Chapter 12- It Has Begun

Inuyasha ran through the forest, his focuse was only on getting to the castle in time. With his powerful legs he sprang into the air, and he saw it. There in the distance, was a castle that seemed to be built from the side of the mountain behind it. As he began to decend fromt he sky he noticed legions of black and red troops spill from the castle gates and take a post outside the only visible entrance. This is going to be interesting.


"We need to get to Inuyasha!" Sango cried. "Who knows what's going to happen with his temper like this." She, of course, was thinking about his unwilling change to his demon form, but she could not bring herself to say the words. The more Inuyasha changed, the harder it became to change him back.

"We can't leave Kagome here," Miroku mentioned. "She needs to be by the other soul's body in order to make the transformation, right Kaede?"

"Yes, from what I told you that is what needs to happen. But it would appear something new is happening." The old priestess inspected the wounds on the unconious girl. "I believe they are fighting fro the body." She said solmnly. "Sometimes 2 souls will need to battle in order to decide who the rightful owner is. It is entirely possible that Kagome is fighting her battle now."

"I sure hope the other person looks worse then she does." Sango said softly.

"The other person has great power, and is probably swinging the trials in his or her own favor. Which means Kagome will not stand a chance without having disaplined her miko powers." Kaede mentioned with a sigh of dispair.

Sesshoumaru had been staring off in the direction that his brother fled. "Have any of you gave any thought to who is behind this?" He said cooly. He'd been quiet for so lon the others were forced to give him their entire attention.

"We couldn't think of anyone who would want her body this badly." Sango said softly, then she looked off, as in lost in thought.

"Maybe not her body," Sesshomaru said.

"But her soul." Miroku finished. The full demon looked over to him and simply nodded. Then they both looked to Kaede. She too seemed to be rolling the idea around in her head.

"I wouldn't put it past her." She said after a few minets of silence.

"We have to get to Inuyasha, and quick!" Sango chimmed in, "If he finds out Kikyo is behind this..." She stopped herself. "You don't think... I mean he wouldn't... he wouldn't LET Kikyo steal Kagome's body.... would he? I mean he does love Kikyo.... and...."

"No." Sessomaru surpised them all with the certanty of his answer and the harshness of his voice. "I may not be close with my half-brother, I may not even like him. But I can tell that Kagome is his true l... mate." Words like "love" made him sick to his stomach, so he chose the more traditional demon term. "Kikyo is not the same person she once was, and that, will be her undoing." He looked over at Kaede for reassurance.

She nodded and said, "If I need to put her soul to rest myself, I will." Then she leaned over Kagome's body and began to pray.


Kagome was in blackness again, but she could feel Kikyos presance. She tried waiting her out, but her imaptience got the best of her. "Show yourself!"

Moments later Kikyo emerged from the shadows. "Are you ready to fail again?" She smiled.

"You're the one who's going down." Kagome retorted.

"You really think you can defeat a priestess in courage?"

"Yeah. I do." Kagome said trying to will away the excrutiating pain from the injuries she could feel on the outside of her body. "Lets do this."

Kikyo smiled as the blackness became a rocky mountainous canyon which Kikyo and Kagome stood only a few feet away from. Kagome watched and Kikyo planned her next move. But something changed on her face. As if she was trying to concentrate harder to no avail. Then a figure of Inuyasha appeared before them.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome tried as she started to run to him. Kikyo stopped her with one hand to her chest.

"That isn't Inuasha, and this isn't MY test."

Before them Inuyasha curled his clawed fingers, a slight breeze blew his silver hair before his eyes. Through the whisps of hair, Kagome saw his eyes turn red.


Mai and Rai stood on the balcony of the priestess' room and watched the assasin's take their posts outside the main building of the castle.

"Are you sure you felt them?" Rai asked.

"Yes." Mai answered. She was no longer her usual self. With the passing hours she had gown stronger in will. She was getting dangerous, to herself, her people, and especially Rai. He silently plotted how to destroy her, but that would come after the impending battle. He might need her for a while longer.

While Rai stood in silence, Mai was focusing on their soon to be attacker. One had broken off from the group, while the others, she was certain, had learned of whom was behind the attacks. She couldn't pick up their thoughts, but she did cat their feelings, concern, desperation, realization. They were all swarming with it. Except one. There was one who was cool and collected, detached even. This one was going to be a problem. Suddenly she felt an all encompasing rage like she had never felt before. The pain made her grab at her chest with her right hand, and hold on to the balcony with her left.

"Sister, what's wrong?" Rai put his arms around her.

She looked up and through the strands of blue hair that had fallen infront of her face she gazed out into the distance. "He is here, it has begun."

Rai followed her gave and saw a red blur leap over the trees.