Hey all. Has everyone seen the Return of the King trailer? I'm still drooling, I swear. Anyways, back to the task at hand. Here is the next chapter, I hope you all enjoy.

Shadow: Glad you're sticking around. The Sess/Kag is in the works, if I don't post it today I will this weekend.

Suzuko: Yeah, time for the fun to begin! Hope you like the next chapter.


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Kaede watched Kagome as she slept. She had given her medicinal herbs to help with the headache and to let her sleep. Kaede sighed as Kagome tossed and turned, muttering in her sleep. Inuyasha had explained what had gone on the past couple days, and the old priestess was full of concern. It seemed as if the demon powers within Kagome were trying to surface through the miko powers. Kaede sighed, fearing that the internal struggle raging within Kagome's body was slowing killing her.


Inuyasha entered the small hut, blinking as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting. He glanced from Kaede to Kagome, and his face became clouded with worry.


"What's wrong with her?," he asked.


"I believe when she discovered the truth about her father, Kagome experienced much conflict in her heart and soul. This started a battle between the miko and demon powers within her. She is the first ever of her kind, and I know not what to do for her," Kaede said regretfully. She gently washed Kagome's forehead with a damp cloth.


Inuyasha considered this for a long moment. "What about her father? Would he know what to do?," he asked. He watched as Kagome mumbled incoherently in her sleep, face twisted in pain. The dog demon hated seeing Kagome struggling with something he could do nothing to protect her from.


"Hmm. Perhaps," Kaede said, as she placed the cloth in a ceramic bowl.


"Then I'll go find him, and bring him here. If he hadn't shown up in the first place, this wouldn't be happening to her. I'll make him help her!" Inuyasha took one more glance at Kagome before hurrying out the door.


Kaede sighed once more. "It's really all up to you, Kagome..."


Inuyasha hurried outside, nearly tripping over two small boys playing catch. They darted off into the village chasing each other, laughing happily. Inuyasha saw Sango and Miroku then, approaching Kaede's hut. Shippou was perched on Sango's shoulder, a lost look on his face. Inuyasha hurried over to them.


"Is she any better?," Sango asked urgently, before Inuyasha could speak. He looked away for a moment, then shook his head. Shippou's face fell with disappointment. "I'm going to look for her father, to see if he can help her," Inuyasha said.


Sango nodded. "Then we will stay here and help Kaede. Hurry back," she said. Inuyasha nodded, then glanced at Shippou before he left. "Don't worry, runt. She's going to be okay," Inuyasha said to the kitsune cub, who nodded faintly.


With that, Inuyasha headed toward the woods. He had no idea how to find a demon with the ability to disappear at will, but he was certainly going to try. The words of the tiger demon still haunted him. "I have heard about you and Kikyou, Inuyasha. I can see in your eyes you have feelings for Kagome, and yet you cling to the former life you had with the dead priestess. You are hurting Kagome by doing this. Do you realize it?"


Inuyasha scowled to himself as he ran quickly past trees and over the thick underbrush of the forest. It was unnerving, how much Chikara knew of himself and Kagome. Inuyasha didnt like it one bit. There had to be a reason this demon decided to come to Kagome, and Inuyasha was going to find out. Yet he found himself still dwelling on the older demon's words, and wondering how much truth was behind them. Was he hurting Kagome that much? Then he wondered how he would feel if Kagome was the one worried about a past love, brought back to life, and had his answer.


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"Inuyasha!," Kagome screamed in desperation. She felt so alone and lost, ever since she had found herself in this black void. Sometimes she would see a flicker of light in the distance, and she would eagerly reach for it, to no avail. The closer she got, the more the pain she felt throughout her body would increase. She felt as if she were being torn, and her body cried out in protest. Why was she so alone? She needed Inuyasha to be here with her, to protect her.


"Kagome. Can you hear me?"


The terrible voice rang through Kagome's head, and she was sure she would pass out from the pain of it. "Who is it? Please stop!" Kagome cried.


"Stop it yourself. You're the one causing your own pain, Kagome... I can do nothing to affect it. It's all up to you."


Kagome gasped, and tried to strike out at her unseen foe. "I don't understand," she finally said.


"The rest of your soul wishes to be free, Kagome."


"I don't know how! I..." And then Kagome felt it, the battle raging inside her. The second she had laid eyes on her true father, the demon powers within had begun to struggle to be free. She could feel it killing her, destroying her mind. Hopelessness flooded throughout her, and she continued to allow the pain to flood through her, carrying her farther away. "Inuyasha, where are you...?"


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"She's not breathing!" Inuyasha yelled, then stared at Chikara with eyes full of anger. "You said you would help her!" Inuyasha grabbed the other demon by the collar, and was easily thrown off.


"This is Kagome's battle. I tried my best to help her. She needs you, Inuyasha." Chikara looked steadily into Inuyasha's eyes, his raptor-like stare seeming to penetrate into the soul.


Inuyasha picked himself up with a growl, then sat down by Kagome's still form. "What do you want me to do?," he asked quietly. Chikara took Inuyasha's right hand and placed it on Kagome's forehead, keeping his hand over Inuyasha's. Kaede watched, distraught over not being able to help. The best she could do right now was stay out of the way.


"Think about Kagome, and how much you want to help her," Chikara said to Inuyasha. Inuyasha frowned at him, feeling more than a little foolish. "How is this going to help her?," he grumbled. Chikara scowled back, his eyes becoming stormy. "She will be able to sense you. She needs a rock to grab onto, before she is lost to madness and death," Chikara said. "Do as I say if you wish to save her."


Inuyasha felt that he would rather claw up the arrogant demon in front of him, but decided against it as he felt Kagome's skin becoming cold. He closed his eyes and did as Chikara had told him. He thought of the times he had been there to protect Kagome from danger, and the times she had worried for his safety.


Then there was madness.


Kagome clutched madly to the strong presence before her. She felt as though a storm had erupted all about, and her only chance of survival was to hold onto this strength, and not let it go. She screamed as the pain tore through her...


...and sat bolt upright upon the cot inside Kaede's hut. Bright green eyes darted about the people before her. She couldn't focus, everything was a haze. She had to escape the pain! She jumped from the bed, ignoring the cries of the people surrounding her, and bolted out the door. She could hear them following, and still she ran. The pain was back there, and she never wanted to face it. It wanted to kill her. She made it into the forest and sprang through the air, powerful muscles letting her leap up into branches. Still the others pursued her. She had to escape! Desperation fueling her every step, Kagome kept running, jumping, dodging... Until the others were far behind, and she collapsed in exhaustion.


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"Kagome!," Inuyasha yelled. He couldn't keep up with her. He had never seen someone move so fast; in a matter of minutes she was out of sight, leaving no tracks or scent behind her. Inuyasha stood still and stared at the forest around him, his face full of confusion.


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That's it for now! I guess it got a little abstract there, but it will be explained in the next chapter. And by the way, if any of you are Star Trek fans, go check out my fiance's fanfic, Star Trek: Into the Fire. It's very well-written, and he doesn't have any reviews! Go check it out! See ya next time!