Disclaimer: I do not own Rumiko Takahashi's work, Inuyasha.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay for updating. I was in the reading mood. This is good for all my readers cause my writing reflects what I read, which means better descriptions! Anyway, I finally got to write again and have gone beyond what I usually do! I've written about three new chapters, but I'm only giving you this one for right now. Just think: the updates will come faster this way. Enjoy!

Naraku's Revenge and Kagome's Suffering

Chapter 11: The Mysterious End of Marimu

Marimu laughed as he floated through the vents to his target. I knew those fools couldn't stop me, he thought. After a moment of contemplating, he added, but they did put up a good fight, especially that cat demon.

He rethinks back to the power behind Kilala's fire attacks, which hurt worse than Shippo's. Also how she was able to save the little runt too.

A very short time later, he thought how this whole battle began. Once I saw that bee with those jewel shards, I couldn't resist sucking up to Naraku. He has poison in his veins just like me. If I could keep doing his dirty work maybe I could obtain a few more shards, he thought to himself.

An evil smirk crossed his face, even though onlookers couldn't see one at all. Once I have enough jewel shards, I can be the All-Powerful Marimu! I'll be unstoppable—"

As he floated, he glanced down another vent, which displayed a hall of the hospital with a small black-headed, recognizable figure running below. That girl's brat! His smile of discovery morphed into an evil smirk with a plan.

I sure hope Inuyasha can beat that thing, Sota thought to himself. He kept running. He was too concerned for Kagome's safety to fool around.

Up ahead he recognized the policeman he dodged away from earlier. Should I slow down? No I can't. I've got to get to Sis. With the determination locked into his system, he floored it.

The policeman saw the speed demon and identified him right away as the suspicious boy with a weapon, which to him looked like an antique sword that had to have been stolen. How something so priceless would be in a hospital, he didn't know, but he wasn't going to let this boy get pass him again even thought the sword was no longer in his possession. "Hey, boy, stop!"

And the chase began.

Marimu saw this spectacle and didn't like this blue guy spoiling his plan.

At the next vent, he swiftly flew through and lightly brushed the man's hairy nostrils. Once done, flew back up in the ventilation system and continued following the boy.

Just as Sota turned a corner the poison reached its maximum in the officer's body. The poison flowed through his veins like a straw and quickly filled his system, gasping for air. His face turned red then blue and finally passed out with a purple complexion and foam at the mouth, eyes dilated. Once the doctors reached him after seeing the face color changes, he had died from the deadly, ancient toxin.

Sota was unaware of the situation behind him. His main concern was getting back to Kagome, for her and Inuyasha's sake, "Go back and protect your sister," is what he had said, and the little boy was determined to help his hero in any way he could.

Finally, he reached his ill sister's room. What he saw were two adults with angry faces, one looking out the far window and the other standing next to Kagome's bed, producing signs with his hands and deep in his thoughts, humming.

Kagome, on the other hand, looked as if she were merely sleeping at home, except her face was a little paler than normal.

Sota turned his head away from the sight. It just reminded him how she was poisoned in the first place. All he had witnessed was the purple gas oozing out of Kagome's right ear. Her eyes began to dilate and her body, but mostly her face was sweating immensely with a white complexion along with it.

Once his sister's body was away from his young eyes he caught the stern look of his mother. Reluctantly, he walked nervously to her and asked, "Mom? What's—"

The grieving older woman cut him off. "I'm just upset at the doctors, Sota. Usually, I don't get this way, but how the they could just give up on your sister's health is something I can't forgive," she added with more hatred, "What if it was one of us and not Kagome? Maybe not poisoned, but something worse? What is this world coming to that even those serving the people refuse to serve…"

She babbled on and on, which was somewhat interesting and annoying at the same time to Marimu. He had entered the room around the same instant the boy did. Hearing how his poison was too much for this era intrigued him, but the constant babbling infuriated him. Now was the time to carry out his plan.

Marimu formed a hand from his cloud-like form and used it to lift the vent up from the system pipes and dropped a gas can into the room.

He waited patiently as the hissing from the container grew louder and louder. It's only a matter of time now. I don't usually resort to having my victims fall asleep, but Naraku said only to attack the girl. I must do as he says or I'll never receive more shards of the jewel. While waiting for the sleeping gas to spread, he suddenly thought, But why just the girl? He had said to not hurt the family if she had one, but that doesn't make any sense.

Before he pondered some more on the subject, the hissing from the sleeping gas had stopped.

Perfect, he said to himself.

He floated through the vent gaps and saw everyone including his target asleep.

"I'll have my reward yet," he said victoriously as the demon flew closer to the unsuspecting body that was Kagome.

When he was a couple of feet from her pale face, a hand reached out with such speed, like that of a demon's, and grasped his skull.

Marimu never saw it coming. He couldn't figure how anyone could find his head amongst his poisonous mist form. Not only that but also know where his jewel shards were. The cold hand's palm was placed over the shards—the demon's welcoming forehead.

The hand began to crush his skull, plate by plate, and then Marimu heard the monotone voice of the girl he was seeking to kill.

"There is no reward. Your job was to distract the half demon." After a short pause the sinister voice continued, "Thank you for making this body numb with sleep. Now he is in control."

Marimu tried very hard to speak. He gasped out, "Who's 'he'?"

The girl's voice laughed and said, "Master Naraku has no need for you anymore." Once said her miko powers enhanced by the newfound power inside her body. She blasted him and quickly engulfed him inside her hand along with the shards now embedded into her palm.

To Be Continued…

A/N: How's that for a twist?! Everyone should be able to tell by now that this story is only getting started. It may be a little over five more chapters, but believe me, it's a good one. The next chapter should be up within the next week. It's called Kagome's Blood and Betrayal. See you then.