WHOO! Okay, sorry for the delay, but I haven't been able to get to a computer lately.

            Now, in response to my reviews, most are still positive, great job, but some are more critical.

            Let me be clear. I LIKE critical reviews. They help me in my writing. So, if you think I'm doing something wrong, then please let me know in a polite, nice manner, and it'll help me write better.

            Now, Just to those who told me some things:

            Kirara talking. I meant to put in a little explanation for that, but I ended up leaving it out, because I couldn't integrate it with the story well, and it sort of interrupted things. I'll try to throw that in later, when it works better.

            Next, Kagome. People remarked that she seems unusually well for someone who gonna die in less than a week. Perfectly valid statement, that. I thought I was doing a good job making her seem hurt, but looking back, I see that I really didn't do that good of a job doing that. I'll try and correct this in this chapter, and here on out.

            Now, another comment, is that my story has many contradictions… for instance, InuTaisho having two graves, and so on. This has a multitude of causes. One, is because of my own ignorance. I have seen only really half the series (maybe 10 or fifteen episodes past where the #&^!* Adult Swim stops), and the first movie, so I really don't know all that much about it.  Another reason is my own forgetfulness. And the third is plot stuff that will be explained in the future.

            Just for future reference, I am planning on writing a series of fics, this being the first. There will probably be about four, and once I am done, I'm gonna go back, and Edit them again, once I've had all the experience, and fix the flaws. So, please, tell me if you see anything that is in error, and thank you to all who have.

            And one last thing, to address a question, a Wyrm, is simply a status. A dragon would be called a "Wyrm" The same way one would be called a "Lord," or a "Duke," or a "Baron."

            I hope that clears up everything. There will be a better explanation about the dragon status system in this next chapter, so hold tight, and here we go!

**

            InuYasha walked slowly along, drowning in his own anxieties. Kagome was definitely getting worse. And what really annoyed him, was that she wouldn't tell him. Whenever he asked, she always said that she was fine, that it was just a little headache. But the hanyou wasn't blind. She was spending more of her time sleeping in the quilt, and even someone with human vision could see the sweat on her brow, and pain in her face. But the damn girl wouldn't tell him what was wrong, so there was no way he could even help her!

            InuYasha grimaced, and quickened his pace. The only hope for the stubborn girl was to get her to Vadise as fast as possible, and pray that she could help the miko.

            There was a soft moan from behind him, and he shifted a worrying glance back at Kagome. She had fallen asleep again, and was twisting uncomfortably in sleep.

            The hanyou growled angrily. She didn't deserve this! Why did that damn Atma have to attack them. What the hell did she want? InuYasha had been puzzling over the issue up until he had seen the glacier.

            He had assumed that the glacier would have been downhill! After all, they were in the mountains. However, the massive hill of ice that rose above him contradicted his previous thoughts. There was a small, slippery path up the great mountain, and InuYasha, deciding to use discretion for one, prudently decided to take the easy path.

            However, the path soon would not be easy. IT wouldn't be long before the started running into snow, and then things would get really bed. There wouldn't be much of a Kagome left to save if they fell.

            InuYasha cast his gaze up the titanic mountain, and sighed. Quickening his pace again, he began to trudge determinedly onward. Slowly, in an effort to get away from the biting cold, his mind began to wander.

~~

            Sango was jolted awake by a sudden grip on her jaw. It wasn't a hard grip, but it definitely wasn't Miroku's. For starters, this grip had claws.

            For once, Sango found herself helpless. It hurt to open her eyes, and she didn't have the strength to move. Sango wasn't the kind of person to really fear anything, but she almost immediately found herself afraid of this unknown assailant.

            There was a whistle, and then a "Tsk, tsk, tsk." The hand withdrew from her face. "Damn!" A feminine voice swore from over her. "You really got burnt, didn't you?"

            Sango grew even more nervous. There was something familiar about the voice that she didn't like. Where was Miroku? What had this girl done with him?

            Almost immediately, Sango's mind took over. Cool calculating began to formulate a plan.

            All her concentration, however, was lost when the blanket that had covered her was suddenly pulled back.

            There was a sharp intake of breath, and then the voice came again. "Damn! That guy really did a number on ya, huh?" The hand returned, this time at her side, and began to peel off the bandages. Once they were off, there was a sound. Someone of to her left sounded like they were choking. "OW!" The voice remarked. "And are you even conscious girl?" The voice asked.

            Sango hurled caution to the wind. Whoever these people were, it didn't seem like they were a threat right now. She nodded slightly.

            "Good." The voice said. "Now, listen. Can you feel it when I do this?"

            Sango didn't feel a thing, so she shook her head.

            There was another sharp intake of breath. "That's not good." The voice remarked. "This could be serious. Listen dear, I need you to open your eyes, just a little."                       

            Sango nodded slightly, and attempted to open her heavy lids. The slitted, then opened a crack. Her right Eye burned as the light pierced into it, but her left felt nothing. Distantly, and blurrily, she could make out a vaguely human shape standing over her.

            The voice was silent for a moment, then the dim shape nodded. "Well." She said, in a very "Bad news" Sort of voice. "You're blind in you're left eye, and you can barely see with you're right." She said finally.

            Sango breathed in sharply in response, and she could swear that she heard another sharp intake from her right.

            "Also, you've got burns all over you're body, and a very bad one on you're side." Sango nodded. "The nerves there are almost beyond repair, but I'll see what I can do. There will definitely be scars, though. As for the rest of you, you've got a broken leg, and minor burns all over you're body." Sango grimaced.  "However, I definitely will be able to do something about them."

            Sango nodded again, then opened her mouth. "Where's the monk?" She asked.

            "About three feet away from you're right hand." The voice said. "He's been taking very good care of you, but it's time to let someone like me take over."

            Sango turned her head slowly, and saw another shape sitting to her right.  Then she turned her head back. "Who're you." She asked with another deep breath.

            The voice chuckled. "Well, let's leave that till after the healing."

            For the fist time, Miroku spoke. "What are you going to do? I am a monk, I can help you in whatever chants you need."

            The voice chuckled again. "Houshi," The voice said. "I am about to do things that you can't even dream of." Then the voice paused thoughtfully. "However, you could hold her hand." The blurry shape nodded. "Yes. She'll need something to hold onto for comfort."

            There was a light caress on her cheek, then the voice said, in a sweet comforting manner: "You'll thank me for this later, but as of now, this is going to hurt like all Hell."

~~

            Shippo awoke slowly, and shook himself off. HE was covered in sand, and the sun was beating down on him cruelly. What had happened? He remembered seeing Sango start laughing at the dragon, and then she charged him. Then, there was lightning everywhere, and everything went black.

            Shippo hopped to his little, fox-like feet, and looked around. "Sango?" He called, beginning to get worried. "Miroku?" HE cried, a little more desperately this time. "Anybody?"
            His eyes widened in panic, and he suddenly whirled in a circle, scouring the desert for any signs of life. Further to the east, he saw a dark line on the horizon, and making a flash decision, began to head towards that.

~~

            Why the hell am I doing this? InuYasha thought to himself. It was a question that had been bugging him since Shinjuku. After all, Kagome was just a simple girl. She didn't really mean  anything to him, did she? She was useful, after all. She could see Shikon jewels. Sure InuYasha needed her, but, wasn't that all she was here fore.

            The little logical part in his brain finally snapped, and got angry.  

            'Are you a total idiot' it asked. 'Honestly, don't you get it'

             InuYasha growled. 'Shut up!' he thought savagely. 'What do you know?'

            'More, apparently than the rest of your brain knows!'

            'Well, leave me alone!'

            'Honestly, just admit it! You've changed!'

            'Nope!' Thought InuYasha stubbornly. 'Not a bit!

            'Really?'  Logic said. 'What about a few days ago. Kagome sensed a jewel shard, not only did you turn it down, but you tried to avoid it!'

            'Well, we can get it later!' Thought InuYasha, still rather stubbornly. 'If Kagome dies, then I get a net loss. I can't find any more jewel shards.'

            'Ah!' the voice said accusingly. 'You still think that's the only reason? Think about it! If Kagome dies, then Kikyo gets her soul back. And don't pretend you don't know that. It's on you're mind constantly! Why then, are you doing this? You love Kikyo, don't you? Why are you keeping her soul from her?'

            InuYasha growled. It was hard arguing with an opponent who knew you're every thought.

            'So why, InuYasha? You're betraying Kikyo for this little whelp of a girl. I know why! It's plain as day! And that means you know too!'

            "Shut up!" InuYasha said, out loud.

            "InuYasha?" Kagome asked drearily from over his shoulder, pain clear in her voice. "Who are you talking to?"

            InuYasha's eyes narrowed, and he looked over the glacier. It was a long way down… and the voice was right. If Kagome died, then Kikyo would get her soul back. It would be very easy to simply trip, and accidentally drop the girl…

            InuYasha's heat suddenly constricted at the thought, causing him to wince. It hadn't even been a serious consideration… just a thought! So why the hell did he shudder to simply think about it? The little logic section of his brain knew, but the little bastard was silent.

            "No-one." He said roughly. "How are you feeling?"

            "I'm fine." Kagome said. "Just a little headache."

            InuYasha rolled his eyes, and sighed. "Are you cold?" He asked.

            "No." Kagome said, sinking deeper into the quilt. This, at least, was not a lie. InuYasha could feel the warmth coming from the cloth. And that was exactly why you never turned down a gift from a Shinjuku demon.

            "Are you sure you're feeling fine?" InuYasha asked desperately, one more time.

            "Yeah." Kagome said softly, and fell back into a deep sleep, curled up in the depths of the quilt.

            InuYasha looked at her thoughtfully, quickening his pace lightly.

            Deep in the recesses of his subconscious, the little logical part snickered.