Flamez- *Ducks flying objects* I'm so sorry for the really really late update! I fractured my left pinky two weeks ago and it's really hard to type. Not to mention I had exams this week. But I finally have it ready, I tried to make it long. Yeah there hasn't been a lot of action lately but I can fix that. I'm trying to manage my time correctly, but I still have a lot of catching up to do. *Sigh* Just read the chapter.

Chapter 16-Nothing but smoke and mirrors

"Get the fuck up."

Kagome groaned but pretended to still be asleep. After Kanna left she couldn't fall sleep until about two hours ago. The last thing she wanted to do was wake up anytime soon.

Zitinou growled. "I've been patient long enough. Either you get your lazy ass up or I'll-"

"Or you'll what?" She gurgled sleepily, slinging an arm over her eyes. "Threaten me some more? Go pull the stick out of your ass and leave me alone."

He picked her up by her neck. "I need to train now and I won't let you get in my way."

Kagome blinked at him before closing her eyes again. "By all means don't let me. Just go train by yourself."

"You can only get so good by shadow boxing, I need a partner."

"Then go get one and leave me alone."

"I already have one, you. So wake the fuck up." He shook her until she opened her eyes.

"What, what, what?!" She whined childishly.

"I don't have time for this! I-"

Kagome laughed derisively. "We have plenty of time. Actually probably the rest of our lives to do whatever the hell we want. So why don't you wait for about five more hours. Trust me, it won't kill you."

Zitinou stared at her coldly. "You're right we have the rest of our lives. But how long do we have? Ten years, tens hours, ten minutes? Nothing is certain around here. If you to be another sniveling coward then be my guest." He dropped unceremoniously. She landed with an audible thud. "Just don't drag me to your level, girl." He shook his head. "I thought better of you but I guess I was wrong."

Kagome dragged herself off the stone floor. "You know you are right Zitinou. You were wrong. I am not a sniveling coward. I am sick to death of you thinking about yourself all of the damn time. If you took the time to pull your head out of your ass then maybe you would see that I am TOO FUCKING TIRED TO TRAIN!!!!" She roared, backing up her words with a painful poke in his chest. She calmed down and spoke a little quieter. "If you want a training partner fit for your hyper ass then you better give me five hours you damn asshole." She plopped back on the ground and shut her eyes.

Zitinou breathed out slowly to keep himself from killing her. This wasn't about him. He had a bad feeling lately and he wanted to be prepared for the worst.

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Inuyasha looked down at the trees whizzing by and then at his companion's faces. Miroku and Sango seemed anxious. Kouga, who had Kikyou's arm in a vice grip, was scowling warningly at her. Ayame was looking absently at the passing scenery. Kikyou, Kurama, and Sesshomaru all looked impassive. Rin and Shippou were happily playing keep away with Jaken's hat. Jaken's face was contorted with annoyance as his slipped on Kirara's fur every time he tried to get it back.

Inuyasha's ears pricked forward and back but didn't catch any sound below them. "It's quiet down there, too quiet."

Miroku frowned. "I know."

"Almost like the quiet before the storm." Kurama glanced around.

Sango shushed them. "You shouldn't say those things!"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "You shouldn't be so damn superstitious Sango. That shit screws with your mind."

"Oh yeah, so what would you call that?" She pointed over his shoulder

He turned to look at a purplish gray cloud heading toward them. "Ah shit."

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Kagome yawned and stretched. It was the first almost slightly good sleep she had in a while. She winced as her back cracked in several places but sighed when some of the pain ebbed away. Sleeping on stone was not pleasant. She smacked her lips and rubbed the crust out of her eyes. She looked over to her side to see Zitinou staring directly at her. Kagome blinked in surprise. How long had he been there? She got up and clinked over to him. Kagome tapped her foot impatiently for him to speak until she realized that he was sleeping with his eyes open. Cautiously, she crouched down in front of his face. He didn't move a muscle. Kagome waved a hand in from of his face.

Zitinou grabbed her wrist and his eyes snapped open. "We fight now." He stood and twisted her around so he had her in a head lock. She thrashed but couldn't get free.

"No fair I wasn't expecting that!"

"Nothing is fair around here." He let go of her neck and punched in the face. She when flying through five paper walls before her chains ran out. Then she when snapping back in direction she came in. As soon as she came flying back into her room, Zitinou grabbed her chains and punched her in the stomach. She spat out blood onto the cold stone floor. Panting, Kagome clutched her stomach with one hand. She looked up into his smirking face and scowled. So he thought this was funny did he? Soon he won't think this was so amusing.

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Inuyasha stared at the approaching cloud. "What the fuck is that?"

"I don't know." Miroku shook his head.

Kouga snorted. "Whatever it is it obviously isn't good."

"No shit." Inuyasha grumbled sarcastically.

"I think it's moving towards us." Sango pointed out worriedly.

"Again, no shit."

She rolled her eyes. "I *mean* that it's getting closer very quickly."

Kurama gazed at the cloud. "By my calculations it will be upon us in about two minutes."

Inuyasha started to pull out Tetsusaiga. "Whatever it is, I won't let it get in my way."

"What are you going to do? Your sword isn't going to be much help. It's a cloud Inuyasha, use your brain." Kikyou said mockingly.

He snarled at her. "What the fuck am supposed to do?!"

She opened her mouth but the cloud had already reached them. They were engulfed in a thick violet mist that made their bones grow cold. Inuyasha whirled around but he couldn't see anyone. He backed up with his ears pricked forward in alertness. He didn't like this one bit. He couldn't hear, see, or smell anything. Something was definitely wrong.

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Zitinou wrapped his chains around her arms, preparing for another attack. But Kagome took over, she pulled back on his chains for leverage and put her feet on his chest. She kicked his face before crushing his wind pipe with her toes. He tried to head butt her but she dodged by twisting his chains holding her wrists together and flipping so that she was hanging upside down. Kagome thrust her heel into his chin sending him crashing down. She spun to untangle her wrists from his chains and sat on his stomach.

"Huzzah Kagome!" Syeaiki clapped from one of the many holes in his wall.

Kagome stood. "How long have you been there?"

"Oh from the time that you went flying through my wall. You don't know how spacious my room feels with all this pleasant openings."

She winced. "Sorry about that."

He held up a hand and shook his head. "No problem."

"Yo-" Kagome went crashing down to the floor. She sat up and glared at Zitinou. "What was that for?!"

"Lesson number one: don't ever take your attention away from your opponent."

"Ass."

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Inuyasha backed up carefully. He was starting to panic. All his life he had his excellent senses and not until now did he know how desperately dependant he was on them. Without them he was vulnerable and slightly afraid. He suddenly got the creepy feeling that someone was near. He whipped around, holding Tetsusaiga out in front of him. There was a man shaped creature shrouded in a mysterious dark violet mist. Inuyasha couldn't see the creature's face but he could see it move to attack him.

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Miroku stood and gripped his staff until his knuckles turned white. He could sense powerful evil presence. The mist surrounding him reeked of sin, it coated his skin and delved into his every pore. He felt sick to his stomach. Using his staff to help him move, he walked forward carefully. He squinted, it looked like something was coming towards him but he wasn't sure was it was. He held his staff so that he could defend himself quickly if need be. The figure was cloaked by the evil purple veil but Miroku could still make out two legs, two arms and a head. It whirled around as if to attack so Miroku raised his staff to strike it.

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Kagome slurped down her noodles. Her most recent encounter with Kanna was strange to say the least. When the girl bent to place the bowl in front of her she made eye contact with her again. But this time Kagome smelled something strange and she could hear the air whisper again. What it said she didn't know, it was saying more than one thing at once. From the tone she could tell that it was taunting her again. Kanna broke eye contact and left. The strange smell and voices subsided.

Kagome suppressed a shiver at the memory and tried her best to sound cheerful. "You can slow down, your food isn't going anywhere."

Syeaiki looked up from his bowl. His cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk's. He gulped the mouthful down and smiled widely. "You never know and I for one rather be safe than sorry."

She put down her now empty bowl. "I've been meaning to ask..."

"What?"

"How come no one seems concerned that we leave our rooms? Or about the holes in your wall?"

"Naraku used to care. He even 'graced' us with his presence quite a few times. But lately he's been too busy to come to call upon the likes of us."

"Why? What's he so busy with?"

"Whatever it is it probably won't last long, this kind of thing happens a lot. He gets something new to with play and he'll ignore us for a while."

"And what exactly is Naraku's new favorite toy?"

Syeaiki coughed suddenly and looked away. He didn't speak but she already knew his answer. It was her.

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Sango pulled her hiraikotsu off her back and settled into a fighting stance. "Miroku? Inuyasha?" She called but heard no answer, not even the sound of her own voice. She padded forward with alertness, she couldn't see a thing. She set down her hiraikotsu and put on her mask incase the mist was poisonous. As soon as she had it on she saw a dark silhouette approached. Swiftly she picked her hiraikotsu and spun to drive it into the thing's stomach. But it knocked her down by slamming into her head.

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Ayame stayed seated where she was. She tried to sniff out the others but to no avail. She didn't know exactly what to do and was content to stay exactly where she was. She peered into the swirling mist to see something come towards her. It stopped for a moment. Stealthily and quickly she moved smoothly over to it. The thing whirled around but Ayame got to it first with a kick to its head.

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Kagome smiled and pretended not to know. "Aw was poor Syeaiki left out of the loop?"

He sighed with mock offence. "No one ever tells me anything."

Her smile grew. She could tell that he was happy that she changed the subject. It was not though it seemed that he didn't like telling bad new but that he didn't want her to feel bad. He probably would have told her if he thought she could do anything about it. She knew that she couldn't.

"Gee I wonder why."

"Ouch Kagome. Must you be so harsh?"

She paused as if to think about it. "Yes, yes I must."

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Kouga was pissed. They didn't have time for this. They had to get to Kagome. He gripped Kikyou's arm tighter, as if to make sure she was still there, and peered into the darkness.

Kikyou's lips turned up slightly. "You won't be able to see anything or hear me for that matter." She had to hand it to Naraku, this spell took a lot of power and expertise.

Oblivious to her words, Kouga stepped forward. He thought he saw something and decided he should get a better look. Kikyou took that time to slip her arm from his grip, disappearing behind a veil of mist. Cursing, he stopped to look for her. He turned to see if she was behind him. Something hit him on his head and he went tumbling backwards.

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Kurama glanced around, noting how everyone seemed to disappear. 'What's going on?'

'I've heard about this before but I can't remember what I read about it.'

'That's a load of help.'

'At least I have some knowledge where you have none.'

'Point taken.'

'What's that shadow over there?'

'Where?'

'To your left.'

Kurama turned his head to see a shadowy figure come towards him. 'What is it?'

'I don't know.'

When the figure was a few feet away it turned. As a reflex he struck its head with his elbow. It fell to the ground but recovered quickly by grabbing Kurama's ankle and digging its claws into his flesh. He tried to shake it off but it wouldn't budge. He stepped on the things head, implying a tremendous amount of pressure.

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Kouga gritted his teeth in agony. It felt like his head was splitting in two. He gripped the shadows ankle and yanked so that if fell beside him. The wolf propped himself up and hit the thing in the face. He couldn't hear the actual crunching of the things nose but he could feel it. He could feel the bones splinter under his calloused knuckles. And even though he couldn't smell its blood he could feel it trickle down onto his flesh. He doubled over when the thing kneed him in the stomach repeatedly until he coughed up blood.

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Kagome started playing idly with her empty bowl. "Are you ever sad?"

Syeaiki's cheerful look faltered. "What?"

"Are you ever sad?"

"What do you mean?"

"I thought my question was pretty straight forward."

"It was just pretty random that's all."

It was silent for a while. "Well...?"

"Well what?"

She threw up her hands in exasperation. "Are you going to answer my question?"

"What question?"

"Are. You. Ever. Sad?" She said slowly.

"What?"

"What do you mean what?"

"I mean that question came from no where."

"Why do I feel like your avoiding the question?"

Syeaiki blinked. "I have to go meditate." He stood and climbed through one of the holes in his wall.

Kagome frowned. "What was that all about?"

"You shouldn't have asked that." Kyo said from behind her.

She turned. "Why not?"

"Didn't it even strike you as odd that he's always so cheerful?"

"I just thought that was how he was."

He shook his head. "That's not the case. When he was brought in, he was hysterical. He was practically foaming at the mouth. Every day he shouted and thrashed. I could fell his energy flare around him. Then one day Naraku paid him a visit and ever since then he's been acting cheerful. Whenever we try to ask him about it, he pretends not to understand the question."

Kagome swallowed, instantly feeling bad for being frustrated with him. What had Naraku told him to make him put up that cheerful façade?

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Inuyasha ignored the sharp pain in his head. He clawed the thing's flesh. It kept trying to dislodge him but he refused to let go. The sharp pain flared when a large amount of pressure was put on it once again. He swung Tetsusaiga in a horizontal crescent, cutting the thing's leg off clean. Something moist and slender wrapped around Inuyasha's throat. It latched into his skin and began to drain the life out of him. He tried to use his claws to pry it off but it was securely fastened to his flesh. His vision was starting to darken and his body temperature began to drop.

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Miroku attacked the shadowy creature viciously. It had severely wounded his leg, he could feel his blood gushing profusely from the injury. He knew he had to defeat the thing quickly before he lost too much blood. He drew symbols in the air rapidly while muttering the ancient runes under his breath. The air around him thickened until it was something solid. The solidified air coiled around the thing and squeezed.

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Kanna glided silently down the hallway. Naraku was pleased with her lately and that was good for her. He called her in less frequently than usual but his face had an extra nastiness to it. He had just informed her, with a nasty smile, that one of their compulsory residents was found to be dispensable. It was one of her most unpleasant jobs. The only thing that got her through it was what Kagura had once told her: "Be grateful it's not you." Being young had its advantages and disadvantages. Having her innocence ripped away at such a young age was one of the causes of her shell like state. She could kill with a hypnotic detachment. She could also block out the looks on their faces when they know they're going to die, erasing it from her memory.

She slid the door open and took the bowl from the man as if were any other day. As soon as she bent to pick it up she pounced on him, pressing her fingers into the pressure points on his neck. His struggles slowly died as more and more blood tainted his mouth. He opened his mouth to scream but all that came out was a splatter of blood. When his movements ceased, she calmly released him and picked up the bowl. She left as quietly as she came. Kanna glided back down the hall, with blood spattered across her alabaster face. At least it wasn't her.

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Kagome stared up at her wooden ceiling. Everything seemed so pointless lately. What was the point waking up when everyday you woke up to this? Kyo, Syeaiki, and even Zitinou helped lift her spirits but that was only temporary. It's been days since she's seen the sun. Every passing day, she sunk deeper and deeper in depression. The emotional roller coaster she was on was taking its toll. Not to mention the headaches she's been getting lately. She learned to hide them from the others but it felt like she was going to die every time she's had one of them. She knew they would ask questions about her most recent one. That one caused her to spit up blood unto the floor. There was something about those headaches she knew wasn't right.

She turned so that she was lying on her side and traced a finger through the droplets of crimson. Kagome felt so empty and confused. Why was Kanna really talking to her for? What did Vaniliy mean? Those two questions seemed to take up all of her time. It was like she was obsessed with finding the answer. But deep down she knew the only reason she was was because she didn't what to think about anything else. Kagome didn't want to think about her friends or what they were doing. She didn't want to think about her most likely worried family. She didn't want to think about being Naraku's 'new toy'. She was drowning in a sea of misery. It's gotten to the point where she didn't care anymore. She didn't care whether she ever woke from sleeping. She wondered if it would be better that way. If she could just die in her sleep.

'The world would be a better place without you.' 'You're friends are glad that you are gone.' 'He's planning you're friend's down fall.' 'He will win, he always does.'

Kagome swiped angrily at the air. "Shut up!" She dragged herself to her knees. "I am so sick of your bullshit!"

The air around her seemed to shift, but not as in movement. It was if it regarded her for a moment and then changed tactics. 'You were right to leave, you were just thinking about everyone's well being. But they're not thinking about you, their off somewhere with out a care in the world.' 'No one gives you the credit you deserve.' 'No one appreciates you but him.' 'He knows your potential.'

She sat back. Yeah, no one appreciated her. She was doing things for everyone else. Did they even bother to come and get her? They were probably off enjoying each other's company, forgetting Kagome ever existed.

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Sango grabbed the thing's leg and twisted until she could feel some bones crack. The thing yanked its leg back and snaked around her chest. It started to crush her ribcage, she could feel each individual rib breaking. Her arms wouldn't move for some reason, she was powerless to stop it. She stomped on its foot and kicked it in its shins but to no avail. An indescribable pain shot through her system as the creature pierced her left shoulder. White flashed across her eyes and her breathes came in short harsh spurts. Sango wondered distantly if she was going to die.

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Ayame had to do something fast. She was losing blood quickly. She threw her arms around the thing's midsection with all of her strength. She held on, feeling bones split little by little. It thrashed but she only tightened her grip. Feeling the need to hurry the process, she snaked her hand up its back and thrust her claws through its flesh.

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Kagome hugged her knees and fumed silently to herself. She was sick of being locked up in here. She was tired of pretending that everything was fine. She didn't feel like seeing the same three people day after day after day. She didn't want to eat that slop they called food ever again. Her back ached from sleeping on the cold hard stone floor. Her wrists and ankles chaffed from the tight shackles around them. Her stomached growled at the lack of food. Her eyes were red from lack of sleep. Her joints were sore from being constantly pulled down by the weight of their chains. She didn't deserve to be here.

"Are you ok, Kagome?" Syeaiki asked from the hole in the wall.

"I'm fine." She ground out, not turning to look at him.

"Are you sure? You can tell me you know."

"Go away."

"Bu-"

"GO AWAY!" She turned to glare at him over her shoulder. She bared her fangs in warning while growing deep in her throat. He looked taken aback but said nothing. Quietly retreating, Syeaiki mused silently to himself. He would have to discuss this with Kyo immediately.

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Kouga grabbed its foot and snapped it back, breaking its ankle. He quickly got to his feet and burrowed his hand into its stomach. Its blood ran freely down his arm and pooled at his feet. Suddenly his wind was knocked out of him. He wheezed, wondering if he had a punctured lung. He tried to throw it off but it wouldn't let go. Then an excruciating pain bloomed in his chest. Liquid fire raced through his body while he wondered dimly if he would survive.

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Kikyou retreated from the danger slowly and discreetly. Those idiots had no idea what they were in. The whole time they though they were fighting some monster when they were really fighting each other.

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Kurama bit the inside of his cheek, coppery blood gushed into his mouth. He ignored the pain, pulling a seed out of his pocket. In moments it grew into thick twisting vines, curling around his fingers. The vines wound around the creature, drawing the life from its victim. The more power it took the stronger the plant grew. It would only be a matter of time before the vine sucked the creature dry.

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Syeaiki rolled his shoulders, having chains weighing you down did nothing for your back. "The reason why I'm here is that we need to talk about Kagome."

Kyo raised an eyebrow. "Why would we need to do that?"

"She's been acting strangely. She just yelled at me for asking what was wrong."

Zitinou rolled his eyes. "There's a name for that, its called PMS."

"Oh yeah, does PMS mean your eyes randomly turn red?"

"Her eyes turned red?" Kyo asked distraughtly.

"Yeah but only for a moment."

He shook his head sadly. "We've lost her."

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Kagome rocked, musing to herself. Syeaiki though he was so sly. He didn't care about her. He wanted something. She couldn't trust him, he was too friendly. Way too friendly. They all want something, all three of them. Yeah well whatever it was they weren't going to get it. Everyone always wanted something from her. Everyone always tried to use her. Well not anymore. She wasn't going to stand for this.

'That's right, they are not to be trusted.' 'They're probably plotting against you.' 'You mustn't let them get what they want.'

Kagome nodded affirmatively. She must not let them get what they want.

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Kurama could feel the thing's life draining. 'Won't be long now.'

'I have a bad feeling about this.'

'Why?'

'It has something to do with this spell. Why can't I remember what it does?'

'Maybe the spell doesn't want you to remember.'

'Stop breathing.'

'What?'

'I need you to close your eyes and stop breathing. Just trust me.'

Kurama, though skeptical, closed his eyes and held his breath. 'What does this have to do with anything?'

'The less contact with a spell the better.' Youko was silent for a while. 'Stop draining the thing's life.'

Kurama complied quickly. 'What's going on?'

'Take the dried leaves out of the bag the old woman gave you then crush it in your hand. After that you can breathe and look around.'

Kurama crumbled the leaves in his fist and opened his hand. Slowly the air around him began to clear. Like a fan to smoke. The violet mist retreated away from his vision, sweeping back from the thing that he attacked. Soon he would know who he had been fighting.

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Zitinou frowned. "What do you mean?"

Kyo sighed. "I have never told you this but there is a curse in the air. It exposes your doubts and fears. It tries to muddle your mind so that you become dependant on the voices. That's why I mediate so much, I'm cleansing the air."

"Well obviously you didn't do it well enough." Zitinou complained.

Syeaiki shook his head. "I have a feeling that whatever it is Kyo's talking about is paying special attention to her."

"I think he's making this stuff up." Zitinou accused. "I've never hear any voices."

Kyo raised an eyebrow. "Maybe you just don't remember."

"I think I would remember if I was hearing voices."

"Believe me, you wouldn't remember if Naraku didn't want you to."

"That doesn't make any sense. Why would he want me to forget?"

"So we couldn't warn Kagome not to listen."

"If Naraku supposedly made us forget, why do you remember?"

"I had been suspecting that he had been tampering with my memories. I began writing logs of what I had been doing at what time."

Syeaiki looked around. "Where? I don't see anything written."

"I can't tell you that, Naraku would surely find out."

"What are we going to do about Kagome?" Syeaiki asked.

"There's nothing we can do now." Kyo replied bleakly.

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Inuyasha felt his energy come back to him sluggishly as the pressure around his throat ceased. He sputtered and coughed, almost choking as the air rushed into his lungs. His vision began to lighten but he could still see spots. Then, like a miracle, the mist around him parted. Inuyasha looked around until he could make out the shrouded figure he had been fighting all this time.

Kurama stood there on his one leg, his other one lying several feet away. "So it was you all along."

Inuyasha pulled the limp vines from around his neck. "If I was fighting you the whole time, where is everyone else?"

They looked out at the retreating mist, hoping everyone was still in one piece.

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Zitinou's nostrils flared. "There has to be something!"

Kyo cut his eyes. "What do you suggest then?"

"I don't know, you're the one with all the plans."

"Obviously I'm not since I don't have one."

"What good are you?"

Kyo's lips pulled back from his fangs, practically frothing at the mouth. His eyes grew cold, hard, and distant. The air around them sparked with his anger. "Don't fucking ask me what good I am! When I get my claws into your flesh, I'll skin you alive you damn bastard! You sick bastard!" He clawed at the air viciously foam running down his chin. His movements began to slow as he started to calm down. He panted and blinked as if just realizing where he was. He ran his shaking hand through his white locks. "Sorry. I don't know what came over me. It was like I heard that before, déjà vu. I don't remember what happened exactly what happened but I just flipped when you said that."

Zitinou stared at him as if seeing him in a different light. "Maybe Naraku is fucking with our minds."

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Sango gasped, cold air went rushing into her bruised lungs. She thought she was going insane when the air around her began to clear of the violet darkness. Dimly, she stared at the thing that was buried in her shoulder. Sango started to make out a pole like object. She followed it up to a pale hand, arm, and to Miroku's color drained face.

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Sesshomaru watched the cloud drift away. He had stayed put the whole time, keeping a firm hand on Rin. She looked up at him with wide eyes. "What just happened?"

"It was a spell of probably of Naraku's doing."

Rin nodded slowly. She started to look around. "Where's Shippou?"

Sesshomaru glanced around before flicking his golden eyes downward at the forest below them. Rin let out a wail before scrambling to the edge Kirara's torso. He didn't fall, did he?

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Ayame cracked open her eyes as everything around her brightened. Her pain was so great she couldn't move. Slowly she looked down at the gaping hole in her stomach and dimly noted all the blood pooled at her feet. She stared at her arm that impaled her opponent's flesh. She knew that she had lost a lot of blood and would have to take time to heal. But right now that didn't matter. Her heart had sunk to the pit of her stomach. She could smell Kouga's blood on her arm.

Slowly she stared up at his face. "I'm so sorry." She blacked out with her arm still inside his shoulder.

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Zitinou sat in his room, brooding over the past conversation. Naraku had ruined his entire life. He remembered the day like it was yesterday. Him, being a weather demon, was fighting over territory. Too many weather demons in one area is always a bad thing, so there tends to be a lot of blood shed over land. Zitinou and his clan, five or so friends, were going to war with another clan that kept scouring the edge of their land. He had told his mate not to go but she wouldn't listen. It was going well, they were just about to win, until a man appeared out of almost nowhere. He smiled while he killed his friends. When he turned to Zitinou and said that he was worth keeping. After he told him where he could stick it, Naraku's smile widened. He took his mate's neck, looked him in the eye, and asked again. His mate told him not to care about her, but he couldn't let Naraku kill her. Seeing Zitinou's indecision, he informed him that he just poisoned her and if he didn't come with him she would die. It was true, he could smell the poison in her blood.

That's how he ended up here. And the worst part of all was that he put her right above him. Zitinou tried to break into her room but Naraku had put wards on it. His body reacted violently, retching and excessive bleeding. But he still tried everyday for five years to get to his mate. She was still poisoned, he could sense it. Kanna brought her enough antidote to keep her just before death. There were times when Zitinou shook and sweated out of nowhere because of it of poison. He would get stronger, he would reunite with his mate, then there'd be hell to pay.

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Inuyasha looked around the scene in disbelief. It was an out of body experience, like people were impersonating his friends. It felt so unreal. Slowly the numbness wore off and it began to sink in.

Kurama stepped forward. "We have to see to their wounds quickly."

Inuyasha nodded, feeling disconnected. "Yeah."

He glanced at him. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah."

They walked slowly over to Ayame and Kouga who were the most injured. Kouga was staring at his arm in shock. Ayame was slumped against him, unconscious from loss of blood. Gently, Kurama pulled them apart, ignoring the blood that flowed freely from their wounds.

Kurama glanced over his shoulder. "Go to Sango and Miroku and get Kirara to land in the closest clearing." He began seeing to Ayame's wounds.

Inuyasha nodded and walked over to them. They were resting on one another, panting and murmuring their apologies. He felt awkward for intruding but he knew they needed medical attention. "How bad are you two hurt?"

Miroku lifted his forehead. "I'm fine over looking a few broken bones in my leg. I think I broke every bone in Sango's ribcage though." He looked so sorry when he said the last part.

"It's nothing that hasn't happened to me before." Sango tired to smile but it ended up as a painful wince.

"Go see Kurama while I go get Kirara to land." Inuyasha shuffled away, trying not to move his injured neck.

Miroku stood straight, grimacing when he accidentally put some weight on his bad leg. Biting the inside of his cheek, he offered a hand to Sango. She took it and pulled her self cautiously up. He wanted to help her even more but he knew she would want to do this on her own. He felt lower than dirt right then. How could he be so easily fooled? He felt like such a dumbass.

Kurama finished bandaging Kouga's shoulder when Miroku and Sango finally reached him. He looked up at them. "How badly are you wounded?"

"Just a few broken bones." They said at the same time. They smiled weakly at each other.

"It can wait." Sango added.

Getting the message, Kurama sat back on his heels and explained. "The spell was definitely Miroku's doing. It's called Veil of Deception. It is supposed to stifle the senses so you can't see, hear, or smell. It makes you believe you're in danger when your not, it even stamps out your own common sense. Usually, it's used to turn a friend against friend."

"Kind of like now." Miroku muttered.

Kurama nodded. "Naraku knows we're coming."

"He planned it." Sesshomaru stated insipidly. "Honestly, do you think it would be that easy to find his castle if he didn't want us to."

Kouga sat up but winced and laid back down. "He's probably just trying to buy more time."

Miroku looked bleak. "But for what is the question."

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Kanna slipped into Kagome's room silently. She set the bowl in front of her and sat down. There was something different about Kagome today. The voices must have gotten to her. She had thought this would happen. The voices had a very strong presence in this room. Kagome stared at the bowl then at Kanna. She supposed Kanna was the only one here that wanted nothing from her. She knew what it was like to be used. She would never do it to her. Kagome took the bowl and slurped down the noodles hungrily.

"I killed a man today." Kanna whispered randomly.

Kagome almost choked. Sure, Kanna was under Naraku's control, but she never imaged her actually killing someone. "Really?"

She nodded faintly. "Yes."

"Why?"

"Naraku told me to."

"You do everything he tells you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"What else is there?"

Kagome thought about it for a moment, swallowing down another forkful of noodles. "What you feel like doing."

"I don't know what I want to do."

"What do you mean you don't know? You have to know."

Kanna shook her head.

"Did you want to kill that man?"

She mulled it over. "No..I suppose I didn't."

"See, you know."

"It doesn't matter what I want to do anyway. What Naraku wants is what's important."

"What makes you think that?"

"He told me so."

"And you believed him?"

"Yes."

"Do believe everything he tells you?"

"No."

"Then why do you believe that?"

"Because here it is better to just go along with things."

"Why? What would he do to you?"

Kanna look distant. "I don't think I want to remember."

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Kirara landed gently on the wide expanse of smooth stone. Rin leaped off frantically. "We have to find Shippou." She tugged on Sesshomaru's hand. "Sesshy-sama, please, help me find him. Please."

He sighed. "Alright, you go that way and I'll go this way." Sesshomaru walked through the trees, shaking his head. He didn't know why Rin liked that boy so much. He pushed back a wayward branch and was greeted with the faint stench of recent death. Shippou's body laid in an awkward position, reinforcing the idea that he fell. Rin would probably cry for days off this. Great. There was only one thing to do. He pulled out Tensaiga and shook his head again. The things he did for her.

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"I won't press it then." Kagome said, not sure if she wanted to know anymore anyway.

"Have you ever killed anyone?"

"Yeah."

"Did you ever enjoy it?"

"No, it was always for self defense."

"I've killed a lot of people."

"Do you regret it?"

Kanna looked off to the side. "I can't say I felt sorry, I just wished I didn't have to do it."

"Do y-"

A sorrowful wail rose in the room next to her. The sound of it made her shiver. It seemed even more wretched than before. Fixated, Kagome stood and padded over to the wall. She reached to tear away the paper that kept her separated from the anonymous screamer. Like a flash, Kanna appeared in front of her and held up her mirror. It happened to quickly. Kagome could feel a tugging at her soul. Then blankness.

Kanna hung her head. "Sorry." She hadn't wanted to do it, at least not then but she couldn't let her get into that room.

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Sesshomaru walked back into the clearing. "I found the child."

Rin jumped on Shippou. "You made me worried!"

Shippou shook her off. "I'm okay."

Kurama looked up from his bowl. "I'm making an ointment to help them heal faster but it will still take about three days."

"Will be well enough to travel?" Kouga asked.

"Yes but-"

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Naraku will probably just send something else along our away. I'm afraid we'll have to continue this journey on foot."

Inuyasha cursed. "It will take us even longer to get there. Damn him!"

"We can still travel on Kirara's back but it will be difficult to maneuver in this forest." Sango said.

"I know a clear path we can use." Kurama said.

Miroku frowned. "What I want to know is is how we didn't fall off of Kirara's back?"

"It's simple really, it's your basic sense. When you sleep, do you roll off your mat?" Kikyou asked as if he was being completely idiotic.

He cut his eyes at her but kept his mouth shut. Kouga rolled his eyes. "If we're done asking questions, I think we should go."

Inuyasha looked at Sango. "Is Kirara up to it?"

She nodded. "She wasn't affected by Naraku's spell."

"I guess we leave now then."

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Naraku smiled. "You trapped her will already?"

Kanna nodded. "Yes."

He took Kagome's chin in his cold fingers. She stared blankly at him, her eyes were a distant blood red. His smile widened. "That's all, Kanna, you may leave." Kanna slipped out silently, telling herself over and over again be glad it wasn't her but this time it didn't seem right.

Naraku studied Kagome's face. "Who do you obey, Kagome?"

"You, Naraku-sama."

"Good, very good."

Flamez- Aw damn, look what happened.