As his words echoed out into infinity and sunk into horrified ears, Inuyasha fought against Naraku's pull as the evil demon used the Tetsusaiga as an anchor.

Kagome ran forward, only to discover the Shikon fragment had unclipped from her neck and was travelling toward the chasm in Miroku's hand!

"Miroku!" she tried to yell. He couldn't hear her over the roar.

Just as the jewel was about to fall into the abyss, Naraku noticed it and drew the Tetsusaiga aside, blocking it. The gem hit the steel, and shattered!

Four shimmering pieces fell to the dirt, and Naraku, with a final malicious grin, let go of the Tetsusaiga, He disappeared into Miroku's hand, who sealed it instantly and fell to his knees from exhaustion.

"The jewel…" Inuyasha dropped the Tetsusaiga and walked over. The gem had been split! Even after it had fused together in the body of that spider-beast so long ago, the power of the full-fledged Tetsusaiga had shattered it to pieces once again.

Kagome walked over to Inuyasha and bent down. She picked up all of them and pieced the gem back together. Satisfied that no small piece had been lost, she let them crumple into her hand.

Sango came over. "What did he mean by the 'reincarnation of his greatest foe'?"

Kagome shook her head. "I don't know. We'll have to ask Kaede."

Sango bent her head as well. "I'm sorry that I cannot stay, but the sun has risen, and I was due to travel at dawn. Kirara!"

The cat transformed and Sango hopped on. "I wish you everlasting luck, Kagome, Inuyasha, Miroku, and Shippou! May you discover what Naraku meant and defeat him before too much trouble arises from it!"

Sango waved to them as she and Kirara rose into the yellow sun.

Inuyasha waited a few moments until they were out of sight.

"Well, they're certainly being very helpful right now…"

Miroku shook his head. "Inuyasha, I'm afraid it isn't going to be easy anymore. Now at least, we know where the wind tunnel leads to, and who has survived it: no one, except Naraku. For all we know, he could have already arrived. He could also still be travelling. We simply can't know until we speak to Kaede."

Kagome nodded. "Follow me. The village isn't too far from here."

***

"The 'reincarnation of his greatest foe'?" the old woman asked as she poured tea.

"Yes. That's what he said waited at the end of the wind tunnel. Who could it be?" Kagome asked.

They were seated in Kaede's hut after retelling the story. Miroku sat nearby, next to Shippou, who munched on a rice cake. Inuyasha also sat nearby, arms folded.

"Well, think… Who is Naraku's greatest enemy? Whom does he loathe with every cell in his filthy body? Who is he always attempting to kill?" Kaede asked, knowingly.

The response was quick, but silent. Every person except the half-demon turned to look at him.

Inuyasha looked completely bowled over. "Me?! Do you mean to say that he's going to try to use my reincarnation against me?!"

Kaede looked down. "It appears so. Miroku, let me see your hand."

The monk placed his hand in the old woman's.

"Ah, yes. Miroku, how long does it take for your hand to stop aching altogether after sucking any amount of demons into it?"

Miroku looked genuinely surprised. "Uh…about three days."

The old priestess nodded. 'Then you have about three days to find a way into the future to stop him from reaching Inuyasha's reincarnation."

Shippou was the first to speak after this.

"But…if Naraku's going to find Inuyasha's reincarnation, wouldn't that mean…" Shippou thought hard as the harsh truth fell upon the group for the first time.

"Then it's so," Kaede spoke gravely. "Inuyasha will die within the next five hundred years."