AN: Sorry for the long wait, but the computer at work has been off limits, and my monitor is still going, so it's a slow process to write and edit. I have to thank everyone for reviewing (oh I guess this is the part where I profess my undying love for all of you) but I'm in one of my moods, so I'll just say thanks for reading my insanity. Oh and as to the pairings, I still have NO CLUE, but after I find out, I'll be sure to let you know! So don't ask I don't KNOW ^__^ On a lighter note, I can tell you who it's NOT going to be.....

You tried your best, and you failed miserably.

The lesson is: Never try. - Homer Simpson

Chapter 7

***LAST TIME***

The half demon was not too impressed, but decided that he had better listen. Something was different about her and he didn't really want to find out what that was. He went to the well house and instead of jumping in; he waited for her in her era.

***NOW***

Kagome went inside and started to pack her things. She made up her mind that now would be a good time to see Sesshomaru and Rin. She knew Inuyasha would be a little upset, but the boy had it coming.

She decided that she would bring Rin a year's supply of crayons and paper, not to mention colouring books. She filled up a small pack that would keep Rin occupied for many months to come. When she was satisfied that there would be enough things to keep Rin out of trouble, she started to pack things for herself. So she was taking a little bit out of Shippo's personal stash, but she could always buy the fox cub some more.

She didn't even bother to pack any of her schoolbooks. She was so behind in her classes that she knew she was just going to have to stay back a grade. Instead, she concentrated on clothes, and hygiene products. She noticed a rather large bottle of moisturizing cream. She read the label and it said for very dry, cracked skin. She thought of giving it to Jaken and seeing his bug eyes protrude even more. The idea was too tempting to pass up. She shoved that into her bag.

She grabbed the shopping bag full of ramen for Inuyasha and decided that she was all set to leave. She said her goodbyes to her family and her and Yukiro set out back to the feudal era. She entered the well house and was actually not surprised to see Inuyasha standing there. She tossed him the bag full of his ramen, and told him to carry it.

He eyed the extra bag, but decided not to say anything. He simply 'fehed' and jumped in. Kagome jumped in after him. To her surprise, Inuyasha didn't help her up; instead, she had to drag herself up. Yukiro offered to help, but she didn't want to reveal him yet to the rest of the group. Yukiro had tried for so long to mask his power and smell, for it would be a shame to see it wasted so soon.

As soon as Kagome was out of the well, Shippo who was bawling bombarded her. He feared that she would never come back to him. Kagome hugged him. Not seeing him for what seemed like ages, she felt her heart hurt.

Shippo started to cry harder, and Kagome forgot all about Inuyasha, and the others waiting for them. She stood there with Shippo in her arms and held him until he felt better. She walked back to Kaede's with Shippo perched on her other shoulder. After they were out of earshot of Inuyasha, he asked her why there was a demon with her, and why he was masking his scent. She explained the situation with the little shape shifting demon. She felt that it would be better if no one knew that Yukiro had the ability to manipulate time.

Shippo asked if Inuyasha knew about the demon, and she said that she would tell him when the time was right. No one could tell the demon was there until you were up in its face. Shippo thought that would be the funniest thing to see the dog's expression.

So he nodded his head and kept his mouth shut. Kagome reached Kaede's hut and saw Miroku and Sango. She ran up to them and hugged them. Miroku was too happy to see her to start with his wandering hands. Sango pulled her into a bone crushing hug. She felt like she was home. Both were giving her weird looks, but she didn't say anything; she wanted them to come out and tell her what was wrong. Call it her initiation to meeting Yukiro.

Kagome cheerfully went into the hut to prepare a massive amount of ramen. The meal went by without insult or heck even a conversation. Every time Sango asked Kagome the reason why she left, Inuyasha would perk up and tell her to be quiet. Kagome could only roll her eyes and mouthed to her that she would tell her later.

The moment that Inuyasha left to stew, Sango demanded an explanation. Miroku sat by looking curious as well. Shippo was ready to burst. Kagome laughed at him, and told the little fox that he could tell them. So in one huge breath, Shippo told them about the tiny demon that Kagome was concealing. Miroku found the creature fascinating, Sango was on guard about the demon, and Kirara sniffed the demon and returned to her mistress' side giving no second thought to him.

Kagome told them that she would have to leave them again for a few more days at most. There was one last stop that she would have to make before returning to the grind.

Inuyasha had decided to start listening at this comment and barged back into the hut. He told her that they hadn't seen one shard since she was gone. Kagome told him that she would go, and that while she was home, she retrieved five shards. Sango was the first one to ask if she was okay, but Kagome assured her that she had help from two other demons and two very powerful humans.

Inuyasha took another temper tantrum about no good-jewel-stealing-demons who got too friendly with Kagome and left; while Shippo and Miroku wanted to know just what happened while she was away. She decided to tell them the full story, knowing that the half demon left, and was out of ear shot. It wasn't late, but since Kagome had been woken up before her body was ready to the previous night, she decided that she would go to bed earlier. Too much sleep was better than no sleep at all.

Kagome woke up before everyone, so she took her bags and got ready to leave. She knew that getting past Inuyasha would be a problem, so she had to come up with a plan that would get Inuyasha's attention. She knew what to do. She grabbed a cloak from her bag, and woke up Shippo. She asked him to transform into a copy of herself, put on the cloak, and run as fast as he could to the well.

Shippo was worried at what she was going to do, but agreed. Kagome stayed back and watched Inuyasha take the bait. He was chasing after Shippo, but kept back knowing that he would intercept her at the well. Predictable as always. Kagome took off in the other direction and got Yukiro to transform into an animal that would be able to transport her.

They took off towards the Western lands. Kagome laughed at Yukiro's show of power. He transformed into a large dragon, and at first, she was scared that Inuyasha would see them from the sky, but when he didn't catch up to her, she knew that they were safe: for now. The ride to Sesshomaru's home was a peaceful journey. She felt no malevolence or any shards. It was a ride that Kagome could sit back and simply enjoy the scenery.

The sun was just making its rise into the sky, and both stayed silent and admired its beauty. But then everything beautiful becomes ugly. Kagome should have expected it, but still she didn't want to leave the illusion of serenity. They heard cries of a battle coming under way.

They decided to go and see what was happening. Yukiro landed far enough away that their presence would be undetected, and Kagome walked the rest of the way with Yukiro perched on her shoulder.

They reached the army of demons and stood back carefully watching the events unfold. Both armies were filled with demons of every sort. What Kagome couldn't figure out, despite the shouting, was the reason that they were fighting. Okay, so she couldn't understand most of the demon growls. Heck, she couldn't understand any of it.

Yukiro perked up on her shoulder and told her that the reason that they were fighting was that there was a demon terrorizing their territories and that it told them that whoever conquered each other would control the demon.

Kagome's response to that was why didn't they just team up and kill the demon and live in peace with each other? Seemed like a simple solution.

Even Yukiro didn't know why the others didn't do that. Then of course, he wasn't a mind reader, nor was he a power hungry demon lord. So all he did was shrug. They found out later from the shouting that the demon possessed a jewel shard.

This Kagome could no longer stand for. A demon with a shard was as good as purified. Kagome told Yukiro to go hide for cover because she feared that this could become messy.

Yukiro went and hid, but remained alert if he had to rush in and save her. Kagome walked into the battlefield. Most of the warriors stood back to see her killed by their leader, others stood back because they could sense something 'not right' about her.

The leaders stopped their banter and looked at Kagome as she approached them. Both smirked when they saw her.

"I know that you demons are going to fight to the death, but before you kill each other, I'd like to know where the demon is, the one with the jewel shard." Her nonchalant tone raised the eyebrow of one of the demon lords.

"What is your name girl?"

"It matters not Genma, the human filth will die soon enough. Tell her where to search out the demon, and let her decide her own death." The bird demon spat out.

The other demon ignored him and cocked his head waiting for Kagome to answer. Politely Kagome told him her name. In turn, he introduced himself as Genma, the leader of the Southern lands, and the other leader as Soun, ruler of the Eastern lands. The two leaders were the best of friends, but the demon they called Chimera was too powerful for them to take down, so they reached a bargain with it. Whoever came out the victor would be allowed to live in their territories and be allowed to continue ruling.

What the Chimera was proposing was tyranny, but no one was powerful enough to stop it. Kagome demanded, with authority laced in her voice, to know which direction it was last seen.

Both pointed towards the Western lands. Kagome vowed to them that she would defeat the demon, and that they should not place their friendship over top of their lands. There were some things more precious than power. She vowed that she would send word that the demon was dead and called to Yukiro telling him that they were going to see Sesshomaru sooner than expected.

Everyone was surprised to see a giant dragon emerge from the forest. Most of the demons ran for cover, or at the very least move out of the demon's way in fear of being squished. Kagome removed the bow and arrows off one of the warriors, who seemed to throw it at her when she went to reach for it. Kagome was all settled on Yukiro who took off to the skies.

AN: sorry about the short chapter, but I should have the next chapter out soon! Remember to review, and I'll try to remember to update ^_~ j/k I'll update soon, as long as you keep reviewing.