AN: It's out, it's out, it's finally out! Yes! I pushed aside all my homework just to get this out! And don't mention anything about the long update time…you know, since I always give out feeble excuses, I'm gonna make them really creative now. Um, I didn't update soon because…I squeezed the toothpaste tube in the middle and was traumatized for a month! Well okay not really…well, I'd like to comment on this chapter, but I think I'll just let you guys read it. Thanks for the reviews, guys! Enjoy the chapter ^^

Change

            "What the hell is taking them so long?" Inu-Yasha growled, pacing angrily in the large room where they'd attacked the vampires, and where he'd found Kikyo.

            Sesshoumaru was standing across the room. He was making plans of attack in his head, and each time his half-brother spoke up his plans scurried all out of place and filled him with irritation. "Be silent and wait," he said shortly, trying to gather the plan in his mind.

            "I can't wait!" Inu-Yasha burst out. "At the moment, as we speak, Naraku is probably trying to do something to Kagome. We can't just take our time!"

            Sesshoumaru remembered, a very long time ago when Inu-Yasha was just a pup, he'd had to explain everything to him. Why the roses hurt when he picked them. Why he had to drink blood to survive. Inu-Yasha never got it then—it had taken awhile for his brain to comprehend it And now, after all this time…Inu-Yasha was still as stupid and thick-headed as ever.

            "Inu-Yasha," he said, not even bothering to pretend to be patient, "Naraku is not just another vampire. He's powerful. He drank the blood of many clan lords. His clan has powers I don't know of. Rushing in blindly will solve nothing, and will only lead to our defeat."

            "How long does it take to pick up a sword?" Inu-Yasha argued. "You know what? I think you're just delaying this so Naraku can weaken Kagome. So when the time comes to finally kill you, you'll have an advantage." He glared hatefully at Sesshoumaru. "You're a coward."

            That was rich. Sesshoumaru locked gazes with Inu-Yasha, making sure that his brother heard every word. "I am a coward? I am not the one who ran away from the fight fifty years ago. I am not the one who ran from the dead to join the living." He spoke slowly, each word weighted down by its worth. "And it was not I who ran from the living to join the dead."

            The collision of blades stopped his speech. Inu-Yasha had drawn Tetsusaiga and lunged at Sesshoumaru, who'd drawn his own sword to block him. The brothers stood there, blades locked, Sesshoumaru cool as glass and Inu-Yasha furiously baring his teeth.

            The Inu-kai lord looked down at the silver sword, which was glowing softly. Kagome had purified it so it was stronger than ever. "The Tetsusaiga should have been mine," he stated softly. "You are not fit to wield it."

            "Neither are you," Inu-Yasha snarled. "It's a silver sword, dumbass."

            "The Tetsusaiga was meant for war, destruction, power," Sesshoumaru said. "It was not meant for cowards like you."

            "If it wasn't meant for me, then why'd Dad give it to me, huh?" Inu-Yasha shot back. "You can't touch it."

            Sesshoumaru moved the blade up alongside Inu-Yasha's, the metal making a soft sshhhhink as it slid against metal. Sesshoumaru turned the blade around and slid it back into his sheath. "We must prepare. Go outside and brood if you must."

            Inu-Yasha swore under his breath and stalked out of the room. Like hell he was going to wait around. He wasn't going to let Sesshoumaru waste time and leave Kagome out there in the hands of Naraku. If he had to go himself, then so be it.

*          *          *

            "You mustn't be so hasty," Myouga said as Inu-Yasha strode down to the entrance of the castle. "Sesshoumaru said we will leave on his orders."

            "Screw his orders!" Inu-Yasha snapped without stopping. "Sesshoumaru can take his orders and shove them up his—"

            "As worried as you are, Inu-Yasha," Myouga cut in sternly, "You can't just jump into it. You have no idea about what's out there. If you don't plan, you'll get yourself killed and how are you supposed to help Kagome when you're dead?"

            "I already am dead," Inu-Yasha reminded him bitterly. "Well, half-dead, at least."

            Myouga rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. You must be patient, Sesshoumaru knows more about Naraku than we do—"

            "Why are you actually listening to him? The last time I checked, you tried to wipe out his clan and he killed Kikyo." Inu-Yasha continued onwards, nearly to the entrance door. "You told me to protect Kagome, remember?"

            "I did…but not at the risk of your own life."

            "I'm not so weak that I can't face Naraku. I could kill him if I wanted. Anyway, Sesshoumaru might know Naraku, but I know Kagome. If I don't get to her soon, she's going to get herself into some deeper shit than she's already in. You can follow Sesshoumaru if you like, but I still think he's an asshole and I'm leaving."

            His master stopped and glared at Inu-Yasha's back. "You can be such a child sometimes!" he yelled after him.

            "Uh-uh, I'm not listening," Inu-Yasha sang out, fingers plugged in his ears.

            Myouga considered keeping Inu-Yasha within the castle by force, but he knew it would make no difference. He was as stubborn as weeds, and he would be sure to fight back. Myouga didn't want to waste time and energy fighting someone on his own side when there was Naraku to deal with. But he couldn't just let Inu-Yasha wander off alone…

            Still, he made no move as Inu-Yasha passed through the doors, disappearing in the eternal night. There was nothing else he could do.

            A rustle of movement behind him made him whirl around. Kikyo, who had been silent up to this point, approached him. She held a bow and had a quiver full of arrows strapped onto her back. "I will go with him," she said. "I'm sure he doesn't know the way."

            Myouga snorted. "He'd get lost five steps away from the gate. I just don't see why he has to rush things. Kagome is capable of taking care of herself until we arrive, and rushing in blindly accomplishes nothing"

            Kikyo sighed softly, her expressions unreadable. "He cares for her deeply."

            "Love shouldn't get in the way of rational thinking," Myouga argued, though his voice was softer.

            "Yes…perhaps love shouldn't be in the way. If it weren't, perhaps Kagome would be leading a different life and I would not be leading this life," Kikyo said, the last word tainted with irony, quiet bitterness in her tone.

            Myouga looked at his old training partner intently. Just because Kikyo had a face of stone it didn't mean she couldn't have emotions. She could feel just as strongly as anyone else. Though she was usually a master at hiding it, right now the shield between herself and the world was thin.

            "I was the one who changed him," she said, her voice hard. "He was the wildest in the entire clan. I changed him, slowly. I know him almost as much as he knows himself…or I did. Then everything had to change…and she came along…why did I ever come back? Why can't I return?" 

            He had rarely seen this side of Kikyo before…a low passion that he didn't think she had. What could have changed her? Inu-Yasha, maybe? Or death?

            "But no, I shouldn't be speaking of this. Inu-Yasha must be really lost by now." The briefest instance of a smile touched her lips.

            "Kikyo…what will you do after this?" Myouga asked suddenly. "When this is all over?"

            She touched the Shikon no Tama hanging around her neck. "I'll go back, of course" she replied. "Things will be as they have always been." Before he could reply, she nodded curtly at him and left the castle, the door sliding shut behind her.

            If only her words could be true. Myouga knew, however, that this was impossible. Kikyo wasn't truly alive, sustained only by the Shikon no Tama's power. No…things could never return to the way they had been.

*          *          *

            Not listening to people had always led to disaster, as Inu-Yasha had experienced often, but never learned. "Ah, shit!!"

            His leg sank into the thick, muddy, swamp-like sludge right up to his knees. Bad place to take a step. Inu-Yasha swore again as he fought through the swamp. He could practically swim across this muck…not that he would.

            "You should have been more aware of the ground," a familiar voice spoke somewhere in the forest around him. "And gone slowly, so you would know when to go a different direction."

            Inu-Yasha looked up. "Kikyo?" He took a deep forward, since staying too long in one place would cause him to sink. "Is that you?"

            A pale figure in white and red appeared from behind a tree. "Over here is firmer ground. You would have known if you had checked your steps." He knew her light scolding tone well.

            "I can't waste time going slowly," he grumbled in defense, squelching and slopping over to her, the gunk lapping up against his thighs. "And I didn't know the ground was that soft."

            She sighed. "You're thick as a brick sometimes," she said, but not angrily. "Do you even know the way to Naraku's castle?"

            Silence.

            "Or did you naturally assume after running around for some time you would find it?"

            Silence.

            "I don't know how you managed without me."

            "I managed just fine, okay? I'm not totally helpless!" Inu-Yasha snapped, finally finding his voice. It was Kikyo's turn to be silent, looking past him down at the swamp. Inu-Yasha knew he'd upset her, and he opened his mouth to apologize, but then shut it. He'd probably say something dumb instead, as he was not known for his tact with apologies.

            He hauled himself out of the swamp. The ground Kikyo was standing on was much softer than the sludge he'd run into, but it still squished warningly underneath his feet. "Come on, let's get out of here," he said, tentatively touching Kikyo's shoulder.

            Kikyo turned to face him. "There was a time when you would not hesitate to touch me," she said.

            Inu-Yasha had known eventually he was going to have to face this…but now wasn't the best time to do so. She was waiting for an answer. He exhaled sharply. "I, like everyone else, thought you had died. I put it behind me, I recovered from it. I didn't want myself to be thinking of you."

            "But now I'm here. Aren't you happy? Can you not love me now?" From any other girl this would have sounded desperate and overdramatic, like something from a romance novel. Kikyo stated it in a simple tone, a woman not seemingly distraught but a woman who just wanted an answer.

            "I…It's hard to say. After fifty years of trying to forget you, I can't just go back to the way things used to be." And Inu-Yasha knew that things wouldn't go back to the way they used to be with Kikyo…he would never hold her or kiss her, it just wasn't the same.

            He didn't want to talk about it anymore. He wasn't ready to deal with this. Besides, somewhere out there Naraku was out there with Kagome, and here he was…stuck in some forest with crud all over him. "Let's go," he said again.

            However, Kikyo stayed still. Inu-Yasha shifted his feet, his shoes coated in mud. "Kikyo, what are you waiting for? We gotta hurry."

            "If you keep going down the side of the swamp, you'll find a river. Follow the river downstream and eventually you will see Naraku's castle." Kikyo's face was calm and showed nothing.

            "What? Aren't you coming with me?"

            "No."

            It took awhile for poor dim-witted Inu-Yasha to realize that although Kikyo didn't show it, she was probably pretty pissed at him. "Look, Kikyo, when I said what I said, I didn't mean—"

            "When the time for battle comes, I will be there," she cut him off. "Just follow the path and be careful of where you step. We will see each other there." Before he could protest, she turned and walked away from him.

            Inu-Yasha groaned. Girls…he'd never understand them.

*          *          *

            "This sucks," Kagome grumbled to herself. Her voice was still rough and barely above a harsh whisper, as it still hurt to speak above that. The bruises on her neck were an ugly purple. That bastard was going to pay for that.

            She had gone around the castle and mapped out the area. She knew where Naraku's and the other's bedrooms were, as well as how to get around the castle. Naraku's castle wasn't as grand as Sesshoumaru's, but she roughly knew the size of his clan and it was definitely going to be a big battle. Naraku's castle was as boring as hell. She had challenged a couple of his clan to short spars, enough to get an idea of their size. Careful maneuvering in the conversation revealed more numbers and useful information.

            She couldn't find Kanna anywhere. So that left one other person…

            "Let's spar," she said to Kagura in the morning. The other woman narrowed her eyes. Kagome blinked innocently back at her. "What? I just want to practice. There's nothing else to do around here." To emphasize her point, she let out a yawn—a small one, as a big one hurt too much.

            "Hmph. Go entertain yourself," Kagura snorted, going back to…making fans. Why she was making fans was a boggler to Kagome. "Besides, you sound like you've scraped the sides of your throat with a rock."

            Kagome rolled her eyes. "And what does that have to do with anything?" She made soft clucking noises. "You're just too chicken to go against me. Admit it. You've heard a lot about me, and you're only so cocky because you can hide behind Naraku." She added a small, angelic smile that would hopefully infuriate Kagura more.

            Kagura rose, dropping her unfinished fan on the table in front of her. When it made a clinking sound as it landed, Kagome looked down and saw the tips were of metal. "I can hardly believe that a shrimpy kid like you could be a great vampire hunter. You seem to me like you're all talk and no action."

            "Which is why I'm challenging you," Kagome replied, over-exaggeratingly patient. "You seem to me like you're just Naraku's concubine."

            "What?" Kagura snapped. "You have the nerve—"

            Kagome's innocent smile grew wider. "So where is the training room?" 

            Naraku's training room was very large, with a high ceiling. Off to the side several weapons lay against the wall. They looked twice as heavy as Kagome and about a hundred times more deadly. She gulped, imagining who would wield such a thing.

            Kagura moved to the opposite end of the room, then faced Kagome. She knew what this was about as much as Kagome did. Both women were going to look for each other's weaknesses, doing their absolute best to hide every imperfection while at the same time being very aware of their opponent's moves.

            Which was why Kagome had invented some weaknesses that she hoped Kagura would easily spot, thus hiding her true weaknesses.

            "Right then," Kagome said, taking hold of the sheath on her waist. "Let's get started."

            Kagura eyed the sword with narrow eyes. "Where did you get that?"

            "I brought it with me," Kagome replied matter-of-factly. "What, did you think I was going to come here unarmed?" Kagura opened her mouth, then shut it. It was stupid to argue with that. Kagome sighed and drummed her fingers on the sword's handle. "Yes, I know it all looks very magical, but can we start now?"

            The other woman smirked. She reached into her sleeve and pulled out a fan, similar to the fan she'd crafted before Kagome interrupted. She flourished it in the air dramatically. Kagome's eyebrow shot up. "What are you going to do, dance at me?"

            "No," Kagura replied with a small laugh. "I'm going to blow you away."

            Kagome's eyes traveled down to the little fan again. Then she burst out laughing. "That was a good one!" she snickered. "Man, Naraku didn't tell me his whore had a sense of humor. Say, you hear the joke about the vampire who wanted to be a blood sucking creature in his next life? He turned into a maxipad! Wahahaha!"

            The whore comment had done it, if the rest of it hadn't. Kagura lifted her arm high above her hand, and her hair and clothes began to rustle. Kagome stopped laughing.          

            Winds were gathering at Kagura's feet. "Not too funny now, is it?" she smirked. "No wait…it gets better." She brought the fan down, slashing the air sharply. The wind burst from her towards Kagome, who was about as prepared for it as an Eskimo in Hawaii. She flew backwards, stopping only when she crashed into the wall.

            Kagura made a flicking motion with her wrist, and the winds died down. "Now this is funny."

            Kagome quickly tried to think of something better to say than a whimpered, "Ow." Nothing came to mind immediately. It was only after she'd peeled herself off the wall and rubbed her back that she muttered, "What part of practice don't you understand?"

            Kagura rested her fan against her fingers. "You will never get it into your thick skull that we have powers you wouldn't even dream of. You still have no idea how powerful Naraku is. You think he's as easy to kill as, oh, say, Sesshoumaru," she said dismissively. "And that's only a taste. I have winds that could slice you apart as if they were swords. But enough talking. You said you wanted practice."

            Kagme rushed towards Kagura, who immediately launched more winds at Kagome. The vampire hunter shot to the side, dodging them, and moved up close to Kagura, forcing close contact. Kagura quickly slipped her fan back in her sleeve and withdrew a long dagger.

            For a long time they sparred, each observing each other carefully while blocking each other's moves. Kagome noted that if she attacked in certain places, Kagura was a split second slower than usual, and because of her tight outfit she was slow in moving out of the way when Kagome swiped at her legs. Kagome knew her own weaknesses, but she tried to hide them by using the fake ones she'd decided on. She purposefully made her response to any attack on her left slow, and made it a point to always glance backwards whenever she was on the defensive, as if she was unsure of her footing. It seemed like Kagura was falling for it; her eyes gleamed with the thought of victory, and she made many attacks to Kagome's left.

            She was a skilled fighter, but it seemed she was a lot better when there was distance between her and her opponents so she could supposedly slice them up with wind. Not too hard to defeat if one got past the wind. When Kagome thought she'd seen enough, she left her sword arm open, and when Kagura lashed at it she allowed the sword to drop from her hand, which now had a thin sliver of red on it.

            "Hmph, it's kind of disappointing," Kagura said, trying not to sound breathless. Kagome lifted her hand to her mouth. "I really think there's too much hype surrounding you."

            Kagome snorted. "It's not going to happen again," she said in a muffled voice, her lips on the wound.

            "If it happens again. I don't feel like sparring with someone so below my level. Come back when you're more of a challenge," Kagura scoffed. She left Kagome in the training room, her head high in the air.

            Kagome considered throttling her now while she could, but she restrained herself. She waited until Kagura was out of sight, then left the training room.

            She was about to turn the corner in a hallway when voices stopped her. Kagome pressed herself against the wall and listened.

            "Naraku-sama, it's true. The spies have seen Inu-Yasha in the forest close to the castle. He may be coming for Kagome."

            Kagome's jaw dropped. Inu-Yasha was coming? Why? He was supposed to be in the Inu-kai castle with Kikyo…no one was supposed to come until Kagome arrived…had they sent Inu-Yasha? Or had he come on his own?

            "Hm, is that so. Well, tell the spies not to do anything. Let him come. If Kagome happens to see him and say his name, well…I must live up to my word."

            Her stomach turned horribly. Whatever the reason, she couldn't let Inu-Yasha get past the castle walls. There had to be a way to warn him…

            An idea popped into her head. She turned and ran down the corridor, taking the long way back to her own bedroom. She checked the drawers of a desk and found a brush and ink stone, but no paper. Her scowl grew deeper as a search around the room proved fruitless. "What use is a brush and no paper?" she mumbled to herself as she opened the closet. She pulled out a white dress and spread the skirt flat on the desk. She ground up the ink stone and mixed it with water, dipped the brush into it, and quickly began to write.

            Inu-Yasha—go back! Meet w/ Sessho, read entire thing!! V. important

            Saw 2 main cronies, Kagura and Kanna, Numbers are several hundred, some special powers, certain weaknesses—

*          *          *

            Inu-Yasha had found the river alright. What Kikyo forgot to mention was that it was full of evil creatures that he'd mostly find in a Hollywood horror movie. Upon reaching it, he'd knelt down behind it and scooped some water up to drink. No sooner had he dropped to his knees when three large tentacles shot out of the water and pulled him in.

            Eight severed tentacles later, he emerged from the water, which was dark pink with mutated octopus blood. He was grossed out beyond belief.

            Several other things emerged from the water and tried to pull him back in, but Inu-Yasha tried following the river with as much distance as possible. It was difficult. He had to keep one eye on the water, one eye on the ground to make sure he didn't trip over the several hundred gnarled roots, leaving nothing to watch for the tree trunks in front of him. He had a feeling Kikyo had given him the difficult way on purpose, while she breezed through open fields of smooth, un-tentacle infested land. Hell hath no fury…

            Inu-Yasha shook his wet bangs out of his eyes. He could understand why she was angry, he hadn't exactly thrown himself down and declared his undying love for her. But how could she expect him to just drop everything and pick up where they left of? Not with Naraku and Sesshoumaru still alive, not with Kagome…

            Of course Kagome played a huge part in all this. No doubt Kikyou would blame Kagome, and why wouldn't she? Kagome had all but taken her place as one of the best vampire hunters, looked almost exactly like her, and had grown close to Inu-Yasha. If Myouga and Kaede had never found Kagome, perhaps things could have returned to the way they were.

            Was that really true? If Kagome didn't exist, and Inu-Yasha had returned fifty years later to find his old lover still alive, could he return to Kikyo? He thought hard about it. He'd gotten over Kikyo long before he'd met Kagome, the unpleasant memories arising only when he'd met Kagome for the first time, because they looked alike. Even if he'd never met Kagome, the situation would be the same.

            He didn't love Kikyo anymore. He felt an obligation to take care of her, and to keep her safe as he was unable to do before. But he didn't love her anymore.

            Inu-Yasha stopped, which nearly allowed a claw that burst with unusual strength out of the water, snapping at his legs. He stuck the Tetsusaiga into it and that was the end of that. Calmly he resumed walking.

            Then how did he feel towards Kagome? Was it the same feeling towards both of them? He felt like he had to protect Kagome as well, as he was always doing. But there was a difference, he knew there was a difference in how he felt for the two of them. He just didn't know what it was. Not yet, anyway.

            Inu-Yasha looked up and squinted. Past the thick bramble of trees and night he could see lights twinkling faintly. And the faintest outline of a castle.

            Immediately he sped up his pace, keeping both eyes fixed on the lights. Naturally he didn't see the tree in front of him. A painful collision followed, complete with loud cracking noises, which ended with him sprawled on the dirt.

            Hm. Which lights were the real lights and which ones were blinking stars?

            Suddenly Inu-Yasha bolted up, his world spinning. "Aha!" he shouted, words slightly slurred. "Euro, or whatever that Greek guy in the bathtub said!"

            Now he knew the difference between Kikyo and Kagome. That crash must have dislodged a block in his brain, letting a river of knowledge rush through.

            Kikyo had changed him, she had opened his eyes to things and changed his destructive attitude. He was forever grateful for that. But when he was with Kikyo, he felt like he had to be careful around her, and watch his words carefully. Sure, he could be himself with Kikyo, but only a bit of himself, the part that she had managed to change.

            But with Kagome…he could be all of himself. He couldn't joke around with Kikyo—she always left his spluttering. With Kagome, his words flew freely, whether they were insults or apologies or words of comfort; he didn't have to check himself. Seeing Kagome's face shine with happiness, or tears, or tears of happiness, or even anger…he cared about that.

            He cared very much about Kagome.

Did he love her? Hmm…maybe. Maybe he'd have to crash into another tree. Maybe it was a one tree, one epiphany rule.

            Inu-Yasha realized he might be going slightly insane—but that might be due to the crash. A big grin on his face, he continued running towards the castle, knowing if he couldn't figure girls out, he could figure himself out. That was more than what most guys his age could say.

*          *          *

            Kagome looked out the window, the clutching an arrow with a pile of material attached to it. She had two such arrows. The entire dress was filled with writing and diagrams, enough for Sesshoumaru to get the upper hand in battle. She tapped her foot quickly and nervously as Inu-Yasha drew slowly closer.

            She'd chosen the window closest to the wall, and closest to where Inu-Yasha was running towards. As long as her aim was true, she wouldn't have to say his name. Finally when he was close enough, she shot the first arrow in his direction.

            It landed just in front of his feet. Inu-Yasha skidded to a stop. He looked up in her direction suspiciously, then his eyes widened when he saw her leaning out the window. "Kagome!" he shouted.

            She shot the second arrow in his direction…it missed him by finger lengths. His eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Are you trying to kill me or something?"

            She shook her head. "No…just pick them up and go!" she yelled. "You have to take those to Sesshoumaru and read them. But for now you have to go!"

            "What?" Inu-Yasha frowned up at her. "No way…I'm not leaving until you get your ass down here!"

            "Oh, like I have a choice!" she retorted. She squinted. The shadows behind Inu-Yasha were moving. A second later a vampire emerged from the shadows, ready to pounce on Inu-Yasha. She couldn't help herself. "Inu-Yasha, watch out!!" she screamed.

            Inu-Yasha whirled around and managed to evade the vampire. He pulled out Tetsusaiga and the vampire exploded into ashes.

            "Just go!" Kagome said. "If you don't get that stuff to Sesshoumaru or Myouga I will murder you when I see you next! Go!"

            Inu-Yasha hesitated for another second. "Go!" Kagome screamed again. Finally he turned and picked up the two arrows, then ran back towards the forest.

            Kagome sighed and slumped over the windowsill. She'd said his name…screamed it even…but maybe there was a chance he didn't hear…

            "How quickly you forget."

            Instantly Kagome whirled around and drew an arrow. "One more step and this goes straight through your heart," she said warningly.

            Naraku moved forward. Without hesitation Kagome released the arrow. He caught it just before it pierced his skin and tossed it aside. "I warned you," he said, in that voice Kagome had only heard a few days ago. "And you disobeyed."

            She glared at him. "You are not going to order me aro—" She finished with a yelp as Naraku shot towards her and pinned her against the wall, keeping her hands caught against the wall.

            "I think," he said, his fangs seemingly growing longer, "That I've given you too many chances to have a say. You've wasted all of them." He grinned. "I think you'll like being a vampire, Kagome. I've seen you fight—you can get so bloodthirsty." He laughed softly. 

            Kagome made one last attempt to get away. Naraku only held her down tighter. "If you're still, it won't hurt as much," he advised. Then, just before he sank his teeth down into her throat, he whispered, "Then…you'll be thanking me."

            The next thing that happened was excruciating pain, and the weakening sensation of life flowing away.

            AN: God don't you just love it when bad guys have really horrible dialogue? ^^