kagome, is tonight the new moon?"

            The girl looked startled, then nodded.  The previous night, there had been the thinnest slice of bisque hanging in the sky.

            "Damn it," the hanyou cursed quietly.

            "Yes, Inu Yasha, it is very unfortunate that tonight is the new moon.  I had asked Lord Sesshomaru if he cared to aid me in an attempt to kill you, but he was less than ardent to help.  It seems he actually wants to join your pathetic little cluster of human friends.  Wanted to assist you in your sad little effort to destroy me, wanted to get revenge for killing the human child he was so fond of," The hanyou walked from behind the cover of the trees, clad in his baboon skin, yet not wearing the head piece.

            Naraku smiled, eyes flashing a sort of smugness that irritated the hell out of Inu Yasha.

            "I was forced to exert a measure of caution; I wouldn't want two demons pitted against me."

            "You sick bastard!" The dog demon roared, drawing his sword.

            "Sesshomaru may have tried to kill me many times before, but he is still my BROTHER!"

            With that, Inu Yasha leapt at Naraku, the mighty Tetsusaiga poised for battle in his claws.  The baboon-clothed demon leapt out of the path of the blade, but did not attack Inu Yasha, nor Sango or Kagome.  Instead, he sped towards Miroku; who was still unconscious.  The hanyou wrapped a hand tightly around the monk's neck, and began to squeeze.

            "Get away from him!" Sango yelled, drawing her sword as well.

            The woman rushed at Naraku, ready to slice him up, when the demon's grip tightened considerably around Miroku's wind pipe.  Even in the man's unconscious state, a quiet gasp issued from the man's lips.

            "Ah, ah, ah, demon huntress.  I wouldn't get too close if I were you.  Wouldn't want the monk's neck to snap, would we?"

            Naraku grinned again, lifting Miroku into the air.  The man hung limply, his feet dangling a few inches from the ground.

            "Put him down," Sango hissed.

            "Listen to her, Naraku, put him down…" Inu Yasha said, anger creeping into his voice with every word.

            The demon smirked.

            "No, I don't think I will…"

            With that, Naraku gave Miroku a forceful squeeze, and this time, the monk screamed.

            "NO!" Inu Yasha yelled, moving towards the demon with great speed.

            The dog demon struck Naraku with his mighty sword, and the pelt split in two.  It was another puppet.  The hanyou sheathed his sword, and bent down to the monk.  It seemed that last clutch had woken up Miroku very well, his eyes were wide, but blank and unblinking.  Inu Yasha placed his hand over the man's mouth, although he knew it would only confirm what he already figured out.  The hanyou slowly rose, his eyes locking with Sango's.

            "He's…dead…"

            OH NO, I CAN'T BELIEVE I DID THAT!  *sniff* I KILLED him, I killed MIROKU!  Sorry this chapter was so short, I have a ton of studying to do and maybe I'll be able to get another chapter out this week since this one wasn't lengthy!  I'm in a much better mood now too, just ignore my ranting at the beginning ^_^ '  Heh, I get mad REALLY easily, oh yeah…  So, what did you think?  I know, I can't believe Miroku is dead, but…not all is as it seems! You'll have to wait until the next chapter to find out what I mean!  Review please!!