Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

Thanks to everyone who's reviewed!

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"We should head back to camp. Humans need their rest," Inuyasha stated gruffly, standing up slowly so he wouldn't send Kagome falling to the ground. She sat upright and nodded sleepily. She didn't know how long they'd been out there, just watching the stars. It was nice, just being there with him. And somehow she didn't think he'd mind terribly if she'd fallen asleep. Even if he did bitch about it later. "Get on my back, we'll get to the village faster that way." She nodded to that, too, though knowing if she wasn't all that sleepy the ride would wake her up again. But it was a nice offer, so she took it.

"Wait," Inuyasha whispered suddenly, urgently. Kagome stopped and watched with curious eyes. Something was wrong.

"Inuyasha...what is it?" she asked gingerly.

"That smell, it's.."

"Is who's?"

"Naraku's." He could almost feel Kagome tense from her position with the name.

"Is he close?" she asked with set determination. It was admirable, really.

"Close and getting closer." The scent of Naraku was getting stronger and stronger every moment.

"Inuyasha, it could easily be an incarnation," she replied, looking at him thoughtfully.

"We'll just have to see when he gets here," he grinned sadistically, flexing his claws proudly. They cracked, and the moon glinted off them so the tips of every one glistened in the pale light.

"Inuyasha, even if it is really Naraku, we need the others, you're strong, but he's strong, too. We can't fight him on our own--" she whispered.

He looked down at her angrily and growled. "I can handle it Kagome! I'm twenty times stronger than that stupid bastard. I'll tear his fucking throat out and feed it back to him," he snarled.

"Then let me go, I can go get--"

"NO!" Inuyasha cried irritably. It was one thing to insult his strength, another altogether to put herself in a situation where she could get killed. She really WAS stupid. Or really brave. But it was probably the former, he decided, it was certainly not the time to go over all the things that made Kagome a good companion.

"Will you let your ego inflate just this once and let me get help!?" she demanded. He was being a stupid, egotistical jerk! Did he have to be one NOW, when it could easily put all of their lives on the line? The only way to defeat Naraku was to all come together.

"It's too late to get them now. Had you just gone, you may have had a shot. It would have been fun, more of a challenge. The end would have remained the same, no matter what, though." Kagome and Inuyasha looked away from each other reluctantly to the direction of the voice. He cackled savagely, delighted with their obvious fear. Inuyasha shook it aside.

"Naraku."

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The growling had been getting louder and louder, and could no longer be ignored.

"Kirara, what is it?" Sango cooed delicately. Kirara's back was tense and leaned back the way a domestic cat would do. She was not in her large form as of yet, but it was obvious this would happen soon. Her sharp, little teeth were very visible from her mouth and her eyes were glowing.

Miroku had tensed as well. He wasn't sure of what he was feeling, but as it grew stronger, his suspicions were confirmed. A powerful youkai presence was drawing ever closer. Sango noticed this, too. She wasn't frightened.

"Houshi-sama."

"It's stronger than everything we're used to fighting, Sango-chan." There was a pause, during which Miroku was plainly trying to understand something. "Except for.."

"Naraku," she finished softly.

Without another word, Kirara transformed. The very name had been enough to provoke it, providing her with the motivation to rush into battle. Miroku and Sango leaped on her back instantaneously, only looking directly ahead. A quick glance at one another gave them courage. They had to fight for those they loved, everyone who'd been hurt, and anyone who could be hurt. By not acting, they'd leave those loved ones in danger and countless others.

Was this it?

Hearing their departure, a very disconcerted and apprehensive Shippou began squallinng behind them.

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Maraku was eager to complete his task. He, like Kagura, wanted his freedom already. They were a pathetic bunch, really. But they were far stronger than anyone ever gave them credit for. The monk had a bloody kazaana for heaven's sakes. He could be sucked up if he wasn't careful.

There was something about the miko, though, that he found unsettling. Naraku had told very little of the group. One, of course, was the kazaana on the monk's right hand. The other was about the priestess, and her ability to change between two worlds. This one and one in the far future. Of any of them, the only ones who'd been there had been Inuyasha and Kikyou, the latter of which was deceased.

Was it her time traveling abilities that did this? He didn't think so, and wished profusely he could understand what.

He shook his strange thoughts aside and spoke. "You said you wanted me, did you not? You've been granted your wish, Inuyasha. Now die," he grinned. Raising his hands, he attacked. Using his dark magic, he conjured a ball of wicked energy, much like a concentrated miasma, flinging it in the direction of Inuyasha.* This was all Inuyasha needed to get started. Rapidly unsheathing Tetsuiga, he placed it in front of him, easily dodging the attack prior.

"Me? Die? Nothing you could do could possibly kill me! BAKU RYU-HA!"

They were well matched. As Inuyasha had dodged Maraku's attack, Maraku dodged Inuyasha's. Sending another strange orb at the pair, he found that the blast had hit Kagome. Something strange twinged inside of him when she screamed for Inuyasha, her savior. He ran immediatley, forgetting what could happen to him as a result of this action. He was about to take the opprotunity to kill them both, ignoring any emotion, and finish his task by finding the other three. It was so much easier when they were seperated.

'Which is a shame,' he thought bitterly, sensing the other three's presences. Kirara landed with a thud, and in the same instant, the humans were on the ground, in fighting stance.

"KAZAANA!" Miroku screamed, trowing open his wind tunnel. The hellish buzzing of Naraku's poisonous insects, however, had his hand instantly rewrapped. 'Hell. If it comes down to it, I'll use it whether or not they're there.

Inuyasha let out a deadly growl. Kagome was knocked out. It was nothing fatal. Serious, but her miko powers could, and would, keep her from death or any real immediate damage. They had time to battle before Kaede's treatment. This didn't make him any less pissed off for harming Kagome.

"YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO KAGOME!" he shouted violently, holding the sword above him. He broke into a fierce run, hoping to hit Naraku dead on. He missed, but this served to distract Maraku. Maraku was not as skilled as his creator in battle, and had many things to learn. But he was not a dummy and could hurt them severly and easily stave them off. He didn't actually have to kill them, he remembered, just almost kill them.

"Will I now?" he asked cold and smug at the same time, simply moving to his left faster than Inuyasha could track with his sword.

He realized this gloating was a mistake when he heard Sango's cry of "HIRAKOTSU!" and felt the pain of an arm being severed. This allowed the tentacles Naraku once had before to come flying loose.** This was a pain in the ass, but it would make things harder for them.

He threw more attacks of his energy balls and swiftly hitting all of them with his tentacles. Somehow, always managing to get the concious ones, despite his knowledge of the girl being a miko. The others attempted attacks on him as well. The monk's scrolls and staff hurt a little, but nothing lasting. Several hits from Hirakotsu, Kaze no Kizu, and Baku Ryu-Ha did him damage. Again, nothing he couldn't handle. But it was signifigantly more than the monk who's real power could not be used.

Myoga, unknown to everyone, was closing in on the situation. He'd been watching from a distance, disgesting every sight, every motion, every sound, every scent. He could smell something off about Naraku and was the only one who noticed the hesitation to kill Kagome. He'd thrown direct attacks at all of them except for Kagome, and when he did hit her, he had paused. Something was afoot. Could it be...? He had to tell someone..

"Myoga!" Miroku whispered urgently, very surprised to see Inuyasha's cowardly retainer resting on his shoulders. He'd hopped on, panting from the seemingly long run. "What do we owe a visit in a time like this?"

"Something's afoot you should know!" he squealed loudly, but waiting for Miroku's response to continue.

"Myoga, out with it. You're pussyfooting around, and time is something we just don't have."

"Naraku released his humanity in order to kill Kikyou the second time. But it is becoming clear that his hesitation the first time is again emerging, this time through Kagome."

"What are you saying?" Miroku demanded, for the first time taking his eyes off the battle. Why would his feelings resurface? His human side was gone.

"Onigumo's love for Kikyou had disappeared somewhere in the process of removing his human elements. Strangely enough, these human qualities remain in the Naraku standing before us. Including 'love' of Kikyou. Or in this case, simply her soul."

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*I have no idea what Naraku's "attacks" are, since he never really battles, well, much.. **reference to the second movie

Sorry for the long wait. But I had to babysit my sister because of the ice and cancelled school. Two hour delay tomorrow! ^_- But in two weeks........we get DSL. ^_____^ I've told everyone and might as well tell people here. Hehe.