Hey! It's the next chappie...w00t w00t!

I'm not sure how much longer this story will keep going...for some reason, mine don't seem to, or barely make it past ten chapters. Eh. Quality over quantity, ne?

Besides...that would mean a whole bunch of cliffies...which (believe it or not), I don't like to do alot, so yep.

I got a few questions...just a few XD...so here ya go:

1. What's Kagura going to do?

Uhh...I'm not exactly sure at this point...but in the end, there'll be a brief connection with her, along with Kanna and Kohaku...but no more spoilers!

2. Will I murder Naraku?

Most likely.

3. What's going to happen?

Ahh..see I can't answer that now, can I? ...looks like you'll just have to wait and read! XD

(Ps, thanks to hanyou-elf, since I can't post this on my other story, for pointing that out. You can tell I'm a newb at Jap clothes..heheh......thanks for the review!)

Alright...now that that's done...let's get on with the chapter! Yay! XD

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Don't You Know My Face?

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Chapter 9: The Minds Within

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Kagome wandered around the mansion once again, drinking in every location of every building, the layouts of each. She figured that if there was a way she survived after this, that the information might come in handy.

Emerging from the last house to her view, she blew out her breathe, as she looked around the yard. Her eyes rested upon a small boy, who sat off to the side on a piece of wood. She swallowed, as she began walking towards him. She stopped infront of him, as she nervously sat down beside him. Placing her hands on either side, they sat in silence as the sun slowly began to set over the horizon.

She sighed, as she slumped her head back, observing the beauty of the evening skies, reds, oranges, pinks and purples, all mixed together in a heavenly blend. "I know you probably can't hear me..." she said, almost a whisper.

"But I want you to know that if there's a way to help you...I will. And, I'm not sure if you have your memories, seeing as Naraku can remove them...but-"

She was cut off as a voice came from nowhere.

'I do have my memories. The ones I no longer have are the ones of pain and sorrow. It's how he keeps me under his control. When I disobey, he gives them back.'

She blinked once. Twice. The third, time, she spun her head looking around for the location of the voice. It sounded strangely familiar...Her head turned to the small boy beside her, whose body hadn't moved. But she couldn't help wondering...

"Did you just speak?"

'Yes, I did. But don't talk too loud, he may hear you.'

"B-B-But your mouth, it didn't move! I don't understand!"

The voice returned once more, as she found it echoing inside her head. 'When people are bound together by Naraku, they form some sort of instant mental connection. I don't think that he understands we can speak of our own free will to one another, but we have kept it a secret since we first discovered.'

She nodded her head slowly. So Naraku couldn't reduce every form of communication. She smiled.

'So this means that we can have a normal conversation?' she inquired in her head.

'Yes. I've tried speaking to Kagura and Kanna a few times, but they're too boring. They, meaning Kagura, usually give me death threats to stay out of their mind...So, after a while, I gave up on trying to talk to them.'

'Oh...' she replied. Thank god, she finally had someone with a brain to talk to. She was afraid she was beginning to go crazy from lack of human contact.

'So...if you don't mind me asking that is...what exactly do you remember?'

For a second, she could've sworn that she saw his body flinch. But she brushed it off as he began replying.

'I remember everything but the day at the castle. I remember my father, my companions...my sister. Fun times, when we were pretty much carefree, strong enough to take on any youkai that approached us. Until we came across Naraku...But that's another time. I also remember you.'

She blinked. Well, it's true, there had been one time when Kagura had set them up in a trap, and they had escaped into the woods. When he was conscious, he had been totally different, a shy little boy who was afraid of getting in anybody's way.

'You remember me?' she echoed.

'Yes. I remember how you cared enough to risk your life to get me to safety. I remember that how I even tried to kill you, you and your friends saw the life in me, and helped me escape. Sometimes...sometimes I wish that I could escape from this, and live a life as a normal boy, with my sister again. But more often that not, our wishes and prayers fall upon deaf ears.' he finished, his tone saddened.

She draped an arm around his shoulder, as his head rested on her forearm. They sat, as the sun slowly fell beyond the trees, dark of night consuming the yard inch by inch. She sighed, as the cold began seeping into the summer day.

'I promise, that if I can help us all, I will...we must never lose hope.'

His head slowly nodded, a small amount with great effort, but enough for her to notice. She smiled, as she stood, him also, as they walked towards the main house for the night.

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InuYasha had been running since sun-up. His legs burned, his chest heaved with every breath, and beads of sweat ran down his face. His throat tasted of coppery blood, as he forced air into his lungs with every step. Behind him, the sun fell beyond the last line of trees, as light slowly began fading. He growled in annoyance, as he realized they would have to stop for the night and set up camp before total darkness set over the forest.

"Oy, Sango!"

The woman in question looked down, as he stopped running. Kilala ceased as well, hovering in the air.

"Let's set up camp for the night. We're not going to get anywhere after dark."

They both blinked at his answer, usually them persuading him to stop, but shrugged it off. They descended in an opening, a small break in the treeline. Kilala transformed, and mewled as she curled up on the ground in exhaustion. Sango picked her up and cradled her in her arms, as they huddled around in a circle around what would soon be a fire.

InuYasha set off to find dry wood, as Miroku did the same, wanting to speed up the pace before night fell. They both returned a few minutes later with large bundles, InuYasha's being slightly larger due to the fact that he was stronger. They dropped a few logs in the middle, placing the extras to the side.

InuYasha walked up to the logs, and crouched down. He brought his claws across in a quick swipe, as they burst into flames, providing warmth and light. He vaguely took note, as Miroku unwrapped some preserves and handed them out to the small group, as a small meal.

He chewed on the piece of dried meat, as his thoughts drifted off. He found himself thinking more and more about Kagome. But that was normal, right? Considering the circumstances...

But what scared him more was that he wasn't simply concerned about her safety...he was concerned about their future. He didn't want her to leave...he was afraid that if she did, his heart would break inside his chest.

He swallowed, as he tucked his arms in his sleeves, his trademark position. He stared blankly into the fire, as he suddenly came to terms with his own emotions. He wanted Kagome to be with him. He couldn't let her go.

He understood that he cared for her, granted deeply, but it's so hard to make yourself distinguish between love, lust or simple concern. He silently blew out his breath, as he voiced that he was going to sleep. Or rather, he was going to jump in the random branches of a tree and brood for the remainder of the night.

So, as he settled himself on a branch above the group, he found himself reflecting his feelings once more. Not only about Kagome, but about Kikyo as well.

Who was Kikyo to him? A dead lover, reborn of dirt and ash? Well sure, if you wanted to get all technical...but it had been fifty years, and he still couldn't let go. Sometimes he still wondered if to this day he remained loving her...or if it was overwhelming guilt. Guilt from not being able to spend more time with her, for doubting her...for not protecting her.

But then again he hadn't been able to protect Kagome either, a bitter reminder of his mission. He silently cursed himself for his stupidity, as his eyes drifted shut. He had promised that he would never let any harm come to her, that he would protect her. He found his hand closing into a tight fist, as he punctured his own skin, tiny droplets of blood leaking through the holes. If anything happened to her, if Naraku harmed a single hair on her head...

If she was...dead...

If she was dead, he's probably go on the killing spree to end all killing sprees. His demon blood would most likely kick in, and he would become inconsolable. His pain would overrun any thoughts of logic, unable to identify friend from foe, as he began to murder anyone in his path. Her loss would be one of unimaginable heartache...and he wondered now, more than ever...

Did he truly love her?

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Alright, sorry for such a short chappie, but nothing else would tie in..

The next one will be coming soon, sorry for the wait on this one, but still it couldn't be helped..;;;

Thanks for everyone who's been so patient..I know, dealing with me is tough o.o

Luv yaz!

Moshi