A/N: Hi, it's me.  I just wanna say thanks for the reviews on the last chapter.  This is my first Inuyasha fic (I'm mostly just a Final Fantasy IX author) and they really helped me to write the second chapter.  I apologize for the lack of Sesshoumaru last time.  But now . . . he's here!  As a matter of fact, he takes up most of this chapter.  So . . . yeah.  Read.

Disclaimer: Inuyasha is owned by lucky people.  Something I am not.

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Kagura waited restlessly outside Naraku's room, endless thoughts racing through her muddled mind.  The hanyou had been giving her such strange requests lately: bring me a dead bird, find a strand of silver hair from a demon, etc.  But now – now he'd gone straight over the edge.  Kagura couldn't even begin to fathom the purpose of this new demand.  For awhile, the kaze-youkai had been contemplating ways of freeing herself from Naraku.  But now curiosity kept her by his side.  Why was he doing these things?  Could he really defeat Inuyasha and gather the shards of the Shikon no Tama as he claimed he could?

"Kagura . . . Do you have the next one?"

Kagura nodded from the other side of the screen.  "Hai.  He's a feisty little brat,"  But perhaps that's what he's looking for . . . Kagura mused.

"Bring him to me,"

Kagura glared down at the little human boy by her side.  He was shivering uncontrollably and sniffling, his eyes red with threatening tears.  "Shut up!" Kagura snapped, smacking the boy hard across the face.  Grabbing him fiercely by the hand, the youkai dragged open the screen door and threw the boy inside. 

Naraku looked up placidly as the child stumbled tearfully into the room.  The hanyou was seated before that mysterious bowl once more, and a small smile crept across his lips as he looked the young boy up and down.  Kagura filed in slowly after her charge, watching the event with the curiosity of a hunting wolf pup. 

"What is your name . . .?" Naraku asked the boy softly.  The child hiccupped and started to cry.

"I want my mommy!"

Kagura raised a hand to smack him once more, but Naraku silenced her with a look.  "You're mommy isn't here right now," Naraku said soothingly, though his eyes were watching the child with an almost hungry lust.  "Now, please tell me your name,"

The child whimpered.  "Hotaka . . ."

"Well, Hotaka," Naraku began, his eyes flickering towards the corner.  "I've got a favor to ask of you.  Will you do it for me?"

Hotaka was quaking with fear.  "Wh-what is it . . .?"

Naraku smiled, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.  "Kanna," he called, beckoning the fourth person in the room forward.  A little girl emerged mysteriously like a shadow from the corner.  She was paler than cold moonlight and her hair and clothes were a dull silver.  The youkai's face bore no expression and her eyes lacked the luster of emotions.  Clasped between her hands was a large glass mirror.  It was reflecting nothing. 

"Kanna," Naraku repeated.  "Could you please test this child's soul?"

Kanna did not nod or make any sign that she had heard him other than her following out the request.  She lifted the mirror slowly, and it began to glow with a dull light.  It grew steadily brighter, however, and before Hotaka could even scream, he collapsed, unmoving, to the floor.  Naraku seemed to be waiting for something.  Kagura raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly left out.  All at once, Kanna's mirror began to tremble.  Spits of luminescence began to spurt out of its glassy surface.  Kanna's expression did not change as she spoke and her voice remained in perfect monotone.

"His soul is too large for the mirror.  I must release it,"

Light blasted forth from within the soul cage and surrounded the boy's empty body.  After a few seconds, the glow receded and Hotaka stood up, seemingly in shock.  Naraku had completely dropped the kind, fatherly voice.  He eyes were glittering maliciously now as he turned back to the misty bowl.

"Kagura, I would recommend preparing some bindings for this boy.  It's going to get ugly . . ." 

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Kagome was frozen to the spot with fear. 

"I-Inuyasha . . .?" she whispered, staring at the unmoving hanyou.  For a moment, Kagome felt paralyzed.  Eventually, she managed to peel one of her feet from the floor to take a step forward.  "Inuyasha . . .?!" she repeated, unable to keep the alarm out of her voice.  The frightened girl ran over to him and crouched down at the inu-youkai's side.  She could see now that he was still breathing, though it was labored and uneven.  Kagome shook his shoulder, trying in vain to rouse him from his sleep.  Her hands were shaking uncontrollably as she kneeled there, and she removed her fingers immediately when she felt how hot Inuyasha's body had become. 

"Inuyasha, please wake up!" Kagome pleaded, trying not to panic.  What should I do . . .?!  Suddenly, Inuyasha began to cough, his sides heaving with every strained breath.  Kagome gulped, watching her friend struggling to draw in air.  As he hacked, blood splattered and flecked the floor.  Inuyasha's ears were folded back as far as they could go and he whimpered in pain.  Kagome leapt to her feet in horror.

"KAEDE!" she screamed, starting to panic.  "KAEDE!  SOMEONE!  HELP!  PLEASE!"  The young girl backed away, eyes dancing with fear.  Why wasn't anyone coming?!  "KAEDE!!!"

All at once, the cloth sheet over the entrance was torn urgently from its hinges.  An elderly woman with a patch over her right eye hurried inside, her aged and wrinkled face glowing with alarm.  "What is it child?!" she queried, spotting Kagome in such distress.

"Kaede!" the fifteen-year-old cried, tears pouring in rivulets down her cheeks.  "Kaede-sama, Inuyasha, he – he – oh god, please help him!!"

The old woman's good eye narrowed as she finally noticed the unconscious hanyou across the room.  She frowned, walking briskly towards the half-demon and kneeling down at his side.

"Inuyasha," Kaede said forcefully, placing a hand on his forehead and shaking his shoulder gently.  Inuyasha murmured something incomprehensible before wincing in pain and turning his face away from her touch.  Kaede sat back on her heels, watching the inu-youkai carefully.  He coughed again and blood splattered to the floor.  Kaede's eye widened.

This . . . This isn't possible . . .!  She thought in horror.  This is . . . This is a human illness! 

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Twilight was settling mysteriously over the land, wrapping it in a shade of lights.  The time of day could not have been stranger, for the sky was still smeared with the colors of sunset, and yet twinkling stars winked overhead.  The world looked like something out of a beautiful and seductive fairytale. 

An eerie forest was looming up overhead, its branches twisted and gnarled as if someone had broken the trees repeatedly and allowed them to grow disfigured once more. 

A man was walking slowly towards the forest, wading through the tall grasses of the field.  His hair was the color of freshly fallen snow and his eyes were like two golden suns.  Each cheek was smeared with two pink stripes and a dark crescent moon was marked upon his forehead.  Over one shoulder sat a fluffy, boa-like tail.  However, from his claws and pointed ears, it was obvious that this man was a demon.

At his side – invisible in the towering grass – stumbled a small toad-demon baring a staff with two shrunken heads.  As the forest loomed larger, so did his unease.

"S-Sesshoumaru-sama . . . Do you think it wise to travel so far from your territory?" the toad asked, finding it nearly impossible to keep the nervousness out of his voice and clutching his staff protectively.  The tall youkai glanced down at his minion.

"Are you scared, Jaken?"

Jaken's eyes bugged out with an "eep."  "N-no, of course not, Sesshoumaru-sama!  I just – "

"Sesshoumaru-sama, I caught another one!" a young girl cried, running up to the youkai's feet and holding out her hands.  A small firefly was fluttering helplessly within her cupped fingers, its light fading in and out as it struggled.  The little girl was grinning proudly.  Sesshoumaru's expression did not change but something seemed to stir within him.

"Let it go, Rin," he ordered, gazing out at the forest.  Rin nodded obediently and giggled as the small bug took flight once more.  Then she went running after it, dancing and twirling in the mystical twilight of the night.  Sesshoumaru watched her carefully, making sure she didn't get too far.  Jaken was glaring at the human girl jealously.

How come I don't get any of m'lord's attention anymore?! he thought bitterly.  It isn't fair!

However, unbeknownst to them, something shifted within the grass.  It's large bulbous eyes blinked as they followed the group, and a low hiss escaped its lips.

"Now I've got you . . ."

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As darkness began to settle over the lands of feudal Japan, the village began to fill with a state of unease.  Kagome's shouts had attracted the attention of the villagers and her friends, and all were horrified to learn that the boy who had always seemed so tough had fallen so terribly ill.  Kaede had gently moved Inuyasha to the back of the hut and covered him with a thin blanket.  He had not even stirred as Miroku helped the miko lift the unconscious hanyou.

Now they sat anxiously within the hut, waiting for Kaede to explain the situation.  Kagome looked near tears, and even Miroku looked apprehensive.  Only Shippou remained placid.  If anything, he seemed to think Inuyasha deserved what he got.

"Kaede, how is he?" Sango queried as the older woman sat down heavily beside them.  The miko looked particularly aged in the dim lighting and her wrinkles seemed to cast spidery shadows over her face.

"Well, he is not dead, if that's what you're wondering," Kaede said softly, glancing around at the nervous faces with her one good eye.  "But he is running a horrible fever and seems to be having a hard time breathing.  I plan on staying here tonight in case . . . Just in case," 
            Miroku nodded thoughtfully to himself as he cast a quick gaze at Inuyasha's unmoving form.  Sango absently stroked Kirara, who had curled up at her feet. 

"Psh . . . This is fate," Shippou growled, his large green eyes rolling up towards the ceiling.  "An eye for an eye.  He made Kagome feel bad, so – "

"Why, Shippou, I'd have thought you of all people would have understood," said Kaede, looking mildly surprised.  Shippou blinked.

"What?"

"You can't all blame Inuyasha for whatever he might have said to Kagome," Kaede tried to explain, rubbing her chin thoughtfully.  "We can't forget that Inuyasha is a hanyou – a half demon.  No matter how human he may seem, part of him is still youkai.  Whether or not he knew he was sick, his body did.  Instinct sets in immediately.  If Kagome was prodding him or trying to pry into his feelings, his body may have felt vulnerable and his instincts would tell him to fight.  It's no wonder he was so crabby with that horrible fever raging inside him,"

"But Kaede, what's wrong with him?" Kagome whimpered, her eyes filling with a fresh wave of tears.  Kaede hesitated, unsure of what to tell the group.

"But I thought demons almost never got sick," Sango murmured, frowning.  "I don't understand this,"

Kaede shook her head.  "None of you are as confused as I,"

"W-wait," Kagome's eyes flashed with horror.  "Are you saying you don't know what's wrong with him?!"

"I didn't say that," Kaede muttered, glancing guiltily at the floor.  What could she possibly say that would cushion the blow for the naïve youths?  Now they were leaning forward expectantly, and the miko found herself unable to deliver the news.  A small smile cracked across her lips as she lied.

"I'll need a little more time to figure out what's wrong with him . . ."

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Jaken grumbled bitterly as he stoked the fire.  Great . . . he thought angrily.  Trapped in a bloody forest with nothing but Rin and the demons for company . . .

Jaken hadn't even noticed he was spacing out until Rin let out a shriek.  "You're burning the staff!!!"

"Eh?  Argh!" Jaken threw the Staff of Heads onto the forest floor and began stomping furiously on top of it, attempting to put out the blaze.  Rin laughed and clapped, watching the amusing spectacle.  Perched atop a boulder nearby, Sesshoumaru gazed at his companions.  He put a check in his mind next to the "Kill Jaken Later" box.  Eventually, Jaken collapsed down next to his staff, staring blearily at its blackened edges.

"Curses . . ." he gasped.  Rin giggled, warming her fingers on the fire.

Sitting atop the boulder, Sesshoumaru's eyes suddenly flickered alertly.  There was a strange scent on the air; something raw and moldy, like a freshly dug grave.  He refrained from moving, not wanting to startle his comrades.  But the smell was moving closer at a disturbingly fast speed.

Something approaches . . .

Sesshoumaru hesitated, sniffing the air gingerly.  The reek . . . It smelled like a human with a faint whiff of demon.  Yet it didn't smell like a hanyou.  Strange . . .

"Jaken, I'm bored!" Rin whined, tugging on the toad's robes.  Jaken groaned.

"Rin, please – "

His words were cut off as a shriek suddenly exploded from the trees.  Something hurled itself, clawing and spitting, at Rin.  Jaken cried out and fell backwards with a surprise.  There was a dull thud and a scream of pain.  Then a shuddering gasp and silence.  The forest seemed to relax and a faint breeze ruffled its branches.  Jaken – who had been cowering like a frightened turtle – now poked one large eye out of his robe and gawked at what he saw.

Sesshoumaru stood calmly in the clearing, the end of Toukijin spearing something bloodily to the ground, the blade sticking like a flagpole from its back.  The thing was flailing helplessly, golden eyes mad with the struggle.

Jaken stood up tentatively when he saw that it was safe and slowly circled the creature.

"Sesshoumaru-sama . . . pardon my French, but what the hell is this thing?"

The attacker glared at him and spat bitterly at his feet.

"Toad!" it snarled.  "Stupid youkai!" it turned its enormous, bulging eyes onto Sesshoumaru.  "Free me, you insolent whelp!" its voices was raw and gurgling, but the higher-than-expected pitch caused the group to look more closely at their prisoner.  As it turned out, the "thing" was a she . . .

Jaken shook his staff menacingly in her face.  "How dare you confront the great Lord Sesshoumaru in such a way!  I'll have you know that my master – "

"Is pinning me to the ground!" the creature snarled, clawing angrily at the dirt.  Her fingernails were caked with mud and demon-like in appearance.  Yet her body seemed fairly human (with the exception of the motley green skin).  She wore a dress of torn rags and, if anything, the girl couldn't have been a day over twelve.

Sesshoumaru's expression did not change.  "If you wish to be freed, then you must give us your name and leave," he said softly.  "I am not in my territory and, therefore, have no power over you.  However, I can take you to lands where I do.  Or, if you'd prefer, I can make your pain worse," the inu-youkai began to slowly twist Toukijin's blade.  The creature screamed in agony.

"No!  Matte!  I-I shall give you my name!  Just free me!"

"Your name first,"

The girl nodded, face contorted with pain.  "H-Hametsu . . ." she choked out, fear creeping into her voice.  "The Ruined . . ."

Sesshoumaru looked thoughtful for a moment.  Such a strange creature . . . Yet I sense no power in her . . .

Slowly, the blade glittering beneath the silky sunset sky, Sesshoumaru slid the sword out of Hametsu's back.  Jaken clutched The Staff of Heads, ready in case she thought of escape.  But Hametsu simply sat back on her heels, rubbing her wound derisively.

"Now then," Sesshoumaru continued the interrogation.  "Give me an explanation for your actions,"

Hametsu rolled her bulbous eyes.  "I was trying to kidnap the girl.  There.  You happy?"

Sesshoumaru glanced at Rin and saw that she was cowering against a log, shaking furiously while sobbing and hiccupping into her hands.  For a moment, Sesshoumaru felt a bubbling fury at the thing that had done this to her.  But he quickly returned to his calculated nature and turned back to The Ruined.

"What do you want with her?" he queried.

Hametsu snorted.  "How the hell should I know?!  He just told me to collect the kid from you,"

"And who is He?"

Hametsu's eyes glittered mischievously.  "The Abyss . . ."

Sesshoumaru raised a delicate eyebrow, wondering briefly what The Abyss was.  Suddenly Hametsu tapped him on the knee and beckoned him to lean down.  Sesshoumaru hesitated but obediently bent forward and listened to what Hametsu had to say.

"Hey, youkai . . . You really dig that girl, huh?" she pointed a gnarled, dirt-caked finger at Rin, who whimpered pitifully and shut her eyes.  Sesshoumaru wasn't totally sure what it meant to "dig" Rin, but he had a faint idea.  The expression on his face as he gazed guiltily at the human child was all Hametsu needed.  She nodded thoughtfully, turning her attention back to the inu-youkai.

"Well then, what would you say to a little . . . I dunno . . . deal?"

Sesshoumaru's amber eyes narrowed.  "What kind of deal . . .?"

"Sesshoumaru . . ." Jaken murmured warningly.  He didn't like the looks of this Hametsu.  She licked her lips, exposing inch-long fangs.

"Listen, you and Naraku . . . You're enemies, ain'tcha?"

Now Sesshoumaru understood.  The Abyss . . . The Abyss was Naraku!  He didn't answer, but Hametsu already knew.

"Well how about this, then.  If I promise to help your little brat, will you kill Naraku?"

Kill Naraku . . .?  But isn't she allied with him . . .?  

"Sesshoumaru plans to kill Naraku anyways," Jaken snapped.  "We don't need to go around making seedy deals with filthy little hanyous!"

Hametsu's eyes flared.  "Hanyou?!  Who're you calling a hanyou?!  I'm not a half-demon, you jackass!"

Jaken snorted.  "Indeed . . . The stench of human wafts like toxin from you!"

Hametsu looked strangely hurt.  But it was immediately replaced with an angry mask and she folded her arms over her chest huffily. 

"Fine then . . . If you don't want my help then Naraku can just have the girl . . ."

Sesshoumaru lips creased into a thin line.  Over his dead body . . .

"Tell me then," he ordered softly, a faint breeze playing with his hair.  "Tell me how you plan to help us,"

"And you'll kill Naraku?"

". . . Hai . . ."

Hametsu grinned toothily.  "Ouke . . . First off, my mission was to capture the shoujo before the Blood Call, and – "

Sesshoumaru cut her off.  "Blood Call?"

"Hai.  Night of the Chi.  That's what I'm here to warn you about.  When Naraku sends out The Call, that little wench over there's gonna be in a lot of danger.  If you let me take her, I can keep her safe.  I've already been Called, so I'm not a threat.  The toad can come too – " Jaken glared at her.  " – But only after I see if he's a danger when Called,"

"What do you mean, Called?" Sesshoumaru looked visibly suspicious now. 

"Um . . ." Hametsu looked thoughtful and gazed at the moon as if calculating something.  "I think you're about to find out . . . right . . . about . . ."

"Now."

Sesshoumaru jerked backwards, eyes wide with surprise.  An intense burning was running beneath his skin, filling every crevice of his body.  Flames were filling his chest, burning his innards.  Voices were beginning to impale him, horrible visions exploding in his head.  Blood and torture . . . Screams and cries of agony . . . He was blinded by visions of death and disease.  Witness to atrocities most mortals had not lived to tell the tale of.

And he felt all of it.

"Aaah . . .!" Sesshoumaru moaned, collapsing to his knees.  Hametsu watched passively, seemingly unperturbed.  Jaken's eyes were as big as dinner plates and he seemed paralyzed with fear.  Rin was crying softly.

"S-Sesshoumaru-sama!" Jaken pleaded.  "M'lord . . ." he turned furiously to Hametsu.  "What're you doing just sitting there, baka?!  What have you done to him?!"

Hametsu pressed a moldy finger to her lip.  "Shh . . . Don't move.  If his wrath winds up on you you'll be skewered,"

"N-nani . . .?"

"Demare, baka!"

Sesshoumaru was doubled over in agony, watching war and famine fly past his eyes.  His blood was on fire . . . There were hot pokers stabbing him everywhere . . . Hametsu yawned.

Suddenly, she frowned and raised an eyebrow at Jaken.

"You, toad-boy.  Why aren't you being Called?  You ARE a full youkai, aren't you?"

Jaken looked as if she'd plunged a knife through his chest.  "Y-YES!!!  How dare you – !"

"Oh, there it goes . . ."

"Eh?" Jaken gasped, dropping his staff in horror.  His claws were elongating with a sickening crack and his muzzle was growing out from his face.  The youkai fell onto his rump, gaping at his body.  His blood felt strangely hot, and for reasons he couldn't explain, he felt like there was some threat on his life that was forcing him to be stronger.  He was pretty sure he'd grown a few inches, too . . .

"What . . . what in the world?!"  

"It's the Blood Call," Hametsu said simply.  "Naraku's only doing it in this area right now.  I think he knew your master would be here.  Seems it didn't affect you much . . . You must be pretty weak . . ."

"H-hey!"

A whimper of pain caused them both to look back at Sesshoumaru.  He was shivering uncontrollably, tremors racing through his body.  Jaken could now see that Sesshoumaru's fangs had grown down over his lip and his talons had reached distressing proportions.  The tail over his shoulder had become somewhat gnarled, as well.  But that was not what made Jaken so scared.

"S-Sesshoumaru-sama . . . You're eyes . . .!"

They were a furious blood-red.  Jaken had seen his master's eyes turn a crimson color before, but this . . . This was a monstrosity . . .

It's like his body's trying to turn him into his inu-youkai form, but he can't seem to do it . . . This girl-thing's right . . . If we don't get Rin out of here fast she's going to become Sesshoumaru's dog-food . . .

An abrupt rustling sound caused Jaken's head to snap to the side.  He felt extremely unnerved and paranoid.  But it was just Hametsu standing up.  And she looked very concerned. 

Suddenly she took a step back, and Jaken saw that she was shaking.

"Chikuso!" she snarled, looking furious.  "His blood's rejecting him!  Toad-boy, get the kid and run!"

"D-doushite-ne . . .?"

Hametsu hissed, eyes flashing angrily.  "Damn it, Naraku!" she shouted, shaking a fist at the sky.  "Yarou!  Naa de gosta!?  Piece of crap!  God damn it!"

Jaken raised an eyebrow at Hametsu's rambling.  Once she'd calmed down, the creature sprang into the branches of the nearest tree.  Jaken ran to the trunk (clumsy from the changes in his body) and looked up angrily.

"Wait!  What am I supposed to do?!"

Hametsu glared down at him, fangs dripping with saliva.  "Get the brat and run!  There's nothing you can do for Fido, the power in his blood will kill him.  But if you can save the girl and get her somewhere safe maybe there will be hope.  I promise I'll find you.  I understand Naraku's plan now, and I'm going to stop him!"

And with that, she sprang off into the night, a spectral shadow of the darkness.

Jaken glanced back at Sesshoumaru and saw that the Lord of the Western Lands was lying, semi-conscious, in the grass, a low growl rising from his throat.  Blood dripped down from the corner of his mouth, staining his lips, and he trembled with every breath he took.

His master was dying . . .

"No.  I don't have time to mourn," Jaken chastised, slapping himself.  "I have to save Rin.  If all the demons in the area are changing, then she's in serious danger,"

He moved cautiously towards the human girl, trying not to startle the frightened creature.

"Rin," he whispered, beckoning her towards him.  "Rin, come on.  We have to go!"

Rin looked at him fearfully before letting out a sob and curling up against the log.  He saw that she was shaking.

The girl . . . She's afraid of me . . . Jaken realized, noticing for the first time how much more beastly he'd become.

"Rin," he said softly.  "Rin, it's me.  Jaken-sama.  Please come . . ."

Rin whimpered and covered her face with her hands.  Jaken scratched his head (literally, as he'd forgotten how long his nails had become) and then remembered the magic words.

"Rin, come.  For Sesshoumaru,"

Rin hesitated, one eye peeping out of the cracks in her fingers.  Jaken smiled awkwardly. 

"It's okay," he said soothingly.  "We'll go find Ah and Un and get out of here,"

Rin rose slowly, walking towards the ghastly demon.

"J-Jaken . . .? You're hideous . . ."

"Er . . . Well, at least you recognize me . . . I guess . . ."

And as the two began to leave, Jaken stole one last glance at Sesshoumaru, hoping to at least say goodbye.

But it was too late.  The Lord of the Western Lands lay motionless, and not a breath could be seen.

Jaken bowed his head as he took Rin's hand and led her from the clearing.

"Ja ne, m'lord . . . Rest in peace . . ."

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Kagome refused to leave the hut that night.  She lay faithfully at Inuyasha's side, watching his feverish sleep, listening to his occasional whimpers.  It was almost too much to bare, but for Inuyasha she would have done just about anything.

What was wrong with him?  How could a demon just suddenly be so sick.  Kagome tried to think back, wracking her brain for a possible explanation.  She found nothing.

"I knew it was bad to sleep in trees outside every night!" Kagome muttered aloud, her voice tinged with bitterness.  "You could've caught anything out there!" she glanced at Inuyasha, but he didn't even stir.  Kagome groaned, nestling into her sleeping bag.  ". . . Baka . . ."

Kaede was sleeping on a nearby futon, a bag of various herbs lying within reach.  Just in case.  The others were sleeping outside, knowing Kagome probably wanted to be alone with Inuyasha.

The hanyou, though not dead, was not in good shape.  His temperature had reached dangerous levels, and even Kaede's herbs had been fruitless to wake him.  Kagome prayed Inuyasha could sleep it off.  Then she'd kill him for worrying her so . . .

Kagome bit her lip.  "Please be okay, Inuyasha . . ."

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A cold breeze blew through the forest sending a warning message to the night.

A small squirrel crept cautiously through the trees, its nose twitching as the fearful scent wafted into the nostrils.

It's black-button eyes widened as it spotted the carcass of an animal in the grass.  Or more accurately, a demon . . .

The squirrel sniffed, moving slowly towards the body.  Why had nothing devoured it yet?  When its whiskers were nearly brushing the ghostly skin, a hand suddenly shot out of nowhere, grasping its tiny body and squeezing with all its might.  The squirrel struggled for a moment, eyes bulging, when finally there was a crack and its body went limp.

And in the heart of the darkened forest, the creature was bloodily devoured.

Crimson dripping down its chin and staining its fangs, a creature rose from the forest-floor.  Its eyes were a maddened red, its claws flowing with toxic poison.  It's once beautiful silver hair was now matted and tangled with leaves.  One sleeve of its strangely untouched shirt hung limply at its side, no arm there to give it shape.

And only one thought rolled through the youkai's fevered mind.

Kill everything . . . 

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A/N: Oh . . . Poor Sesshy!  That was mean of me.  But hey, that's what I'm here for.  Inu-torture and Fluffy-torture ^_^  And I hope I didn't give an impression that I don't like Rin.  I think she's adorable!  She and Sesshoumaru are so cute together *cuddles Fluff and Rin.*  Um, Inuyasha will probably be back a bit more in the next chapter.  I mean, I didn't get to write any of his snappy dialogue in this chapter *sob*!  So yeah . . . Onward and downward . . . More reviews!  C'mon, the people in the Final Fantasy IX section do better than that!  Do you seriously want to be beaten by a bunch of *gasp* VIDEOGAMERS?!!!  Just kidding, heh . . . But seriously, I love reviews.