CHAPTER 13: THE LAST OF THE SHARDS

Kagome and Inuyasha paused at the same time, halting the rather large group behind them. Inuyasha gave her a look, but focused back on what got his attention. Blood, old but there. And demon, no doubt.

"You smell it don't you?" he asked. She only nodded and drew her sword.

"And what you don't know, is that it has a shard and its feeding off it. We might have difficulty with this one."

"Feh, yeah right." Kagome scowled at him the best she could. Typical. She wanted to retort, since it's become a usual thing with them, but Sango interrupted.

"You guys sense anything or what?"

Kagome nodded, but Inuyasha raised a brow. Since when was Sango so cheeky? But his train of thought was again interrupted when a tree fell some distance away from them. Heads whirled and they tensed as the demon made itself known. It came slowly from the trees around them, each foot fall shaking the ground with a mighty force. It turned out to be a bull youkai, but ten times worse. It looked like a crazed matador, arms hung loosely down, hoofed feet leaving holes in the dirt. Its chest heaved with each breath, the power of the shikon shard straining its control of itself. From its jaw came tusks that were much too big to possibly support but it was. Its horns were just as big but curled upwards, and its eyes darted back and forth with red veined intensity, searching. Then, those insane eyes landed on them, and a growl was released form it.

"I knew I sensed shards...give them..." its voice was like thunder, deep and resounding, and mass amounts of drool started leaking from its jowls. And it reeked of blood and death. Inuyasha noticed the dried and crusted blood on its claws that was days old. It obviously had a feast.

"Ugh, this thing fucking reeks! If the sight wasn't alone than the stench could kill you," Kouga commented holding his nose.

Inuyasha snorted, "If you're so fucking weak than just sit this out you wimpy wolf."

Kouga growled, but Inuyasha ignored him and withdrew Tetsusagia. Kagome drew her sword, lighting it a light blue with her readiness to fight. Sango tensed her grasp on Hiraikotsu and Miroku readied a few scrolls. The beast went to all fours and scanned the group with its beady eyes. It gave them what would be called a grin, but looked more like a grimace. Kagome could smell its breath from there, and had to will down whatever food she had in her stomach. To none of their surprise, it attacked first, eager for their shards. It ran on all fours, making the ground quake under its mass. It jumped high, and landed right in the middle of them, just as they scattered in different directions. Miroku threw his scrolls, and got a hiss and back hand from the bull. Sango knocked back the next blow with Hiraikotsu and went to Miroku's aid. Kouga and Ayame came from either side, Kouga giving it a good kick on the chin and Ayame clawing its eyes out. But to her surprise when it opened its eyes again, they were still whole.

It avoided Inuyasha in time, but Kagome came up behind it and gave him a good slash on his back. It howled in pain and whirled to give her a good hit. And Inuyasha watched as the cut flesh reconnected and healed without scathe. He cursed.

"Kuso! He can regenerate!"

"What?!" Kagome yelled and avoided another enraged fist. That was just great, it was going to be harder than she thought.

The bull roared and swung in every direction, and landed flat on it ace as Kouga knocked him from behind for almost hitting Ayame. He crouched and took Ayame with him as he jumped out of the way. He grumbled under his breath.

"Hit my mate...I think not...fucking worthless meat puppet..." Ayame giggled like a school girl and traced his jaw with a claw, making him glance at her and give a little grin.

"If you two love birds are done, we still have a problem," Kagome yelled, and turned to Sango, "Shippou!"

A shaking head popped up from behind Sango and gave her a nod. "Get out here! We need the distraction!"

Shippou gulped and bounded over. He landed on her shoulder just she landed from avoiding yet another wild swing. "Okay, Shippou, here's the plan. Make copies of yourself and position them in a circle around him. Don't get hurt though."

Shippou nodded and gulped a dry gulp. He scampered on all fours and ran a circle around the beast, leaving a leaf periodically in his wake. He skidded to a stop and threw up and a small hand.

"Multiply!" (I think that's what he says, I'm not too sure, but I know he says something) suddenly, a dozen more Shippous appeared out of nowhere, and the beast whirled its head in every direction. It let out a roar of frustration as the little targets crawled all over him and bit him in various places, and he thrashed at each one, some of them popping into smoke and he squished them. Shippou, the real one, let go and searched for the miko who came up with the plan.

"Hey ugly! Up here!" the bull looked up into the sun, blinding it, and from the bright rob in the sky came a dark figure. It came closer, and her features only became clear just as her sword dug into his forehead, the flesh sizzling as her miko powers transferred from her sword. It howled loudly in pain, but stopped when she thrusted her sword up diagonally and cut half its skull in half. And before it fell, she saw the sparkle of the shard, buried deep in its head. But it fell forward, and Kagome had to jump off to avoid going with it. She wheeled around to grab the shard, but saw instead the beat getting on all fours, blood pouring from the wound as it healed instantly. She tensed as it growled darkly at her, and faster than she realized, it was charging at her. She readied for it, but was suddenly jerked away when its horns crashed into the spot she was. But she remained tense as she realized it was Inuyasha who held her safe from harm and firm arm around her waist. And she scowled herself as the beginning signs of arousal made themselves known. As they landed, she yanked form his grasp, not able to notice the unconscious disappointment flash in his eyes before anger took over.

"A thank you for saving your life would be nice."

She flushed hotly, "I don't need your help! I can take care of my self!"

"Feh, your funeral."

Anger rising over the warm pit in her belly, she whirled back to the frustrated beast, drawing her sword to the side. She looked around at the faint objects around her. There had to be something they could use. If multiple blows wont do it, and a good killing blow, than maybe if they just obliterated him...her eyes came upon a flat object, and she walked over to find it was a large piece of bark that had fallen off a tree. She fingered it as a plan formed. She looked back and found every one was busy trying to harm the beast. If they could obliterate him, then it would be over. But it was feeding off the shard, gaining strength and speed. It would see an attack coming. Yes it would, it would avoid one attack.

Kagome picked up the bark board and threw flat to the ground and stood on it. She saw as Inuyasha landed behind her, having been thrown. He shook his head and growled, but paused when he saw.

"What are you doing?"

"Draw your sword and follow my lead. Kouga!"

The said wolf snapped his head in her direction, and saw her motion for him to come around. Using his great speed, he u-turned around the beast and headed for her. But he saw her hand held out, facing behind her. And it clicked. He ran past her and went some distance before skidding to a halt. Then he started running again.

Kagome turned her head slightly to Inuyasha, "be ready."

"For what?"

"Just follow me."

Kouga was gaining speed, and Kagome held out her hand further, her other tightening on her sword. He came closer, and she bent her knees and leaned back, anchoring her feet on the bark. And her hand jerked forward hard as Kouga grabbed it and dragged her with him. Kagome was not disappointed when Inuyasha followed. She dragged the tip of her sword along the ground, making noise and sparks. Just what she wanted. Make him concentrate on her. And it worked. The monster whirled in her direction, not even seeing the hanyou behind her. Just as they got close, Kagome crouched on her makeshift snow board and Kouga took it as a signal. And he flung her by her arm in that direction, and Kagome jumped for more boost. Inuyasha jumped with her.

Releasing a cry, Kagome brought up her sword and made ready to strike down. And just as planned the monster moved out of the way of her attack. But it didn't move the way she wanted. Instead of moving back, it moved to the side.

"No! Shit!" Kagome cursed and recovered from her attack smoothly, landing on her feet. Inuyasha landed behind her, and she could feel the glare on her back.

"Nice plan."

She whirled on him, "I don't see you—"

She stopped and gasped. Holy cow...

And behind her, the monster was hacked to pieces by a few flashes of light. Then dissolved to nothing but muck. And she knew the whole time who it was. But the others gasped in surprise and shock. Inuyasha growled darkly, and tensed his fist. One, it was bad enough he was here, and two, some how he didn't like the reaction of the miko.

Inuyasha sprang to his feet, and continued growling. "You bastard! What the hell are you doing here?!"

"What a warm welcome brother," Sesshomaru commented dryly, and kicked a piece of youkai that fell on his shoes off. Inuyasha bristled. And Kouga and Ayame backed off. Oh they knew the of the demon lord, who hadn't? And knowing Inuyasha's temper, they suspected that Sesshomaru's was much worse. The humans tensed. And Kagome stood frozen.

What power...she never thought it was this much. It was bad enough when her senses were dulled, but now...she was almost chocking in his presence. She turned slowly and got her second surprise. Well, two. One, his aura was silver (she always thought it would be gold like Inuyasha), and two, he was staring straight at her. she gulped. Something wasn't right here.

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the miko, his senses greater than that of the two wolves and his pathetic half brother. He saw right through the ward on her back, and sensed a familiar aura. It was that girl, Kagome if he wasn't mistaken. But what had changed about her. It must have been a great change if he, the great Sesshomaru were to notice. And she knew he could see, for no one else she her shake her head at him. Pleading. He let it go. It was none of his business, nor did he care. He heard the sigh of relief.

"I asked you what you thought you were doing here!" Inuyasha barked (no pun intended) and Sesshomaru was brought back to him. He really didn't like the way his brother had looked at the miko. Just something inside him told him that something wasn't right here.

Sesshomaru gave him a bored look. "Must I really explain myself to the likes of you?"

Inuyasha tightened his grip on Tetsusagia, "then leave."

"I'm afraid I can't, for I have a proposition for you."

Inuyasha's jaw almost hit dirt, as it did with the others, but he remained steady. "And that would be?"

"The shards of the shikon no tama are waning, and growing few in umber. This therefore, guarantees the appearance of Naraku. So I, against my better judgment, purpose a truce, until Naraku is defeated."

Crickets. Some blinking. Inuyasha fingered his ear. "Hold on, there must be something in my ears, cause I could have sworn you just said 'lets work together'."

Sesshomaru let a small scowl cross his brows. "In a way, I did."

Inuyasha felt like laughing his ass off, but the look his brother was giving him he knew too well. Sesshomaru meant it. He really needed to sit down, but he wasn't about to show some weakness in front of his brother. He went to speak, but was interrupted by the last person he thought would.

"Just do it Inuyasha," the miko spoke. Through all of this, she had walked over to the remains of the bull and pulled out the shard and started doing some math in her head.

"Stay out of it wench!"

She gave him a cool look. She hated that name. "Think about it Inuyasha, I have three shards, Kouga has two, you have two, and we just got one from here. If I'm not mistaken, that's it. That's all that's left. We found the last shard."

:::::::::::::::::: okay, here you go. From my calculations there are about...three chapters left. And they will be action packed and angst. And despite demand, kikyou will be playing a role in the end. She wont fight, but do something you'd never expect. I have it all planned out. Now don't fret, you might actually like it.

SO's:

Bubblebean022: yeah she was upset. Emotions sometimes get in the way. But I hope you like this chapter.

Scarlet Angel: yeah, well, its summer, and I don't have to do anything for awhile. So I can type a lot!!!

Jammie2000: one thing, that was long. I mean I don't mind long reviews, I dot get them often, but damn! Keep writing though, I want to see what you come up with. A sequel huh? Be kinda hard, but ill see if I can manage an idea.

PeachesDani: all righty then!

Pattycake: I thought you'd like that and me as a writer personally enjoyed torturing her. I felt so good about myself. And ill let you in on a secret, t the next chapter!!!

IY-luver789: read the review above, then I'll really have you on your toes!!

Cubanblood: well, I put him in, ad you know what? It wasn't that hard. And no kikyou cant die yet. I have to make you cry first.

Mish-serenity: yeah im afraid so. There's only so much I can do. But I loved it!!!

Nagumi strife: I get that a lot, that's why I sleep with a bat.

Scottidog: not with a stick, but I think it'll be just as good.

Lady-of-the-darkness: we'd all love to do that, now wouldn't we? And in truth, I don't even know what shmagaffle waffle is.

GypsyGoddessDeva: thank you

Essis: good to know

Eternal serena: im using her and that's final! No one is changing my mind! So deal with it!

Inuyasha-Freak15: um that's good to know, but you do realize there are already 12 other chapters right? Im not insulting you or anything, just...oh I give up. Im only going to look like an ass.