Author's note: We've got another fight scene here, so the violence, obviously, will go up. You also get some bad language from Inuyasha and Kiori. What do you expect? They're kinda PO'd, lol.

*          *          *

With those words, Kiori was enveloped in green light. A howl filled the air as the green light twisted and grew…and grew…and grew…

Roaring, Kiori burst the shield of light, but he was no longer a man. He towered over the forest, a nightmare personified. Kiori now boasted a western-style dragon's head and body, muscles bulging beneath glimmering green scales. Two tremendous black wings fanned out from his back, but all of that was fine compared to the tentacles.

Slick black tentacles wriggled and cracked out of his chest, back and sides. Dripping with slime, they reached out and pulled back in, growing and shrinking at will. Spikes ripped out of every available space on Kiori's arms and legs.

With a terrible roar, Kiori launched himself at Inuyasha. Grunting, Inuyasha dodged and swung his Tetsusaiga at him, but the swing merely grazed his arm. Kiori planted all four feet on the ground and glared at Inuyasha over his shoulder.

"Feh!" Inuyasha snorted, preparing to leap. "You should never turn your back on—oomph!"

Kiori's tail whipped out of nowhere and slammed into Inuyasha's stomach. The half-demon went flying.

Kiori sent a small blast of smoke out of his nostrils. "Hmph. Pathetic."

Scowling, Kiori lifted one clawed hand over Inuyasha and started to swing it down. "Die, you filthy mongrel!!"

"You keep your hands off him!!"

A purple arrow shot by between them, the miko light singeing Kiori's hand. As the demon pulled away and roared in pain and frustration, Inuyasha pulled himself away and stared at Kagome.

She was magnificent, hair billowing out, an expression of righteous rage on her face, and an arrow pointed at Kiori's heart.

"Don't you dare even think about harming him! Inuyasha's too important to be hurt by a lowlife like you!!"

With that, she began to glow faintly with miko light.

All that anger…for him.

Gods, I love her.

The realization hit Inuyasha like a brick. I…I love her. Slowly, a sappy smile spread across his face. Even though he knew he looked like an idiot, grinning in the middle of a battle, he couldn't help himself.

I have to tell her how I feel…

WUMP!

Kagome was backhanded into a nearby tree. Her head hit the bark with a sick thud, and she hit the ground, unconscious.

"KAGOME!!" Inuyasha looked on in horror. No way…not now! His hands shaking with rage, Inuyasha turned to Kiori. "YOU BASTARD!!!"

Scowling furiously, Inuyasha leapt into the air, Tetsusaiga high over his head.

"I'll cut your fucking head off!!!" With a heave, he brought his sword down. "WIND SCAR!!"

Kiori calmly looked at him…

And the blast bounced off a barrier.

Shocked, Inuyasha dropped to the ground. But how did he…?

Growling, Kiori reached beyond Inuyasha, then swung his arm back. Inuyasha gasped in pain as a clump of spikes impaled him, lifted him off the ground, and threw him aside. He landed and rolled, trying to dodge as Kiori attempted to slam his elbow into the hanyou.

"Dammit!" Inuyasha got to his feet and leapt for Kiori again. This time his swing took a good chunk out of Kiori's shoulder.

"Hiraikotsu!"

While Kiori yelled about his shoulder, Sango's boomerang caught him in the opposite side.

"GRRRAWR!!"

Enraged, Kiori straightened and placed both arms over his head. Suddenly, a green line raced down his middle, and he…

Pulled…apart.

The two halves of Kiori growled as their empty side fanned out with green light…and became a new half.

"Great." Inuyasha growled, ears tilting backwards on his head. "Now we've got two of him."

With a smirk, one Kiori launched himself at Inuyasha while the other stayed behind and laughed.

"Perfect!" Kiori Two barked. "Now I can fight and complete my mission!"

Ishiyana stumbled back as Kiori Two reached for him. I don't have a weapon!! Heart pounding, he raced to get away, but the demon wrapped one massive hand around his middle and lifted him high off the ground.

Inuyasha fended off Kiori One's attacks and frowned. What the hell is going on? What mission is he talking about?

Miroku pulled his rosary free. "Inuyasha, I'll take care of this one. Help Ishiyana!" He stood in front of Kiori One.

"WIND TUNNEL!!"

Inuyasha leapt backwards out of the wind tunnel's path. "Right. I'm on it!"

Kiori One struggled ferociously, trying not to get pulled into Miroku's hand. "No! I will NOT die this way!!"

Desperate, Kiori One reached out, snagged Kagome, and, smirking, shoved her towards the monk.

"No!" Miroku wrapped his rosary around his wind tunnel, closing it off. He didn't see the other fist coming at him.

CRACK!

Miroku flew back into the trees and landed hard. He didn't move.

"Miroku!!" Sango yelled. Enraged, she threw Hiraikotsu with all her might at Kiori One. With a laugh, Kiori One tossed Kagome to Kiori Two and caught the boomerang with both hands.

"Go to that bastard Naraku. I'll kill them, then join you!"

Kiori Two nodded and ran off, Kagome limp in his one hand and Ishiyana pounding his fists on the other.

"No! Kagome!" Inuyasha started to run after them, but Kiori One planted himself in his path. "Get the hell out of my way!"

As Kiori One laughed, he failed to remember to summon his barrier. Inuyasha lifted his sword, then swung.

"Wind Scar!!!"

Kiori One yelled as he was caught in the blast.

"Finally!" Inuyasha spat out. He started to run after Kiori Two, but was surprised to find Kiori One's hand crashing down on him. Inuyasha leapt backwards to avoid it and looked up in shock.

Kiori One was still intact.

Breathing heavily, the demon advanced on Inuyasha. "I…refuse…to lose! Not before I destroy you, and not before I destroy Naraku!!!"

Inuyasha lowered his sword. "Na…Naraku? What do you have against him??"

Kiori spat. "That bastard destroyed my family…all my children…because of you!!"

The demon towered over Inuyasha. "So I'll destroy you…and then I'll avenge them!"

Mind racing, Inuyasha dodged Kiori's next attack. How am I supposed to defeat this guy?? I don't have time for this. I have to rescue Kagome!!

Unbalanced, Inuyasha tripped and hit the ground. His eyes widened as he saw those claws coming at him…

"Inuyasha!!!"

Miroku came out of nowhere and knocked him out of the way. Inuyasha stared at him in surprise.

"I thought you were out cold!"

Miroku smirked mildly. "Not while there is such a fight to be fought."

They both lifted their heads at a familiar roar. Seconds later, Sango rode up to them on Kirara.

"We have no time! Who knows what Naraku will do when he gets his hands on those two!" Reaching out, she pulled Miroku onto the cat demon, then reached for Inuyasha. "Come on!"

After a slight hesitation, Inuyasha leapt onto the cat demon's back. Kiori roared as the cat launched herself into the air and flew away.

Scowling, Inuyasha turned to yell over his shoulder. "I'll defeat you later, that's a promise!" All that matters right now is Kagome.

*          *          *

Ishiyana had given up on struggling long ago. Head propped on his fist, he glowered as Kiori strode towards some castle. Great. Now what? He sighed. How does Kagome stand this stuff all the time? Frowning, he looked at her with concern. She'd woken once, but when she'd started yelling, Kiori had promptly rammed her into a nearby tree and knocked her out again. Her eyes hadn't opened since. Man, I hope she's ok.

He lifted his head as they entered the courtyard of the castle. Shivers ran down his spine. Jeez, but this place does NOT feel right. It feels like someone took the air and filled it with…I don't know…evil.

Kiori came to a stop before a building. "Naraku! I have the boy. Now let my Kitlings go!"

A man with long black hair appeared in the doorway. Ishiyana leaned forward. Who the heck is this guy?

Naraku calmly took in Kiori's captives. "So, you brought me the boy and the miko. Well done." His eyes narrowed. "But you failed to destroy Inuyasha."

Kiori's eyes widened. "What? But that's impossible. My other half was winning when I…"

In response, Naraku tossed a black cat on the ground in front of Kiori. "That was the last of your kind."

Kiori dropped Kagome and Ishiyana. "No…no! My children!" His green eyes caught fire. "How dare you??"

"Feh." Naraku lifted a hand and blasted miasma into Kiori's face. The demon struggled, tripped, and fell to the ground.

"Na…Naraku!" His body disintegrated.

Naraku smirked, turning his attention to the two children. "Now that that's taken care of…"

He waved a hand. Suddenly, Ishiyana found himself in a large, dark room in the castle, with Kagome lying on the ground in front of him. Immediately he sank to her side.

"Kagome? Kagome, please wake up! Kagome!"

She groaned, but her eyes stayed closed. With a second wave of Naraku's hand, Kagome was enveloped in a dark red light. Ishiyana's mouth dropped open as she lifted off the floor and floated over to Naraku.

"What the…what do you think you're doing? Let go of her!" Ishiyana jumped to his feet and raced for Kagome, but Naraku simply moved her behind him. He caught Ishiyana in one hand.

"You…why is it that you so resemble Inuyasha?"

Ishiyana fell silent. It didn't take a genius to figure out that this guy was a bad egg, but…what was he supposed to say?

"I…I don't know."

Naraku frowned. "How did you get here? You and this girl are out of place. Where are you from?"

Ishiyana's eyes darted from Naraku to Kagome, but he stayed silent.

"Very well, then."

Naraku lifted one hand. Out of nowhere, a shard of the Shikon Jewel drifted over and rested in his palm.

"This will loosen your tongue."

Holding Ishiyana still with one hand, he jabbed the shard forcefully into Ishiyana's shoulder. The boy yelled as the tainted power ran through him, then slumped. His head hung limply from his shoulders.

"Now then. How did you come here?"

Ishiyana's head remained slumped, but his eyes were now vacant. "Through…through the well."

Naraku frowned. "What well? Where?"

Ishiyana shrugged. "I don't know."

Naraku scowled. "What of her? Where is she from?"

"The future."

Naraku stilled. "You both are from the future?"

"Yes."

"Hmm." Naraku thoughtfully passed a hand under his chin. Two people from the future. I wonder…if I could find this well, could I travel to their realm? "It looks like you know nothing more. I suppose I'll have to pry the truth out of this girl, instead."

Ishiyana flinched.

A smile spread across Naraku's face. "Ah, so you care for this girl." Wonderful. "You, boy. You know who causes her pain. Every tear she has shed, every moment of unhappiness was caused by that half-demon, Inuyasha. The only way she will ever be happy is if you kill him. When he arrives, DESTROY HIM!"

Ishiyana lifted his head, eyes burning.

"Yes, Lord Naraku."

*          *          *

Author's note: Same thing. School's here now, so I'll have to find time to write…but the more you review, the faster I write. If I don't see reviews, I don't get motivated, and that's the honest truth.

Thanks to the people who did write me though: Inu-Kami and inulover4ever101, who've stuck it with me from the start ^_~, and Jezunya, my bud from Access Inuyasha. Muchas gracias!