Okay, it's time for some personal responses to reviews! Here we go!

            Tinuviel: Don't worry, if you don't find out about Aaron in this fic, you'll find out about both him and Kitty in my next fic, (It's a sequel). Also, you're scaring me with that precognition… you shouldn't say stuff like that, you're creeping me out!

            Kitty Katana: Why thank you so much for you're kind words. And don't worry about leaving long critical reviews, those are what I prefer! I love people to tell me how to improve, just so long as it makes some sense. I hate senseless flames, though. They're pointless, and do no-one any good. I'm always up for constructive criticism, though.  Thanks!

            InusGirl: … um… wow… you sound like me… only I'm like that after making up in the morning. You don't wanna see me sleep deprived.

            Destiny Smasher: Good luck on you're regents, and always remember: That which does not kill you, can only make you weirder!

            CivilWarBuff: I thank you very much for you're constructive criticism, and you're kind words. You have really helped me through this. Thanks a bunch.

And for all those people who wanted the pictures: They might take a while longer to do than I thought, but I'll get them to you. Just a warning though, I'm really not that great of an artist (Yet.) I'm largely just drawing Atma and Vadise once a day, just so I can get the practice. So, I'll send you my best once the fic is finished, which shouldn't be to much longer now. (Maybe a week, or two.)

            And for everyone else, thank you for all you're kind words and inspiration. I love you guys!

            And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, (Trumpet fanfare) THE ANNOYING DISCLAIMERS!

            Okay, seriously, I need to give some credit. InuYasha is (Duh!) Not mine.

            The characters Atma and Vadise are both mine, but their names come from two different square soft games. (Atma is from FFVI, and Vadise is from Legend of Mana)

            Aaron and Kitty are commissioned by my friends, but their pretty much mine. You can use them if you ask my permission first, same with Atma and Vadise. Toodles, have a good day.

**

            "Atma?" Sango asked incredulously.

            "I'm telling you, they said they work for Atma!" Shippo said for the fifth time.

            Miroku rubbed his right hand, deep in thought. "But, didn't Kohaku work for Naraku?"

            "He didn't have the slightest idea who Naraku was." Shippo insisted, getting bored of the conversation. It had been in repeat for several minutes.

            "But why is Kirara here?" Sango asked, confused.

            "I don't know!" Shippo almost yelled. "All I know is that they promised Kagome would be alright, and they said we should follow Kohaku."

            Sango sniffed. "But if Kohaku is working for Atma, then why should we trust him?"

            "Because he can't go in to Shinjuku any more than we can." Miroku answered for Shippo, breaking the already broken record of speech. "Shippo's reasoning is sound, and you wanted to find you're brother, don't you?"

            At this, Sango was visibly torn. "But, what about Kagome?" She asked, worried about her friend.

            Miroku shrugged. "We have just as much of a chance of finding Vadise following someone than we do if we are just wandering blindly." He said reasonably. "Also, there is definitely more to Atma than we originally thought. She seems to almost be helping us."

            Shippo nodded. "That's what I thought too."  He said. "Kohaku was saying something like that, but Kirara shut him up."

            Sango looked up. "How did Kirara make him shut up?" She asked.

            "She told him." Shippo said, shrugging.

            "But Kirara doesn't talk!" Sango insisted, still having trouble grasping the concept that Kohaku was here, certainly not ready to deal with Kirara as well.

            "You tell her that." Shippo said defensively.

            Sango sat down heavily. "I don't know what to do." She said, thoroughly confused.  

            Miroku put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Let's do as Kirara suggests." He advised. "It seems to be the best course of action right now."

            Sango looked up at Miroku, and nodded thankfully. "Right." She said, "Let's go."

            Miroku smiled at her, and nodded.

            With that, they all rose, and took off after their rouge friends.

~~

            InuYasha awoke very slowly. He was more comfortable here than her had been in a long, long time. There was something about this that just seemed right to him... why?

            And why did her have a sneaking suspicion that it had to do with the young girl snuggled up against his chest.

            He squeezed Kagome comfortingly, and took a deep breath of her fragrant hair. Whatever that 'shampoo' stuff she always bragged about was, he didn't mind it. Suddenly, InuYasha shook himself. He loved Kikyo! What was he doing... but Kikyo was dead… No! She was alive! She was out there somewhere, confused and alone! That was why she had been acting so strange! That was why she had tried to kill Kagome. IT was just that everyone hated her! InuYasha had to get to her, to help her, to bring her back to normal. That was it! That was the truth… it had to be the truth… it had to be.

            Then why did InuYasha feel so strongly that it was wrong…

            Kagome twitched in her sleep, attracting InuYasha's attention. How did this girl who looked so much like Kikyo factor into it? She had Kikyo's soul in her… then did that mean the Kikyo who was running about now wasn't real? It was all so confusing… and what about Kagome, all the matter of souls put aside. She was one of the only ones who ever really treated him with any respect… Kikyo had done that too… or had anyway. Now she was so very cold… so very cold.

            Kagome, though. She was kind, gentle, and friendly… almost to a fault, and yet she had that special edge that Kikyo had had, determination, calm, kindness, and a bit of temper, all rolled together in one person. InuYasha had never met anyone like Kagome. Even Kikyo was easier to figure out than her at times.

            Kagome nuzzled up once more, tickling InuYasha with her bangs. InuYasha looked fondly down at the girl, and did the only thing he knew was right. His lips grazed the soft skin of her cheek, and then was fast asleep.

~~

            InuYasha gently shook Kagome awake in the morning, feeling much more comfortable now that he had all his senses back.

            "Hmm." Kagome said, comfortably, turning over in her sleep.

            "Kagome, we need to get up!" InuYasha said gently. Kagome rolled over, and gazed up at InuYasha.

            "Tea!" She demanded!

            "Kagome." InuYasha said warningly, holding up her golden chain.

            Grumbling lightly, Kagome stumbled out of bed, and stretched. "Fine." She said, grumbling. InuYasha shrugged, and looked at the blood on his clothes. "This'll be hard to explain." He said.

            Kagome shrugged. "You'll figure it out." She said. "You caught me by surprise when you started acting like a youkai. I never knew you could act." She commented, and watched in amusement as InuYasha, as predicted uttered his normal "Feh!"

            There was a sudden, and very urgent rap at the door. InuYasha glanced over, and strode towards the door. "Can I help you?" he asked in his youkai tenor, opening the door cautiously.

            Suddenly, the door burst inward, and closed very quickly. Standing there, breathing heavily, was Aaron, the drunk. However, he looked very not drunk now.

            "What is the meaning of this?" InuYasha demanded, getting to his feet.

            "The jigs up, InuYasha!" Aaron said quickly. "Can the youkai stuff!" He said.

            InuYasha blinked at him. "Excuse me?" He said, still in his tenor.

            "I said can the youkai voice, and take off those ridiculous clothes!" Aaron commanded. "Is Kitty here yet?" He asked.

            "Right here!" Came a tart voice. InuYasha whirled around to see a black cat-girl laying calmly on their bed, licking her curled up hand gingerly.

            "Hmm…" Aaron said. "Good, were ready to go." He said.

            "What's going on?" InuYasha yelled.

            "Sesshoumaru decided to stop by home for a little while." Kitty said. "He heard that there was a strange new youkai named Kain in town, and somehow immediately know it was you. As of  now, you've got a big mob after you. We are planning on jumping out the window, and helping you get out of Shinjuku with you're skins.

            InuYasha blinked. "You're the blue wolf thing, aren't you." He asked.

            Kitty nodded cheerfully. "Yep!" She said. "I love being able to change my shape, it's so useful!"

            InuYasha and Kagome blinked in unison.

            "Anywho!" Aaron said, smiling. "We had better get going. You two go first." He said, pointing at the window. InuYasha cocked his head at him.

            "Yes?" He prompted. Aaron rolled his eyes.

            "You grab the miko, and jump through the window." He said, as if it was obvious.

            Kitty sighed. "This is taking to long!" She declared, and jumped off the bed. Like lightning, she grabbed Kagome, and crashed out the window with a deafening clatter, sending shards of broken glass everywhere.

            "You'd better hurry!" Aaron called, leaping out the window as well.

            InuYasha uttered about a million different swear words under his breath, and leapt out the window as well, drawing Tetsusaiga. He was greeted by a veritable battle ground. What he didn't expect, however, was the youkai fighting each other. The four landed lightly, and instantly, Kitty began running towards the far exit with Kagome. "C'mon!" She yelled behind her. "I've got some friends helping us out. We gotta go!"

Aaron nodded, grabbed InuYasha's arm, and started to run.

            There was chaos all around them. It looked like they had started a veritable war. Kagome had to gasp at the sheer strength that she was sensing in these youkai. They were in a league of all their own. She hadn't even felt this much strength from Naraku, the few times they had met him. Why were these youkai content to stay here in this city? They could easily have subjugated the mainland… what kept them from doing so?

            There was a slight 'whoosh,' and they passed out of the city gate, and into the lush green forest. Soon, Kitty slowed down, and stopped. InuYasha dashed up, and Aaron only a little behind him. "Well, that worked pretty well!" Aaron said.

            Kitty scoffed. "Well, as long as you don't count Shinjuku being in civil war, yes." She said acidly.

            "I don't get it." Kagome said. "Why were they killing their own people?"

            Kitty sighed. "Well, all Sesshoumaru really said was that the visitor was InuYasha. Just about everyone knows that name, so it didn't take long. There had been tensions growing between those who agreed with InuTaisho, and those who thought humans aught to be subjugated."

            Kagome blinked. "I don't understand."

            "My old man wanted to have slavery abolished." InuYasha said roughly. "He said that humans should be allowed to stay in Shinjuku unopposed, and have rights too."

            Kagome snorted. "How did that go over?" She asked.

            InuYasha grinned at her. "Not as bad as one might think." He said. "Pops had a pretty good ground of followers, and not all the youkai actually think that humans are inferior." He snorted. "That bastard you saw killing his slave was just bad timing. Most of the youkai in Shinjuku treat their humans alright."

            Kagome nodded. "That's good." She remarked.

            "However, that 'bastard' as you call him, was you're father's main opponent." Aaron filled in. "He thinks we should go in to the mainland, and take over it too. HE acts like we own this island."

            Kagome looked at him. "Don't you?" She asked.

            Aaron looked at her, then started laughing hysterically. Kitty patted her shoulder. "Listen, we live on the dragons' island." She informed the miko. "Me and Aaron here, well, we're dragoons. We serve the dragons. But as for the rest of Shinjuku, the dragons let them stay because it would be a pain in the tail to get up and remove them. We aren't even a minor inconvenience to them. Albeit most of Shinjuku wouldn't admit it."

            Kagome grimaced. "Are the dragons really that powerful?" She asked.

            Kitty nodded. "Yes." She murmured. "Not only do they have immense physical power, but they have spiritual powers to match many of the most powerful mikos. There were only two that even the dragons couldn't compare with: Midoriko the warrior-priestess, and Kikyo, the shrine-maiden."

            Kagome and InuYasha were suddenly very quiet. Then Kagome rubbed her chin. "But, when Atma attacked us, she called down lightning down at us." She said. "No miko I know can do that."

            Kitty's eyes suddenly widened. "Atma didn't say that she used magic on you when she attacked!" She yelled.

            InuYasha and Kagome looked up suddenly. "What?" They both demanded.

            Kitty suddenly put her hands over her mouth. "Ehehehe!" She laughed nervously. "Nothing, nothing at all." She rubbed the back of her head. "But magic, that was what I was getting to!" She said. "Magic is a very special force that belongs to the dragons alone. Humans and youkai can often perform minor feats of sorcery  in the form of incantations or potions, but only dragons can wield raw untamed magic. It's like a force of nature, and an experienced dragon is almost unstoppable once it starts using magic."

            Kagome scratched her head. "But I thought magic was only able to be used with, I dunno, magic incantations, and such. You have to cast specific spells, and such."

            Kitty sighed. "Looks like somebody's been reading way too many books!" She remarked. "Listen, humans like people to think that they're the masters of everything, and so they put all sorts of restrictions on things to make it seem like they're the masters of it, but you can't do that with magic. It's a force, not a bunch of spells."

            Kagome nodded. "Oh." She said.

            "Well, then!" Said a new, arrogant voice. "If you are really all done with that, then I believe we will be taking the hanyou and the human."

            All four of the newly formed allies whipped around. Standing side by side were two youkai, both were familiar. Sesshoumaru stood emotionlessly on the right. An the left, stood the wolf youkai who had killed the girl yesterday.

            "Looks like we have the traitors." He said.

            Sesshoumaru paid him no mind. "I am here for InuYasha. You can do what you will with the rest" He said emotionlessly.

            InuYasha looked up, and locked eyes with his brother. "You want some again?" He asked.

            The wolf youkai nodded. "You take the pup, Sesshoumaru." He said. "I'll take the others." He fixed a hungering glance at Kagome. "I didn't really want to buy a new slave." He said. "Now it looks like I won't have to."

            Kagome had a chilling moment. InuYasha would have all he could do with Sesshoumaru. Could these two really defend her against such a powerful youkai. Aaron was human, and Kitty didn't really look like a fighting type.

            Suddenly Aaron started laughing. "Hey, Kitty?" He asked. "Can I take him?" He asked. "It's been a while since I last had some exercise."

            Kitty sighed, "Fine," She said. "Have fun."

            Kagome blinked. What could a human do against a noble youkai? Hopefully, more than she thought.

**

            Sorry for the crappy ending, but I had to end it somewhere. Just wait till tomorrow. You've got two major fight scenes coming your way! Have a good day!