Okay you know what? Just screw every other day…I'll be posting one chapter a day. Patience is not my best virtue…hell I don't even think I have it. This is going to cut my reviews in half but...that's not what writing is about. . Hope you enjoy this chapter. And as I stated before, WOULD ANYONE LIKE A RUMORS RUIN REPUTATIONS SEQUEL? (Just thought I'd get the point across…lol.) If you do…you should thank my best friend…it was her idea…and I promise the second will be far better than the first. I was bored yesterday and started reading my own story…I'm stupid I now. And I realized the beginning of this story, well up into chapter 15…sucked majorly. Hell the whole thing still sucks…but I'm still learning. I've never been real good at stories…I'm better at drawing and poetry. Speaking of drawing…I will be trying to draw all of my made-up characters from this story (Spike, Katsumi, Kenji, etc.) If you want me to, I'll email them to you when I'm finished.

http : blackcat 7. deviantart. com : this is my art site minus all the spaces, or you can just go to my bio and click on homepage…either way is fine.

Also, sorry I haven't done anything on my other stories yet. I'm just on a role with this one and I don't want to stop for fear of breaking my inspiration, so when I finally finish this story I'll get to work on them and start a new one…I always work three stories at once…hehe.


CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

We Can't afford to Be Innocent.

Kagome still stood stubbornly in place as the lights cut off around her, leaving the only light in the room the white energy flowing from her. Midoriko's energy.

"I said bring the witch to me." Kagome's voice boomed, shattering the one way mirror instantly. But the pieces of glass never hit the floor; instead they became engrossed in the invisible tornado that was whipping around Kagome. The table and chairs lifted into the air and went flying into the wall with such great force that they splintered instantly and were devoured by the tornado.

Sion covered his face with his arms. "Kagome please…stop this. You're not scaring me…and you're not making yourself look powerful either…you're no match for Demona…no one is." Not even Dante.

"Do you not hear me, boy? I say bring her to me. She dare betray my family…I never once knew of my relation to her until she finally decided to stalk and kill me. The woman killed her own flesh and blood. She slayed her brother. You dare protect her…I will end your life as well, boy, if you cover for her any longer."

Sion glanced through the wind at Kagome. Suddenly he had a feeling it wasn't Kagome anymore. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Todo." But then it hit him. He remembered over hearing Demona talk about killing Midoriko and all that stuff about the last miko. That wasn't Kagome in Kagome's body anymore…it was Midoriko. It had to be.

"Bring her to me." Just as her voice boomed, so did the wind around her, forcing Sion to grab onto the doorframe to keep from going airborne. "I will kill her…and you."

"You're crazy woman." He screamed. He noticed the irritated look on her face but he still continued. "I mean look at you. You've become the one thing you've always hated. You're a miko right? So you fight against people like Demona…demons…not people like me. You're supposed to fight against killers not become one."

"I take pity for no man, especially one who sells his soul."

Sion's frown increased. He had forgotten about that one little detail. Ok so he wasn't a human being anymore…but he had come to try and save her. That had to have merit for something. I mean he wasn't afraid to die to save Kagome…but wouldn't it be ironic if she ended up being the one that ripped his head off?

"Please…Ms…Miko, Midoriko. Understand. Demona's strong…she's killed so many people…hell she probably just killed the one man that's ever loved her a few seconds ago. Please…for Kagome's sake…the girl inside of you…the girl whose body you're using at the moment…please just let me get you out of her and save you."

To his amazement a slight smile escaped her. "You may no longer be in possession of it but I can tell you have a good heart. But I cannot trust you; you belong to the demon I hate most. I do not hate you boy, nor do I intend you any harm…your demon counterpart does not matter to me…my own father was demon…but as for your soul's belonging…for this I cannot trust you. But I do ask of you to prove yourself to me. Kagome trusts you…you have tried to help her." She threw him the cell's key, but it only got caught up in the wind. "And I know of why you so willingly and foolishly sold yourself. You did it out of pain. Which Kagome brought back again…and yet you help her still?"

Sion stared at her face, mesmerized by her voice. Midoriko's voice was far different from Kagome's…it was more methodic…and yet soothing.

"I will spare you if you take me to Demona…or if you at least direct me to her."

Sion pushed away his thoughts. He had a feeling like a spell was being cast on him, but he just pushed it off.

"No." He screamed. "I will not let you get Kagome killed. I know how this story goes exactly. The only reason Kagome's around is so you can use her to kill off Demonatikyo…and then you don't care what happens to her. I won't let you do it. I won't."

Shock filled Kagome's features. Midoriko was truly surprised by him. "You care for this girl?"

"She's the last miko…of course I do…and in case you haven't noticed…she has a lot more people who do too. There's her family for one." He guessed.

Midoriko frowned. "But that's impossible. I made it so she would never be missed. I purposefully set her into situations where she would have no one. She has no friends. In her family she is overshadowed by an identical sister. She was set into a world of loneliness. There was to be no one."

"Well you're wrong. Kagome has more true friends than anyone I know. She just has to for such a kind person. And just one question. Why on God's green earth would you try and give someone a life like that? I mean come on. Just listen to what you said. You brought her into this world to die, and you didn't even try and give her a good life to remember. You're almost as bad as Demona herself."

Midoriko's face suddenly grew angry. "You dare speak to me in such a manor of hardship. I was murdered because I was half human-"

"Yeah well you're pretty much about to do the same thing to Kagome. I mean yes…kill Demonatikyo…but get a different body…take his," he pointed to Gore's unconscious form pinned up against the wall, "but don't take Kagome's. She never did anything…I don't even know her that well, but I know she doesn't deserve to be smashed around like a toy."

Midoriko frowned slightly. "I see truth in your words…but what is done is done. I cannot change the past nor the future. Kagome's future has been set."

"So you're just going to send her into battle unconscious while you have full range of her body and powers. Sounds to me like death's corrupted you. Dante used to tell me about your stories when I first met him…but when I sold my soul I forgot…but I remember them now. You used to be the kindest miko that ever lived. You used to love every creature. Some mikos hated demons…even the little ones that were so helpless they took the form of animals…but you…because of what you were, you took them in and pitied them. You killed the evil ones, but protected the harmless. Now look at you. You're the demon…at least Demona took pity on me…"

"You? The son of a serial killer. The son of a man who murdered his own wife-"

"Don't remind me." He felt a wave of pain wash over him.

"How can you say she has more heart than me, when I can already tell from your thoughts that she's more than likely slain this Dante, the only man as you put it 'that's ever loved her.'"

"Listen…I admit Demona's pure evil…she killed you for one…which means you have all the right to kill her…hell I'd even cheer you on…but you just don't get it…she's so strong…"

"I see where you're leading with this, boy. You underestimate me."

"She's killed you once, she can do it again."

"She never killed me." Suddenly he heard Kagome's voice, relief washed over him. "Listen, Sion, I'm okay with this. If I die I die…and it won't be Midoriko fighting…it'll be me-"

"But Kagome you're even weaker-"

"Not with Midoriko's power surging in me. Trust me, Sion. I will end her endless reign of terror. I promise you this much…and no matter what there's nothing you can do to stop me…I've already read her location and the directions from your mind. Her office is on the fourth floor, right by the martial arts tournament."

"Kagome." He breathed out her name.

"Do me a favor, Sion, please. Take Dante's body and get it out of here. He sacrificed for me. I want him to have a proper burial. And don't worry…with the description I read from you of his sword. He did not die in vain. I want you to rest easy with these words. Demons…vampires…werewolves…zombies…witches…anything of the night cannot touch Holy artifacts without getting scarred. She probably does not feel it now, her power being almost overwhelmingly strong. But her strength is withering now. She is weak…"

"…Where I am strong." Midoriko boomed.

"Now go…Sion…and be careful."

He stared at her sadly before he obeyed, taking off to retrieve Dante's body…when suddenly he realized he didn't know where it was.


Inuyasha and the others went storming down through the hall, knocking out as many guards as possible, and locking all lingering pedestrians in broom closets and empty rooms.

"Where the hell are we going?" Asami screamed. "Does anybody have any idea?"

Miroku just shrugged his shoulders. "We're just following our noses…or at least theirs." He pointed up front where Inuyasha, Spike, Hiro, and Katsumi were, they were all the demons with keen abilities like animals when it came to…smelling?

"I've picked up her scent." Katsumi shrieked, pointing down a long corridor. "She was here…it's faint, which means she was only here for like a second, but I can definitely distinguish it."

"I'm picking it up too." Inuyasha nodded. It was the first trail of Kagome they had gotten in the building for some odd reason, but since it was Demona they were dealing with she had probably put up all kinds of demon repellents and stuff in this place.

"Where?" Spike grumbled. "I don't smell it."

Inuyasha and Katsumi rolled their eyes, before they jerked his ski mask off. "That better?"

Spike frantically put the mask back on before he searched around for any sign of a camera. "What are you mad? I don't want to be arrested for breaking and entering."

"You do realize this is a public building?" Inuyasha sneered as he followed deeper down the hallway, his nose to the floor.

Spike rolled his eyes as he jogged along behind the dog demon. "Yeah but this is still illegal."

Katsumi sniffed angrily. "It ends here." she growled before she stood up and kicked the wall. There were no doors here. None.

"Where could they have taken her?"

Asuka rolled her eyes, and even though she was utterly exhausted and at the point of using up all her power, she stepped up to bat, searching everything for a sign of Kagome. She found a faint glitter of Kagome's brain waves, along with someone else's in the same spot. Asuka could only guess Kagome was still fighting for control of her body.

"She's moving." Asuka announced. "She's not in the basement anymore…she's on the first…second…third…fourth floor." She frowned. How was Kagome traveling that fast? "She's…she's in the martial arts tournament's room. I can feel her there."

The rest of the team stared at each other. And then upward, towards the ceiling. They were on the first floor themselves.

Inuyasha didn't need to be told twice. He took off at a mad dash, in the direction they had came, looking for the stairs they had passed earlier. Who cares what floor she was on, all that mattered to him was getting to her.

Sango patted Asuka's back. "Asuka are you feeling okay?"

Asuka only nodded, before all the mental strain got to her, and she collapsed.

Kenji quickly took her into his arms, having a small stare-down with Spike over her. Spike was a slightly protective person, even over his stepsister who he always argued with.

Kenji was still a little smaller than the other guys, but he wouldn't let his strength be that way. He was strong. He in many ways marveled after Inuyasha. Both were stronger and packed a harder punch than they looked.

Rei gave Asuka a small smile. "She's done a lot more than any of us have." Rei leaned in and touched her jagon eye against Asuka's forehead.

"What are you doing?" Spike asked.

"I'm giving her some of my power and taking some of her pain away. I'm trying to heal her quicker…she's too important to loose. You guys go on ahead. This could take awhile…Spike can stay and follow your scent when we're done."

The others nodded and obeyed, leaving Spike, Kenji, Rei, and Asuka behind.


Inuyasha took off at top speed, almost stumbling right back down the stairs. He didn't need Asuka's help anymore…he could smell Kagome from here…Kagome and someone else. They smelled like Kagome, their scent was even mixed with hers…but Inuyasha knew Kagome anywhere…and this wasn't her…but he did recognize it. It had to be the miko.

"I'm coming, Kagome…please wait for me…and don't do anything stupid. For the love of God, don't do anything stupid."


Kagome stood solemnly in the middle of the boxing rings of the tournament's arena. The lights were off, the only light being her white energy, and the moonlight that seeped through the windows.

Kagome grazed along the floor, not even walking, but flowing. She seemed serenely calm. She let waves of her thoughts wash into the air, directing them towards Demona's office, calling the original demon to her. It wouldn't be long now.

She smiled slightly when she came up to the bleachers where she had been sitting at what felt like a century ago. She felt warm inside. Like everything was known to her. They say death answers all of life's questions. She wondered if this was true.

Kagome felt more control of her body than she had ever felt in her life. But she could never be more wrong. She knew she could win this. She knew it. Demona would die at her hands. Kagome felt disturbed at the fact that she was desensitized of killing Demona. But then again, in her subconsciousness, Midoriko had shown her every body that Demona had ever killed. The list was endless. Kagome would avenge them. It sounded sort of corny to her, killing someone to avenge another person's death. But in the end it just sounded right. Demona needed to answer for her sins, there was no atonement past murder. An arm for an arm, a leg for a leg, and a life for a life.


Sion kept running, never letting himself get winded. He was running up the stairs as fast as he could when he spotted a shadow just above him, a flash of white lightening. He frowned. White lightening? It was like a streak of white dashing up the staircase, before it vanished behind the fourth floor door.

Sion took after it.

He reached the fourth floor, and swung the door wide open, stumbling into the hallway. He glanced left, then right, spotting a figure in white hunched down on the floor…smelling it?

Sion slowly approached, it wasn't till he was a step away when the figure turned on him.

Inuyasha bared his fangs and snarled at his follower, ready and willing to knock anyone out who stood in his way of finding Kagome. But when he saw the face of Sion Barzahd, he suddenly became very occupied.

Inuyasha grabbed Sion around the neck, and tried to lift him up in the air, but he had to admit Sion was a little too strong to be able to do that to.

"I should have known you had something to do with this." He grinned, as he used his long claws to pluck at the hairs behind Sion's neck.

Sion rolled his eyes and pushed Inuyasha's hand away. "Listen, whatever ill will you hold towards me you need to put it aside right now. We have to help Kagome…she's going to try and fight Demona all by herself…she'll die. We need to stop her…or at least help her."

Inuyasha snorted before he pushed Sion up against the wall and pinned him there. "What kind of idiot do you take me for? You've been on Demona's side all along. You're trying to trick me. I know you are. So don't even try and give me this Good Samaritan speech. I'm not falling for it. Now take me to where they're hiding Kagome."

"She's in the tournament arena you idiot, can't you smell her? Come on, we have to hurry, what if Demona's killing Kagome right now?"

"That's bullshit…I know you're trying to trick me into trusting you, and when I least expect it you're going to beat my head in-"

Inuyasha was interrupted when a loud bang echoed throughout the peace center, coming from the tournament's arena.

Inuyasha and Sion quickly forgot about each other and took off at a mad dash towards Kagome, just as the others arrived where they had previously been

"I smell…Inuyasha…and…someone else." Kitty frowned. "They went this way."

Asami groaned as she followed the others. "At this rate we're never going to catch up with them…it's all you're fault, Daisuke, for falling down the stairs."

Daisuke rolled his eyes. "Yeah well you're a heavy load to carry…why couldn't your stupid boyfriend, Sano, do it." He murmured under his breath. "And why am I even carrying you in the first place?


Kagome turned sharply to stare at the doors as they went shattering inwards in a loud bang. Kagome could just make out a figure through the dust.

"Well, well, well. I guess there was no trying to escape this huh, Midoriko?" Demona laughed as she stepped into the room.

Kagome smiled weakly. "I'm not Midoriko…not anymore."

Demona sat down on the bleachers beside the area where Kagome was standing. "You amaze me, girl, you really do." She laughed sourly. "I figured Midoriko would send this Last Miko after me while she was in control of her body. I didn't think Midoriko would leave her vendetta with me in the hands of a child."

Kagome glanced out the window and smiled. "I'm no child either, not anymore."

Demona chuckled loudly, "you can't be serious. Trust me, kid, I know Midoriko. You think you're fighting this battle…please, Midoriko's been lying to you. I know her better than anyone. She won't let anyone have me but herself. Death's corrupted her. I can sense it from you. She doesn't care about anything or anyone anymore." Demona smiled, baring her white fangs. "And I have a slight feeling if you'd had more time you could have…taught her the error of her ways." They both snorted at this.

"But…" Demona began popping her knuckles and neck, "too bad you don't have that kind of time." She reached out with lightening speed and grabbed Kagome around the neck. But to her surprise Kagome didn't even wince. There was something about Kagome that irked Demona; something about her had changed.

Demona pushed the feeling aside and lifted Kagome in the air high above her head. She tightened her grip; she could see the indentures of her claws in Kagome's flesh, but Kagome still refused to show any pain.

Kagome smiled before she vanished, disappearing in a burst of wind.

Demona growled angrily, as she heard a child like laughter in the background. She could hear Kagome's voice, but she knew it wasn't Kagome anymore.

Kagome's body laughed. "Can you find me, Demona? Or have you gone senile over the years?"

Demona's eyes narrowed as she searched the arena for a sign of the Last Miko. It was like Kagome was there, and yet she wasn't. Where is she?

Demona suddenly laughed: "What did I tell you, kid? You're not in control of your own body anymore. I truly feel sorry for you. You're inhabited by at least three or four spirits. Let's see…there's the demon…that's what's got a hold of you right now. The miko. Then Midoriko herself, and the Last Miko…or you, Kagome. Very confusing, I know. But it makes an interesting story. I remember the first time I saw you I thought your soul was rather large for someone your age…who would have thought that it was because you were possessed?" She smirked.

Kagome just giggled, her eyes were turned totally red, with turquoise slits. She was hiding right behind Demona, but the fool couldn't sense her. "I guess you could say I have a few…inner demons." She chuckled before she mentally reached out and grabbed Demona around the neck, lifting her high into the air.

Kagome laughed like a small child again. "I'm going to suck the life out of you, just like you've done to so many others…"

"…Just like you did to me." Midoriko boomed.

Demona was choking, gasping for air. "I'll…kill…you." She held her breath before she mentally locked onto the force that had tightened around her neck and broke it. The air seemed to shatter like glass around her as she continued to stay airborne of her own free will. Demona was just about to attack Kagome…or whatever she was at the moment, when Inuyasha and Sion came through the already broken down door.

The second Inuyasha saw Kagome alive he was able to breathe easy. "Kagome."

But that wasn't Kagome up there in the air with Demona anymore.

Kagome's body glared down at them, but Demona just laughed.

"I figured you were a traitor, Sion, my son…but I never figured you to do it in such a way…joining links with a half breed." She glared murderously down at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha snarled. "Let Kagome go."

Demona cackled, "now there's something you don't hear everyday. Please, kid. That's not your little girlfriend anymore…trust me on this one. She's dead and gone."

The second her words ended Kagome instantly sent a burst of wind towards the two boys, sending them flying into the wall. "Leave us." She boomed.

"NO." Inuyasha fought against the crushing tornado that had him pinned to the wall. He slashed out his claws feverently, breaking the tornado into a steady breeze. "I know Kagome's up there somewhere. Kagome! Do you hear me? It's me. Inuyasha. You know, the asshole with no feelings."

Kagome turned her head away from him, directing her attention back towards Demona. "I know no, Inuyasha. Now leave us, or I'll kill you as well."

"I told you." Sion growled at Inuyasha. "I told you we needed to hurry before Kagome's body went haywire. But no. 'I can't be trusted.'"

Inuyasha ignored him. "Kagome doesn't…recognize me?"

Demona laughed, and then turned back to Kagome. "How cute. I'm beginning to really like you, Midoriko." She called out; hoping the miko could hear her. "Making the girl forget her own loved ones. You're a bloody genius. You and I would make pretty good partners."

"Too bad I have to kill you." Kagome screamed as she produced the laser sword she had once used earlier on Halloween against Naraku and his cronies. The sword was black now, not purple; it blazed brightly like a light saber.

Demona smirked as she threw her arms wide open, producing a huge black hole in front of her stomach. "I'm going to devour you again, Midoriko."

Inuyasha and Sion watched in horror as Kagome leapt higher into the air, and then brought her sword down on Demona. Demona blocked Kagome with a blast of black energy from her stomach. It was like watching fire against fire.

Kagome went sprawling into the wall with such great force that it shattered the windows before she fell to the floor with a thud.

Inuyasha panicked. "Kagome." He ran to her side, helped her to her feet, blood trickling from her lip and forehead.

Kagome didn't even thank him, instead she called him a nuisance and sent him flying across the room, landing inside of a boxing ring, before she stepped back up into the air, childish laughter escaping from her.

Suddenly the rest of the team, with the acceptation of the few left on the first floor, stepped into the room, awestruck.

"What's happening?" Duo breathed.

"I dunno…Inuyasha!" Katsumi screamed before she ran to his side where he was stumbling out of the ring.

"Boy…whatever I did back at the hotel has really pissed her off." He coughed. "I've never seen anyone hold a grudge like her."

"What are we supposed to do?" Taki asked, sending his question to no one in particular. "We can't help her…none of us can really fly can we?"

"We could always fight them." Sano gulped as a herd of brain washed security guards came bursting into the room with loud shouts and threats. There were at least fifty of them.

"Get down on the ground." One guard yelled as he pointed a gun at Duo.

Duo rolled his eyes, pointed his hand at the gun, and covered the firearm in flames.

The security guard, who Duo sensed was human, threw the gun aside frantically as it burned his hand before he pulled out a pocketknife from his belt and charged. Duo sighed, sending another burst of flames, this time melting the man's shoes to the floor.

Duo glanced around the room, it seemed the rest of the team were doing pretty much the same as he was. He spared one last look up in Kagome's direction before he took on another guard. Kagome was still fighting hard, and getting knocked around a lot, while Demona remained unscratched. Duo said a silent prayer for Kagome before he melted another guard to the floor and punched him out cold.

Kagome was laughing madly. It was like she had gone insane. She danced around, dodging all the blows that Demona sent at her. She knew she was irritating Demona. She could tell by how careless the original demon's aim was slipping.

"Is this the power of the most infamous demon in history?" Kagome dodged another blow.

"You flatter me, sweetheart." Demona beamed before she threw her head back and stared up at the ceiling. The wind around Demonatikyo was suddenly being sucked into her black hole like a vacuum.

Kagome flew higher and out of the black hole's reach, still laughing. "Is this the best you can do?"

But Demona didn't answer; her head was still facing upwards, her eyes closed. She was smiling to herself, while humming some chant that no one could understand over the vacuum.

Suddenly Demona threw her head back down, her eyes blazing red, her power intensifying and making the wind even stronger.

Kagome was caught up in the vacuum and went flying forwards into a steel rafter, slicing across her stomach as she did all she could to hold on and keep from being sucked into Demona. Kagome's cocky smirk was erased. She tried to break Demona's current with an attack but it was too strong. Kagome was afraid that if it got any more powerful the rafter would cut her in half.

Meanwhile on the floor, the others were out of Demona's range, but they were still fighting their hardest against the security guards…and loosing.

Kagome's grip was slipping, and just when she was about to let go, Demona's wind changed, sending all the wind she had sucked in hurling at Kagome.

Kagome felt herself let go, as she was sent backwards into another rafter. Kagome screamed in pain before she felt a falling sensation take over her. She closed her eyes, willing herself to fall when she suddenly felt her body being dragged upwards at blinding speeds, crashing right back into another rafter.

Demona was hovering just below Kagome, laughing all the while as she mentally knocked Kagome around the rafters like a pinball. She suddenly sent Kagome down to the floor, hitting the girl's back on the side of a boxing ring.

Demona doubled over with laughter as she watched Kagome land in the middle of the fighting mass below her. Demona went to telekinetically pick Kagome back up again when Miroku stood in her way.

Miroku bravely/stupidly jumped in front of Kagome, spreading his arms out by his side. He knew he wasn't strong compared to Demona, he knew he was nothing but a monk who could do a few tricks and spells, but he refused to just stand by and watch. He began chanting, and as the words flowed from his mouth, a force began to tighten around Demona's body like bondage. Miroku could only pray that it would hold her long enough for him to get Kagome away. But things never go as we hope or plan.

Demona broke the monk's spell with a simple flick of her wrist. She rolled her eyes. "A monk." She hissed. "What next? Buddha himself?" She sneered at him. If this kid was so eager to protect Kagome then maybe he wouldn't mind taking her place?

Demona mentally picked Miroku up by his arm, and gave him a violent shake. She smirked when she heard a loud bone-breaking snap echo from his limb. She threw him up into the rafters and began twirling him around blindly, not caring where, or when he hit steel.

Miroku winced in pain. So this is what it feels like to be Kagome? He felt the skin over his stomach rip as Demona knocked him into a dull edged rafter at full force. He was sure he had at least a broken arm and a few ribs…and Demona wasn't even done with him yet.

Sango completely stopped fighting to stare up at Miroku in horror. It was like watching him die in slow motion. She let out a blood curling scream before she grabbed the nearest object to her, a metal fold-up chair, and threw it with all her might at Demona. She knew she would be attracting Demona's attention onto herself, but it was the only thing she could think of to save Miroku.

Demona instantly turned to stare at the chair as it came flying towards her with impressive speed. Demona just laughed as she held out her hand, stopping the chair in midair, before she sent it hurling back at Sango. It went by so fast that Sango never even had a chance to run, the chair hitting her in the collarbone, nearly an inch away from her throat. Sango was thrown to the floor unconscious.

Demona turned back to Miroku, figuring the boy was no longer among the living, she tossed him to the floor. He landed awkwardly on his wrist with another snap, and then he lied there.

Asuka, Rei, Spike, and Kenji suddenly appeared in the doorway. They took everything in, the battle between their friends and the security guards, the bodies of Sango, Miroku, and Kagome, and the laughing Demona who hovered high in the air.

Asuka slowly and cautiously climbed down from Kenji's back. "They're all brainwashed." She growled.

Rei stared at her in confusion.

"The guards. Can't you sense it? Their brain activity is ridiculously low…they've all been brainwashed by Demona." She stepped out, closing her eyes, ready to knock them all out when Kenji caught her by the arm.

"No way, Asuka. You've done enough help…you're going to use up every inch of your power."

Rei and Spike nodded.

"He's right, Asuka. You've done so much more than any of us…you're going to seriously hurt yourself." Rei smiled. "Let the rest of us handle this."

Asuka ignored her. " Do you see Kagome's body over there?"

Rei nodded.

"I won't stop until I'm equal with her. Kagome would do the same for me. She's alive…I can sense her brain waves from here. So are Sango and Miroku. But I refuse to let anything else happen to her or them or anybody else on my account. I have to do this." Asuka closed her eyes, and mentally jumped from guard to guard, knocking each one out as she went. But Asuka didn't stop there, she searched the entire building for remaining brain activity, searching for anyone who she hadn't put unconscious yet and wiping their memory clean of the night's event. And just when she was at the final one…she collapsed, Kenji catching her in midair.

"Come on." Spike ordered Rei. "Let's get Sango and Miroku's bodies out of the way. We don't want them to be trampled."

Rei nodded as she went and helped him.

Inuyasha was standing by Kagome's side when her eyes slowly opened. They were still dark, the demon still in control of her.

He frowned. "Kagome? Kagome, are you in there?"

Kagome only coughed as her reply as she slowly sat up and shook her head of the dizziness. She turned to glare up at Demona, who at the moment was trying to mentally revive her security guards. None moved. But on the bright side, Demona was completely distracted.

Kagome furiously stood up, despite the argument from Inuyasha. She didn't care about him right now…somewhere inside her, where the real Kagome was, there Inuyasha was cherished above all else, but the soul in possession of Kagome's body now wasn't Kagome. Inuyasha meant nothing. Somewhere inside her she loved him, but now he was nothing more than a nuisance.

Kagome, still rooted to the floor, held her hands out above her and directed them at the preoccupied Demona. She pulled as much energy as she could, and sent it souring at Demona, completely catching the original demon off guard.

Demona felt a red-hot streak of pain sear into her leg, it wasn't till she looked down that she realized she didn't have a leg…not any more. Demona suddenly watched as her power drained from her body, before she fell to the floor. She scrambled to lift herself up, to at least get off the floor and into the air, but she was glued to the ground.

Kagome laughed. She watched as Demona tried to crawl over to her amputated limb, but it was clear across the room near the judges table, while Demona was literally lying among the bleachers.

Demona climbed over to a boxing ring, using it as support, she was screaming like a siren, her anger bubbling within her. Never once had she ever been caught off guard and hit…let alone seriously injured. Never once in her centuries of life. How could this happen? She felt suddenly powerless, why was her energy draining from her so quickly and easily? She hadn't used that much of it…and then she remembered the sword.

"That bastard." She screamed. Of course Dante knew he was going to die, and he knew a normal sword would be useless, so what would have been the point of stabbing her in the first place. "That lying, conniving, filthy, son of a bitch vampire…he had a Holy sword. That fucking bastard." She should have read his thoughts more thoroughly before she had let him near her with that sword. Her eyes began flaming red, but she knew she was utterly helpless, the only way she could fix this mess was devouring a demon…but how could she get one to just willingly walk up to her and say 'Here. Eat me, Master.' Demona suddenly wished she'd taken Dante's body and feasted on it. "That bastard. I pray he rots in hell."

Kagome giggled and walked up to Demona, towering over her. She held her palm parallel with Demona's face. "You've had you're time, Demonatikyo." Midoriko's voice boomed.

Demona just smiled, "you've gotten your revenge, old friend…I might just actually have to die because of this little prophecy of yours. But not without a price…" Before Kagome could blow Demona's head off, the original demon brought her razor sharp claws, and thrust them upwards and into Kagome's already wounded side.

Kagome froze as Demona pierced deeper inside of her, before slicing outwards and cutting across Kagome's stomach. That was all it took.

Kagome almost fell over. She stared down at the floor in disbelief. She thought that since Demona was wounded Kagome would have been in control. She hadn't realized she was setting herself up.

Kagome stumbled backwards, before she frantically sent a blast through her hand at Demona, but the attack was weak, it did nothing other than send Demona sliding across the floor, further from her leg.

Kagome continued to walk backwards, away from Demona, but her eyes never left the original demon. Kagome was almost to the rest of her team, where they stood by the door, when she collapsed again in a bloody mess. She wasn't unconscious…but she was slowly loosing her grasp on reality.

Inuyasha, Sion, and Spike, all three instinctively rushed to her side. Inuyasha lifted her up into his arms, much to Sion's protest. But Spike had other things on his mind besides being able to hold her…like actually reviving her.

"Kagome! Kagome wake up! Are you there?" He began snapping his fingers, trying to bring her to.

She groggily turned to stare at him. "Spike?" It was Kagome.

Everyone's face lit up. "Kagome!" Not the miko. Not the demon. Not Midoriko. Just Kagome.

"Oh thank God it's you." Spike breathed. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Kagome groaned. "Just your middle finger."

"Actually it's my index - but that's good enough for me." He smiled.

Kagome's head lulled slightly as she stared up into Inuyasha's face. "You." She growled.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm an asshole…."

Kagome snorted as she tried to climb down from Inuyasha arms, but the second she was standing on her own her knees gave-way and she fell right back to where she started.

"Don't worry, Kagome." Sion squeezed her hand. "Demona's injured…and it looks like Dante's sword really did the trick. Demona's helpless and the only way she can heal herself is if she devours another demon. You're work is done, Kagome. We can finish it from here-"

"DEMONA!"

Everyone turned around to see Gore come stumbling in the doorway.

"Oh shit grab him." Sion screamed, "don't let him get to Demona."

On impulse the team leapt out to grab him, but Gore seamed to slither out of their grasp, and into the air.

He ran to Demona's side. "Demona!"

"Shit. Gore get away from her. Get away…she'll kill you." Kagome screamed but it was already too late.

Demona grabbed Gore's hand and smiled. "Thank you, my love."

My love? Since when did this happen? Gore didn't bother to ask questions. He bent down on his knees, thinking he was going to receive a kiss, but the second Demona's lips touched his he started to scream. Gore was disappearing slowly, his body and soul being sucked into Demona.

Sion, Spike, Inuyasha, and Kagome all looked at each other in horror.

"Where's Midoriko when you need her?"