Saw Inu Yasha pull off the backlash wave. Now I can incorporate those new moves into the story. I know of several other new moves he will earn, but am unsure how he does them. Still haven't gotten any new demon ideas, so only demons types that I think of and some from the actual story will show up. please feel free to note any new demon types. Also, the final guy is still up in the air when it comes to names and all of his abilities, but his type will be noted in this chapter. I'd like to thank all who have read this story so far, especially those who have reviewed and given suggestions (directly or otherwise).

Before I get arrested by the FBI or whoever, Takahashi owns Inu Yasha and the others. Jena, Zirik, and most other demons are my own.

Last time: The entire group received a surprise when Kagura returned and attacked them all. The entire group was about to get killed when Kagome went berserk, becoming a full fledged demon and killing all of Kagura's henchmen. Inu Yasha returned her to her hanyou form using the tetsusaiga, then left to find suitable clothing to replace Kagome's shredded school uniform.

Chapter 9:

Kagome stirred as the sun rose up. The trees of the area blocked allot of it out, but her new senses could tell without a problem. She opened her eyes and looked around. Sango, Kohaku, and Kiara were all sleeping near a tree, Miroku not too far away and doing the same thing. Shippo had snuggled up with Sango, for they all believed Kagome needed her rest after what had happened during the fight. Jena and Zirik were at their own tree, sleeping in it in a similar fashion as Inu Yasha's. 'Wait a minute, where is he?' She looked around and didn't see him anywhere, yet she could smell him. She shifted the blanket off of her and stood up, unaware at the moment that the blanket was Inu Yasha's haori. A wind blew threw the forest and made her feel a little chilly, for her ruined school uniform was too damaged from yesterday's fight to keep her warm.

She smelled the presence of a hot spring nearby (now that I think of it, the group almost always camps near a hot spring, don't they) and started in that direction, before a tree root caught her ankle and tripped her. She fell face first onto the ground. While she was getting up, she finally noticed how damaged her clothes really were. She went back for the blanket she had over her, realizing that it was Inu Yasha's haori when she picked it up. 'Inu Yasha. Were you worried for me? Where are you?'

"Finally noticed, didn't you?" Kagome looked up where the voice came from. It was Jena, who appeared to be asleep just a minute ago. "Before you ask, he left to take care of something. He told Zirik and me to make sure we get to Totosai's, and that he'll meet up with us there."

Kagome glared at her friend. "You were trying to reading my mind again, weren't you."

Jena just smiled back. "Didn't need to. Your face literally screamed 'where's my Inu Yasha?'"

Kagome turned red. "He isn't mine. We merely get along as friends, but nothing more."

"That's what you may want me to believe, but I know better." Jena hopped down from her branch and stood near Kagome. "I acted just like that after being with Zirik for two years. We overcame that barrier almost six months ago, and haven't even bothered going over the next one just yet." Kagome looked at her friend in a way that said 'this is different.' "If you ask me, the two of you may as well jump both at once."

Kagome looked at Jena, puzzled about what she meant. "You really haven't changed after four years. You still speak weird, even in traditional Japanese. Look, I'll be at the hot spring nearby. If everyone starts waking up, make sure they know where I am. After Sango wakes, you may come too. You could use one."

"I'll handle it." Kagome turned and left for the spring. 'I will handle it. Hope Zirik's plan works out well, and that Inu Yasha won't get in trouble.'

Inu Yasha was already 3/4ths of the way there. He was going faster than anticipated, probably fast enough to get back to the group long before they get to Totosai's. He did run into a few demons, but they were small blade spiders and giant bugs mostly. 'So few demons out today. Wonder why they haven't bothered attacking in force yet? No matter. If they stay away for a while, I should be able to get back to Kagome sooner than I thought I would.' The small amount of gold he had bounced on his side within the bag. 'Zirik said to get her something nice and sturdy. Heh, the firerat clothes I wear are sturdy enough, plus are nice enough should she get into battle.' He looked at what he was wearing now. His pants were still on him, as was the white shirt he always wore under the firerat haori. 'Something similar in design to mine should be enough, and the colors might as well be the same as her normal clothes. Let's see. White haori and green pants will do fine. Add a red shirt under the haori for the finishing touch, and she'll look almost as great as with her original clothes.' He smiled to himself, but then mentally slapped himself for one simple problem. 'Shit, that won't do much good unless I can get the damn thing in the right size. Too small and Miroku will have nosebleeds every time he looks at her. Too large and she won't be able to fight very well, not to mention it will make her look rather bulky.' He didn't realize he had increased his speed even more during his train of thought. By time he looked around again, he noticed he was right outside the town. 'Guess I'm going to have to make a hell of a good guess. Hope it is close enough and that I don't get sat for this.'

Kagome removed the haori from her body, followed by whatever was left of her school uniform and her undies before slipping into the hot spring. It always felt good to relax in something this warm all the time, but it was a little different this time. She could now smell the water around her, not to mention the warm sensations that riddled her ears when she submerged herself. Her senses kicked in as she sensed movement just outside the spring. The scents were muddled from the water, but she quickly recognized who was there. "Glad you two could join me." She turned around to see Jena and Sango standing there. Jena was still wearing some clothing of her own, which appeared to be her old uniform from years ago, ripped and worn with age. Sango had one of Kagome's towels wrapped around herself, and she wore a look of surprise as well. Kagome smiled at her friends. "Come on in. It's very warm." They did just that, after removing their apparel and leaving them on the rocks.

Jena sighed. "It has been quite a while since I actually relaxed in a hot spring." She giggled slightly just thinking about last time, which was a week before she came to this time. Sango looked at the bushes from the corner of her eye. Jena noticed this. "What's up, Sango?"

"Miroku. I know he followed us. He ALWAYS does."

Kagome sighed. "Jena, Miroku's a letch, and has often tried to spy on us whenever we try to bathe. It has happened so often that Sango keeps an eye out, just to be sure."

"I don't think so. I knocked him out after Sango woke up and came here. If anything, we should keep an eye out for Zirik."

Sango stared wide eyed at Jena. "Is he a letch, too?"

Jena shook her head. "Not really. He just...doesn't seem to understand why girls look different. He never saw his mother, and had virtually no contact with a developed girl until I came into his life. Had to knock him out when we first met, for he had peeked under my skirt. I later learned he was curious as to why I looked completely different from the only people he had met, which were men." Kagome gave her a weird look. "He isn't gay, he's just unable to get why all girls look different."

"Has...has he seen you naked or anything?"

"Several, but I keep throwing stuff at him every time." She picked up a rock nearby. "In fact." She stands up and throws the rock at the same time she says, "Time to show you guys by fast ball." Three seconds later, a loud KUSO was heard as the rock hit its mark, sending the hanyou boy down to earth from his tree. "I TOLD YOU TO STOP DOING THAT, ZIRIK!" His response was a thought yell that Jena and Kagome heard followed by the same rock being thrown back, just before he chose to leave back to camp.

Kagome and Jena started to laugh a bit, which took Sango by surprise.

"Did I miss something?"

"Zirik heard what I said, and tried to say something nasty to me. But, he messed it all up." Sango just pretended that she knew what was being talked about before the trio chose to return to the camp.

Inu Yasha left the village about an hour later. He had gotten the white haori, green pants, and red undershirt, but also went ahead and grabbed some green firerat material. "At least she's good at seeeeewwwing. She may be able to use this for something, like replacing that skirt she wore so often. I know that thing looked weird on her, but at least she could almost look like she's still normal." He looked at the clothes he had bought and imagined how Kagome would look in them. "Just hope I guessed her size right, or else I may be in for it when I show up. 'Sits' galore if she's angry." He started on his way back to the group. He had made good time, managing to get to the village at sun-up. It had taken him most of the night since after midnight to just get there. If he pushed it, he could get back to Kagome by lunchtime. At least he'd be able to see her that much sooner.

That's when he smelled something. "Shit! Great time to run into him. He's probably smelled me by now, but I should run if he hasn't yet." He stepped it up a notch and started to dash into the trees and started to leap from branch to branch. If he slowed down, his brother would be upon him.

"ACHOOO!!" Sesshomaru started to rub his nose a little.

"MI lord. Are you alright?"

Sesshomaru merely grunted. "Seems Rin's cold has gotten to me."

"I told you that she might do something to you if you weren't careful."

Sessomaru glared at Jaken. "I was trying to get her feeling better, but I was the one that messed up." He sneezed again. "Damn it. Can't smell a thing like this."

Rin and Jaken followed their lord cautiously, keeping an ear open for any opposition that Sesshomaru may not smell. She sneezed, for her cold wasn't gone yet. "Rrrrgh. If I'm not careful, I'll be the next one sick." he thought. "Why does Lord Sesshomaru insist on having her follow?" He stared at the girl, who had grown a little over three years. Just entering her teens, she was already starting to develop in the chest and curves department, although she still acted like she always did. Jaken only saw one benefit of this girl sticking around, he was learning how those 'dirty little humans' develop and learn. Hell, she was starting to act slightly like the demons themselves, although she couldn't fight a demon off at all alone. "Get your mind out of it, or else you'll be sick," Jaken yelled to himself. Unfortunately for him, he tripped over a root and fell face first. When Rin tried to help him up, another sneeze attack shot through and Jaken got himself as sick as his lord.

Kagura flew towards the castle of the Demon Lord, knowing full well what may happen to her. She was given the task of eliminating the two hanyou warriors that have been raising hell in his lands for two years, while Inu Yasha was still fighting Naraku as well as searching for the shards. But now, she had a really good feeling as to what she may as well be expecting. She landed outside the doors that lead into the belly of the structure and walked through. Bones and corpses of those who had been killed by the demon littered the floor, some of them were demons who thought they could eliminate the retched Lord of the (so called) Central Lands. She ignored the fact that there seemed to be some freshly charred fool in the corner of the room. She approached the main room, where she knew that the demon she now served dwelled. She opened the door, revealing the room within as one of splendor. Gold was kept in the corner of the room, statues from around the small land were kept in their own.

In the middle, where the throne would be (if he can ever steal one from a British castle at this time), stood the demon lord himself. He currently had assumed the form of a human, although many of his demonic features still showed. He has a pair of wings on his back, currently folded and twitching, as if aching to be used. He turned around as he felt the presence of the wind youkai. His purple eyes glinted as he looked at his most recent servant. They were rather fox-like to start with, but they had narrowed even more when he noticed her condition and the fact that she didn't seem to have what he asked for. His body is average in build, muscles having been well developed due to what he is. He was clothed in basic clothing, similar to what Inu Yasha would wear. The material wasn't fire rat fur, it was dragon skin. He also wore leg pads, arm pads, and a chest plate made of dragon skin and dragon bones combined, offering him the best type of protection from many forms of attack. His ears definitely weren't normal, for they resembled wings of a dragon, very much like the wings on his back.

"I see you have returned, Kagura, but I don't see the heads of those I asked you to kill. EXPLAIN!"

She flinched at the sound of his powerful and evil voice. "I was unable to defeat them," She started. "The two hanyou that you wanted dead were in the..."

"YOU FAILED!?! YOU HAD A GROUP OF THE BEST DEMONS NEARBY TO HANDLE THEM BOTH, AS WELL AS ANY HUMAN WARRIOR WITH EASE. HOW COULD YOU FAIL WITH THAT!?!"

Kagura just stared down the demon. "They were with the demon, Inu Yasha. The same demon who defeated my late master, Naraku. His friends were also with him, although some of them have changed." She couldn't tell exactly was different about most of the group, but she knew that a hanyou resembling the miko in appearance was there. "He even seems to have dropped his miko partner for another hanyou, whom I have no clue about."

"No wonder that you came back alone, then. I made it so that you were unprepared for an old foe, correct?" She didn't even need to answer. "I DON'T WANT EXCUSES. THOSE TWO NEVER ACCEPT HELP AT ALL. ALL I ASK OF YOU IS THE HEADS OF THE HANYOU, ZIRIK, AND THAT RETCHED CONVERT HANYOU, AND YOU CAN'T SEEM TO DO THAT!" They heard someone near the door. "DON'T LURK AT THE DOOR, OR ELSE YOU'LL BE THE NEXT PIECE OF CHARCOAL." The door opened, revealing an inu youkai with blond hair, brown eyes, and a pair of fuzzy ears like Inu Yasha's. She was wearing clothing similar to Inu Yasha's as well, although they were black and had chestplate armor similar to the demon lord. She also had a sword on her waist as well as a pair of daggers. "Ah, Yasha. Back from the mountains, I see. Everything go well?"

She bowed before him. "I did as you commanded, my lord. The village of the central wolf tribe has been annihilated." She smirked. "They were easy killings. I even brought you a gift." She reached for a head of a wolf she had killed and presented it to him. "The head of the wolf clan chief. Just a little something to add to your collection." She indicated the tops of the walls, were the heads of leaders hung. These were all demons and people who defied him, failing to evade his wrath. He also used them to keep track of all the lands he now controlled, for each had led a village or pack in a certain area.

The demon lord looked at Kagura. "Now why can't you do what Yasha was able to do? She returned with the head of someone I hated."

"I also have some news. I saw a silver haired hanyou moving around just outside your borders to the west. When I last saw him, he was running from the direction that I heard that Kagura's target last was."

"Really?" He looked to Kagura again. "Seems I owe you the apology. You won't die by my breath as punishment today, but you will if you ever return again without what I ask." 'Not that it would matter,' he thought, 'she's pretty valuable and strong, which is why I revived her in the first place. I will always revive her until she is useless to me.'

"Also, I also saw the Lord of the Western Lands near your borders as well. I have no clue what for, but I will keep an eye on him for you, if you command me to."

"So, Inu Tosai's heir wanders near my borders." He turns to Kagura one last time. "I have a couple of jobs for you. You shall brief Yasha on what she should expect from those warriors that you encountered, then you shall keep a safe eye on the Western Lord. Should he enter my territory, report to me. Don't engage him. Come to me so I can handle him personally." He now looked at Yasha. "I want you to do what Kagura failed to do. Listen to what she says, then assemble a group of demons to help you. Do not underestimate them. I want all of their heads." He turns around and starts walking away. He stops suddenly, then looks at his servants. "One more thing." He grabs a pouch on his hip and protrudes several jewel shards. "Take these, both of you. They may come in handy should you start getting in trouble. Never forget who your lord is, and never forget to retrieve any shards you may find."

"Yes, my lord," they say in union before leaving the room.

'The son of Inu Tosai is remarkably strong and wise. And he controls the largest true area here.' He smiled to himself. 'But, he is only an inu. Only the hanyou, Zirik, can threaten an u-chu dragon. But I'll mave his head mounted on my wall soon enough.' He looks at a section of his wall and looks at two heads in particular. A couple of spaces were located there, one of them in between the two heads he was looking at. 'I think his head will look nice between those of his parents.'

The writing before the story is about a month old. That's about how long I've been trying to write this entire chapter. I'm sorry for the ridiculously long wait for the update, but i think this chapter being as long as it is will compensate. Part two of this will come along soon enough.

Next time: Inu Yasha hurries back towards the group, who may be in over their heads as they continue trying to get to totosai's.