Sorry this took so long to get up. I've been having problems with the internet lately. The servers are goin' crazy! Anywho, I rewrote chapter 8, so look at that before this.

            Also, I realize this chapter really sucks. I'm suffering from very mild writers block, so it's taking a little while to get my groove back. Hopefully, next chapter will be better, and come sooner.

**

InuYasha tenderly lifted Kagome up onto his back, holding Her up with Sango's boomerang. The young miko was now well bandaged and had Miroku's outer cloak draped around Her shoulders.

            "You will have to be very careful with Her." The monk instructed. "No jumping around or anything."

            InuYasha nodded, and turned towards the path leading to a side path leading to the main road. "I'm not stupid." He said, returning slightly to his arrogant tone of voice. Miroku grinned. The shock must be wearing off.

            "Well, in that case. We will wait for Sango, then be off.

            As if on queue, the youkai slayer walked into the clearing from the opposite side. "I'm back!" She called, once again dressed in Her plain village clothes. She walked up to the two men. "Have you seen Kirara around anywhere?" she asked.

            Miroku and InuYasha looked at each other. Then shook their Heads at the youkai hunter.

            Sango frowned, and crossed Her arms. "She didn't come when I called Her in battle either." She said. "I hope she's okay."

            InuYasha frowned at Her. "We don't have time to wait." He said. "We have to get Kagome to Kaede as soon as possible." He shrugged. "We'll have to leave Her behind, and let Her catch up."

            Sango started to protest, but quieted under the hanyou's stern gaze.

            InuYasha turned, and started walking down the road. "Looks like we're hoofin' it." He said. "Let's go."

            Miroku turned to Sango, shrugged, and followed after the hanyou.

~~

            InuYasha growled at the infuriatingly slow pace they were going. He glanced back at Kagome's pain-filled face. "Wan, if we didn't have to be so damn careful with Her, then we could be there by now!" He exclaimed.

            "You should feel more grateful." Miroku admonished.

            InuYasha glared at him threateningly. "What do you mean?" He asked.

            "We just survived an encounter with Atma." He said.

            InuYasha's mouth thinned to a tight line. "The Hell are you talking about?"

            Miroku looked at him in astonishment. "You really don't know who Atma is?" He asked.

            Sango looked over his shoulder, where she hung, Shippo sitting on Her Head placidly. "You really don't know?" She demanded. 

            Shippo looked at the conversation curiously. "What do you mean." HE said. "I don't know who Atma is either."

            Sango and Miroku sighed simultaneously. "Atma is a member of the dragon tribe." The formed explained. "And among the most powerful. She is the only dragon who could be classified as a Ancient Wyrm."

            InuYasha gave them both a confused look. "But why didn't Tetsusaiga affect Her?"

            Miroku shook his Head, and raised an imploring hand to the Heavens. "Dragons are not youkai." HE said. "And even if they were, it probably wouldn't have even tickled Her. 'Ancient Wyrm' is a title given only to the most powerful of dragons. Not only does the title depend on their power, but also on their intellect, wisdom, and cunning."

            InuYasha grimaced. He was liking this description less and less.

            "Atma would have to be at least a thousand years old even to qualify, more than likely more than that. Not only that, but there is only one allowed to exist at a time, so she would have had to have beaten the previous- no small task."

            Sango nodded to the confounded Hanyou. "We are really lucky to even be alive." She said. "Not only all that, but if were on Her bad side, there will be a flood of youkai attacking us, trying to get on Her good side."

            InuYasha rolled his eyes and growled in frustration. "Great!" He yelled. "Just frikkin' great!" HE hiked Kagome up on his shoulders a bit more, and doubled his walking pace.

            Miroku struggled to keep up. "Wait InuYasha!" He said, trying to hold Sango on his back and walk with a crutch at the same time.

            InuYasha stopped his fierce pace and turned to look at the monk. "C'mon monk!" He snarled, unusually harsh. "IF you can't keep up, then I'm leaving you behind!"

            Miroku's perceptive eyes saw right through InuYasha's tough exterior. "Honestly, InuYasha." He said. "You really are worried about Kagome. GO on ahead, I'll catch up."

            InuYasha's eyes widened, and He turned around, his face contorted with anger.

On his back, Kagome stirred slightly, and opened Her eyes.

"You don't have a clew!" InuYasha yelled at the monk. "If you think that I'm worried about Her then you don't know squat! I just want my shikon detector back! As soon as she's better, we can go looking for more jewel shards!" The Hanyou snarled at him once more, and turned to stalk away.

Miroku's look of shock turned to one of quieted laughter as He saw that Kagome was very much awake, and looked very upset. She took a big breath, and called out in a weak but loud voice. "SIT!"

~~

            Kaede looked up from Her cross-legged position to look at the roof. The soft pitter-patter of rain hitting Her thatched ceiling had turned fiercer. "I like not the looks of this." She said. Kagome and the others had been gone for a long time, and all the omens were bad. 

            She turned back to Her original position, and closed Her eyes. Kagome, She thought. I pray ye safe, child.