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Author's Notes: I'm sorry for the delay in updates, everyone, but I was on vacation in New York City! And I had an incredible time! I met with several people at Julliard about my singing, and even sang for a conductor of operas at the famous opera house, the Met. It was wonderful!
Anyway, enough about me, I hope you can all forgive me for not updating in at least a week. You'll notice I've made the chapter slightly longer so that you all can be appeased (I hope) for the delay. I'm glad you're all liking how the story is going so far, and I hope the plot continues to please.
Before I continue, I would like to make one general announcement: the name Sukiono is one I made up, completely and entirely. It is the result of many days on pain medication for a week-long migraine, and not at all related to any Japanese names, and if it is then it is simply a lucky coincidence. I hope none of you mind, but if you all really have a problem with the name, then let me know and I'll change it, ok?
As far as this chapter goes, we get to see our first action-packed chapter of the story, though I promise you it will not be the last. And I have to warn you, there is going to be some serious drama (possibly borderline angst) coming up in the next few chapters, so bear with me, but within it all will still be our favorite married couple. And I do promise now that everything will work out in the end. So just trust me, alright?
Thanks for all the reviews, I think you all already know how much they mean to me. And I really do value everyone's input, advice, and compliments. I read them all, honest, I just don't have time to respond to everyone. So, thank you, and enjoy chapter seven!

Kiri RainShadow: No, you've got the right idea, but you're the first person to pick up on that. I was wondering when someone would notice. Thanks for the review!

Charmed18: Sorry to hear about your play! I saw signs for the Broadway show 'Gypsy' while in New York. That's great for him. Let me know how the play turns out in the end, and thanks for reviewing!

Miko Sakura-sama: I would love to read your stories, and I will, I promise, I've just been really busy lately. I just wanted you to know that I wasn't ignoring your request. And thanks for reviewing, as always!

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Title: Soldiers in a Timeless Battle

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Seven

Rating: PG-13 (for language and, at times, sexual implications)

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

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Kagome wasn't sure she had heard correctly. Naraku's son? It couldn't be, unless he was another detachment like Kagura and Kanna. But then, in order for him to exist, Naraku would have to be alive as well, and Kagome was fairly certain he was not. So what was going on?

The man called Sukiono had left her alone completely after that first meeting, and Kagome had been brooding now for over two days about her current situation.

Obviously, she had to escape somehow. But the problem was she didn't know how, considering she was in an area of the forest completely surrounded by an invisible barrier (a discovery she made on the first attempt to escape by simply running away).

The other problem was that Kagome was still feeling sick, close to retching at any second, and that made thinking nearly impossible. And so, like the useless woman that she felt she was, she just sat in the middle of the circle of trees and stewed over her situation angrily.

Why am I always the one who is captured? She thought angrily. Why am I always the one put in the position of the damsel in distress?

"I'm not worth it, you know," she called into the silence around her, for she sensed that even though she couldn't see him, her captor was watching her every move, no doubt with amusement.

Not expecting a response, she jumped when that familiar cool voice penetrated the forest. "I think you are, you just don't give yourself enough credit."

Unexpectedly, Kagome found herself laughing hysterically for a moment, as though finding the situation incredibly funny when, in reality, she was beginning to feel very nervous. She didn't know this new enemy at all.

Naraku was always cool and calculating, but predictable. His traps were easy to discover, once she understood them, and she could sense his presence in the way he tainted the pure air around him.

Ted Wilkins was evil in the purest sense, and thus easy to predict. He had no special powers and, once Kagome had overcome her fear of him, realized he was just an ordinary man with a sick mind.

But this new man, this Sukiono, she didn't understand at all. And that fact alone was enough to frighten her, because she had no idea what he planned to do with her.

"So, you said you want to use me, or rather, the jewel power within my body, to complete your goals. What exactly would those goals be? World domination?"

He chuckled. "Please Kagome, don't insult me by assuming I would so easily reveal everything to you. You will know all eventually, but as of yet it is not my wish for you to understand."

Kagome felt like he was talking to a child, and the thought enraged her. "I think there's some rule that states a hostage has the right to know what is expected of her."

"You're not a hostage Kagome."

"Your prisoner, then."

"I don't see you as that either."

"Then what else would you say that includes being held against my will?"

"I consider you my equal."

That surprised her, and Kagome found herself blinking rapidly for a few seconds, trying to process what he had just said.

His equal? What did that mean?

"Okay," her voice sounded suddenly unsure, but Kagome tried to hide that fact. "But that still doesn't answer my question of what you intend to do with me."

"For now, let's just say I'm putting you away for safekeeping."

"Safekeeping?" That sparked her temper again. What did he think she was, a prized object to be bartered for?

Rising to her feet, Kagome moved to fire an arrow out of habit, only to be reminded that he had taken her weapon from her.

The sudden movement also caused that familiar wave of nausea to come, and Kagome staggered, but refused to topple over to the ground, as much as she wanted to. She did not need to appear weak before this man.

"You are unwell, Kagome," he stated simply, and that alone caused her more anger.

"I'm fine," she hissed, though she didn't know why she was even debating such a stupid subject. She should be trying to figure out a way to escape.

"Your face has paled, what is wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong."

"Are you ill?"

"I think anyone would be after being captured and held against their will," she retorted, still unwilling to lose an argument. Four years with Inuyasha had inspired an annoying habit of always wanting to have the last word.

But fate was not to be kind, and as Kagome tried to take a step forward, toward his voice, she felt faint, and her knees buckled. She braced for impact with the solid earth beneath, only to feel arms catch her at the last moment.

Opening her eyes, she looked up into those mysterious, deadly orbs that frightened her so much. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

"Why?" she finally managed to whisper, and she thought there was a trace of a smile on his face.

"I'm not heartless Kagome, like my father."

That was unexpected, and Kagome felt her eyes go wide in surprise. "Your father," she whispered, as though to restate the obvious. "Naraku."

Realizing that in her current situation she had no chance of escaping, especially in the arms, literally, of the enemy, Kagome decided to try again for some answers, this time about Sukiono himself. Perhaps if she learned more about him, she would be less afraid.

"How?" She asked, and though it was a very broad question, she could see by the look in his eyes that he understood.

"There was a time before Naraku when he was simply Onigumo, a humble thief." He chuckled as Kagome widened her eyes again. "Yes, I know about that, I know about everything."

He carried Kagome over to a softer patch of grass and leaned her against the firm trunk of an ancient tree before kneeling before her. She was surprised at how gentle he was.

"Even after that day in the cave when he became Naraku, Onigumo's heart lived on, thus Naraku was part human or, more specifically, part man.

"In the beginning, when he was searching for the jewel shards, Naraku had a harder time controlling his human heart. Onigumo's urges were strong, especially concerning a particular miko who he had long obsessed over. When she was brought back to life, those urges became more frequent, and he had to find some consolation. So he found my mother."

Kagome gasped. "Kikyou?"

He laughed darkly. "Of course not, for though Onigumo wanted that woman, Naraku despised her because she was the source of his weakness. No matter what else he felt, he would always suppress that one desire, if only to spite Onigumo. But that did not mean he couldn't have other women, and before long, he had a son."

For a moment, he seemed to gaze off into memory, and Kagome just watched him in silence, fascinated but also horrified by the story she was hearing. He truly was Naraku's son.

"My mother knew he would not stay with her, she had known from the first moment they were together. She was heartbroken, of course, but she had already been a broken woman before he came along, so she bore the pain silently.

"We traveled from village to village, she as a fortune teller, and I as her assistant. With me along, no one could deny us food and shelter, for who could refuse a mere child? And that is how I grew up, without a real home anywhere, but I didn't care so long as I had my mother.

"It was one day in the early spring, when I was barely eight years old, that it happened. A band of thieves and raiders, for no particular reason, attacked the small village where we had spent the night, and she was one of their victims. I managed to escape, but all I had now was myself, and no where to go. That was when I met my father, the demon Naraku."

Kagome was silent as she watched violent emotions play across his face; pain intermixed with hate and anger. Where had she seen those feelings before?

"He no doubt offered you the power to take your revenge," Kagome finally stated when it was clear that Sukiono wasn't going to say any more.

"Yes, and I took it. The way in which I killed all those men pleased my father, because he promised to look out for me, and to share his power once he had obtained what he wanted, though at the time I didn't know anything about Kikyou, Inuyasha, or the Shikon no Tama. Indeed, at that point nothing had happened. You still lived in your time, Kikyou was still dead, and Inuyasha was still sealed against the sacred tree." He paused.

"After that, he provided me with a home, a castle, where I was safe, and could watch what he did with the aid of his spies, the bees. I always knew what he was doing, and over time came to understand the long and complicated past that connected him to Kikyou, Inuyasha, and, eventually, you. I knew he was serious about me when he managed to kill the part of him that was Onigumo and yet continued to watch out for me. It was then that I also realized I had many of his powers as my own, and before long I learned to use them."

"But Naraku never mentioned you to us, and we never saw you," Kagome interrupted, trying to figure out how they could have missed the existence of a son.

"He purposefully kept me hidden away. He said it would be for our benefit if none of you knew I was alive. And, as always, he was right."

With that he sat back and went silent, telling Kagome that part of their conversation was over. She sighed and looked away from his penetrating eyes, trying to take in everything she had been told.

"So you now intend to try and achieve what Naraku did not," she whispered finally.

"Know this," he replied, not answering her question directly, "I will never intentionally harm you."

"Why? Because I'm your version of the Shikon jewel?" Her voice sounded surprisingly bitter.

"No, because you are my equal."

She looked at him. "You said that before, but I don't know what that means."

"For now, all you have to know is that it means you will be safe while with me." He suddenly reached forward and touched her behind the neck.

Gasping, Kagome felt her vision go dark, but not before she realized where she had seen his look of pain before, and thinking about it brought HIS face to her mind and caused pain to encircle her heart.

"Inuyasha," she whispered, and then slumped against the tree, unconscious.

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Breathing hard, Inuyasha could feel the sweat running down his back, causing his clothes to plaster themselves against his body. He had been running for so long, barely stopping to rest or eat for the past twenty- four hours, ever since he had caught Kagome's scent. Now he was following it like a bloodhound on the lookout for a wanted criminal, and he wasn't going to stop until he found what he wanted and brought her back home safely.

"Inuyasha! Stop!"

He growled in irritation at the sound of Sango's voice, which was suddenly extremely annoying.

Halting, he watched as the demon exterminator, along with her husband, and Shippou, pulled up alongside him riding Kirara. He could see that the poor demon was exhausted, and felt momentarily guilty for having pushed the group so far so fast. But then, Kagome was worth the pain, he decided.

A sudden flash brought Sesshoumauru up to his side, Nancy on his back, much the way Kagome always was with Inuyasha. The poor woman had stars in her eyes, and she looked paler then a ghost.

"Dear god, we had better be stopping for at least ten minutes," she whispered, and fell right on her rear end, unable to hold herself up any longer. Sesshoumaru turned to her, assuring himself that she was alright, before looking once more at Inuyasha.

"Can you still smell her, brother?"

"Keh, of course I can. Why else would I be moving so fast? I would still be moving closer to finding Kagome if you all hadn't told me to stop."

The others all gave him hard stares before sliding to the ground and sitting, Kirara transforming into her smaller form and crawling into Sango's lap as she laid her head against Miroku's shoulder.

"Have patience, Inuyasha, you're temper is rather annoying," Sesshoumaru commented lazily, kneeling down to touch Nancy's shoulder in a tenderness that was still foreign to him. "Are you alright?"

She looked up at him, sweat on her face, her hair plastered to her head. "What, me? Sure, why not? I mean, it's not like I don't do this every day or anything, but-"

Nancy suddenly went silent as she met the eyes of the handsome demon lord, and the two simply stared at each other in what was obviously a very tender moment. Inuyasha snorted and turned away, muttering something about going somewhere private.

"Sesshoumaru-sama! Sesshoumaru-sama!" The familiar sound of that annoying little toad reached his ears, and Inuyasha turned in time to knock Jaken on the head, causing the poor creature to fall on the ground sporting a huge lump. Behind him came Rin, Kikyou, and Gideon atop Sesshoumaru's flying creature.

"Inuyasha, have you found something?" Kikyou called, sliding to the ground with Gideon at her side.

"What do you mean? I'm following her scent, what more do you want?"

Kikyou backed away at his snappish attitude, recognizing that he was in no mood for a conversation, and instead chose to sit down with the others.

Inuyasha couldn't help but notice how out of place she seemed beside his other friends. She had been something akin to an enemy to them for a long time, and even once she had proven herself free of Naraku's grasp when he had tried to kill her, she had still not been one to be trusted easily.

Sango, he knew, did not trust the miko at all because there was once a time when she would have gladly killed Kagome. And while Inuyasha didn't like memories of those times, he had forgiven her whereas the demon exterminator had not.

And Miroku, well, who knew why he still held a grudge against Kikyou. But Inuyasha could see it in his eyes and his body language whenever she came near. The hanyou had a feeling it probably had something to do with his loyalty to Kagome, just like Sango.

For his part, Shippou moved away completely, hopping into a nearby tree and making no effort to hide his opinion of the woman who had been the cause of so much pain for his surrogate mother.

All in all, it was not a very welcome scene for the woman, and suddenly Inuyasha couldn't help but feel sorry for her, which brought about guilt for the way he had been snapping at her, and everyone, lately.

"Look Kikyou, I'm sorry, just know that maybe you should stop talking to me for a while, okay?"

The miko turned her dark, mysterious eyes on him and showed slight surprise at such an unusual and unexpected concession. But she smiled slightly, and it was kind, a trace of the woman Inuyasha had once known, and he couldn't help but smile back.

"I don't believe this," Sango snapped as she watched the pair, rising to her feet and walking off to a separate part of the glen, her back to the group.

Inuyasha just blinked stupidly for several seconds before looking at Miroku, who also had a scowl in place. "What did I do now?"

"You just don't get it, do you?" The monk ignored his friend and walked over to comfort his wife, leaving Inuyasha to become even more frustrated.

"What is going on? Why are you acting like this?"

"I think, little brother, that old habits die hard, and it takes a long time to prove yourself," Sesshoumaru said, and Inuyasha turned to see his brother staring at him steadily, Nancy once more on her feet and at his side, his one arm around her waist securely.

A look of understanding dawned on his face, and Inuyasha could feel his ears droop. Did they really believe he still harbored feelings for Kikyou? Worse yet, did Kagome?

"Let's go," he said suddenly, "We have to find Kagome."

There was urgency in his voice, and he barely waited for everyone to get to their feet and moving again before he took off following that familiar, beautiful scent once more.

His brother's words had touched him, and now Inuyasha was suddenly afraid of what Kagome would think if she found out he had stopped to rest, and smiled kindly at Kikyou, while she was being held against her will by some unknown enemy.

"No, I won't let her think I don't love her," he whispered to himself, and sped up his pace so that he was practically flying across the ground, his hair blowing out behind him, the sounds of his companions, save for Sesshoumaru who could keep pace, fading into the distance behind him.

Suddenly the air changed, becoming thicker and darker, and Inuyasha felt a shiver run down his spine. Kagome was near, he could feel it.

And as though answering his silent prayers, he suddenly emerged into a clearing to find none other then his beautiful mate before him, in the arms of...

He felt himself growl as he saw that she was being held in the arms of a strange man wearing a white cape, long sandy hair flowing out and over his shoulders. A smug smirk was on his face, as though the man believed he had won some great prize, and Inuyasha would not stand for it.

"Bastard, what did you do to her?" He cried, unsheathing tetsusaiga, but before he could fly at his enemy, a hand on his shoulder stopped him, and he turned to see Sesshoumaru glaring at him, Nancy still on his back.

"Don't be a fool," he spoke coldly, "Analyze the situation first. You would do yourself and Kagome no good to get yourself killed right away because you did not understand your enemy."

Growing because he didn't like being told what to do, but also because he knew Sesshoumaru was right, Inuyasha relented and relaxed his grip slightly on his sword, deciding instead to have a conversation with this man. As though reading his mind, Kagome's captor spoke first.

"So you are the famous Inuyasha, the one who took part in killing Naraku." He cocked his head to the side curiously. "What is it about you that Kagome loves, anyway? You seem to be nothing more then a brute, and a stupid one at that, banging that big sword of yours around."

"Bastard, you take that back!" Inuyasha yelled out, letting his temper get the better of him. It didn't even occur to him that by fighting with the man, he was only proving him right.

The soft sound of a groan reached his ears, and the hanyou suddenly felt his anger leave him and his heart melt in that familiar way when he was near Kagome. Looking up, he saw her stirring in the stranger's arms.

"It would seem that she recognizes your voice even in sleep," the man said, almost sounding disgruntled. Inuyasha smirked in triumph.

"She should know the voice of her mate, baka. Now put her down, or I'll cut you to pieces!"

But the stranger wasn't paying any attention to him, his eyes focused instead on the now slowly waking Kagome. Inuyasha watched as she opened her beautiful eyes, only to start when she realized the position she was in.

"Sukiono," she whispered, "Why did you do that?"

She suddenly seemed to become aware of the others, because she slowly rolled her head to the side to gaze down at first Sesshoumaru and Nancy, and then Inuyasha. When she saw the latter her eyes opened wide with joy, and Inuyasha felt his heart leap.

"Inuyasha," she cried, trying to maneuver out of the man's arms, only to fall to the ground in the process with a loud thud.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha ran to her, only to feel himself repelled by a powerful barrier. A familiar barrier.

"Do you honestly think I would let you follow her trail just to give her back to you?" the man asked, his voice sounding almost offended. "Kagome is mine now, not yours Inuyasha."

"Bastard," Inuyasha hissed, "You won't talk about her like that!"

But before he could say any more, everyone else entered the clearing, including Kikyou, and the man's eyes settled on her. He narrowed his gaze into one of a smoldering glare.

"So you are the one," he hissed, and Kikyou gazed up at him in surprise and then recognition as she recognized the voice. "You're the one who caused all that pain and suffering for my father."

"Your father?" Everyone practically gasped, and the air suddenly filled with nervousness and uncertainty.

Kikyou stared straight back at Sukiono, appearing calm and unafraid as always, and from her vantage point on the ground Kagome wished desperately for a piece of that inner confidence.

"You are the man from the woods, who wounded one of the men from my village," the miko stated simply, and Sukiono chuckled.

"Indeed, I am guilty, but I have no regrets. The man was foolish, and did not heed my warnings."

Another thick silence permeated the air, in which time Kagome began to unsteadily rise to her feet, that damnable nausea making her want to retch again. But in the current situation, she pushed it aside somehow and stood tall, refusing to back down now and be the poor girl who needed to be rescued.

"You should not move Kagome," Sukiono said, his voice surprisingly tender all of a sudden, "You are not well."

"I'm well enough to return to the man I love," she retorted, trying her best to not be unnerved by his kind nature toward her. It was difficult to hate someone who, for the most part, treated you with every care and precaution.

But as she attempted to take one step forward, she hit that damnable invisible barrier, and fell backward, into, of course, the arms of the enemy once more. This caused Inuyasha's temper to explode.

"Bastard, you get your hands off of my Kagome!"

In any other situation Kagome would have smirked at how much her husband sounded like Kouga at that moment, but considering the fact that he was rushing at Sukiono, and herself in the process, with tetsusaiga at the ready, she felt it wasn't the time for jokes.

Not sure what else she should do, Kagome elbowed her captor in the ribs sharply, hearing as he drew in his breath and loosened his grip on her enough for her to get free before Inuyasha reached them. She watched as he, dressed in his red kimono, leapt over her and brought his sword down on his new enemy, only to be rebuffed by another, smaller barrier.

Staggering back to his feet after recovering from the unexpected impact, Inuyasha wiped a small trace of blood from his mouth, which was set in a grim line. "Who are you, to know about Kikyou and I and use techniques belonging to Naraku?"

Sukiono smirked. "I am as I told you. I am Naraku's son." He glanced at Kagome. "And I'm sure she would be happy to fill you in on my tragic story some other time, when she eventually joins you in the afterlife."

"Bastard," Inuyasha hissed, "Kagome won't need to wait that long."

He charged again, but this time his opponent was ready and propelled his own attack that sent Inuyasha flying backward and into a nearby tree.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, remembering now how she had hated seeing him like this when they had battled Naraku. She had to get to him, somehow.

In the meantime, a familiar purity arrow flew through the air only to lodge itself unsuccessfully in the barrier, crackling for a few seconds before falling uselessly to the ground. Kagome glanced over to see Kikyou standing at the ready, her bow up and her other hand out from having just released the arrow.

"Foolish woman," Sukiono growled, "You never seem to learn that in reality you are not that strong."

And with that he sent another attack, this time toward Kikyou, but at the last moment she was pushed out of the way by Gideon, who took the brunt of the attack.

"Gideon!" She cried, her voice filled with horror as she watched the man she loved fall to his knees, his shirt falling from his body as the back had been completely burned.

"I'm okay," he managed to whisper, "Just a little sore."

Tears were in her eyes as she fell to her knees beside him, touching his face gently. "Oh Gideon, I'm so sorry."

He managed a smile and a careless wink, his eyes still warm. "Don't worry about it, love, I knew what I was getting into when I married you."

It was a tender scene, to be sure, but one that was not meant to last, for Sukiono had not yet finished. He now had his sights set on Sango and Miroku, who were standing in front of a fallen Inuyasha, still struggling to rise to his feet.

"How touching that the monk and the exterminator should fight together once more," he commented, his voice so cruel Kagome was amazed that a few moments ago he had looked at her with such kindness. "Tell me Miroku, is it harder to fight without the kazanaa?"

Miroku glared at the man and tightened his hands around his holy staff, preparing to attack, Sango faithfully at his side, as always. But before they even had a chance to charge, they found themselves surrounded by several weaker demons, and were forced to defend themselves.

Kagome glanced up at her captor curiously, but he just shrugged at the question in her eyes. "I don't have time to deal with them right now."

There was a brief flash of light and suddenly Kagome found herself staring at Sesshoumaru, who had trained his icy glare on Sukiono as he moved to draw his sword. "You are too dangerous for me to allow you to live," he said simply.

"I should consider that an honor," Sukiono replied, "For you are the great Sesshoumaru, lord of the western lands."

"Do not mock me boy," the demon lord hissed, "I have lived far longer then you and seen too much of this world to put up with a stupid young man. Besides," he smirked and glanced at his brother, "I already have one stupid hanyou to deal with, I don't need another."

"Who are you calling stupid, baka?" Inuyasha retorted, in his anger finding the strength to rise, and the thought crossed Kagome's mind that Sesshoumaru had goaded his brother on purpose.

"I don't think I wish to fight with you, Sesshoumaru," Sukiono stated simply, "But I need you out of my way. And to do that, I see only one solution." He flicked his gaze at Rin, who backed away slightly, Jaken stepping before her protectively.

Sesshoumaru prepared to protect the little girl, but at the last moment Sukiono changed his plan of attack and it became clear too late who his real target was.

Poor Nancy didn't even see it coming, and Sesshoumaru was forced to watch as she was thrown backward, her feet flying up over her head as she landed, rolling several times on the ground before finally coming to a stop in a still heap.

If Kagome, or any of the others, had ever doubted Nancy White's place in the heart of the Lord of the Western Lands, those doubts were put to rest at that moment when he ran to her side and cradled her with his one arm, checking to make sure that she was still alive. Kagome felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes at the sight, and suddenly all pity for the man beside her vanished.

In that moment she realized something that she would need to remember whenever she was tempted to pity him or try and change his ways.

He was truly Naraku's son.

Sukiono was oblivious to the storm brewing in the woman beside him, instead returning his attention to Inuyasha, who by now was on his feet, his eyes starting to go red, even though he clenched tetsusaiga with all his might.

"You had no right to attack Nancy like that," he hissed, "She is an innocent, defenseless woman."

"She is involved with Sesshoumaru, and should know the risks that entails, just like Kagome should know the risks that come with being your wife." He glanced meaningfully at Kagome for an instant before hardening his eyes once more in Inuyasha's direction. "But you have caused me enough trouble."

As always, Inuyasha allowed his temper to get the better of him, and he charged mindlessly toward his foe, wielding his sword. Sukiono was again ready, and repelled the attack with ease, knocking the hanyou once more to the ground with a loud thud, tetsusaiga spiraling away and landing in the dirt a few feet out of his reach.

"Now it's time for you to die."

Without his sword, and with his body rocked by the recent impact with the ground, Inuyasha could do no more then watch the blinding attack, and he closed his eyes, picturing Kagome's smiling face as the last image he would see.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, feeling something erupt within her, pink light shooting from her body and surrounding her in a halo, just like that day when Naraku was defeated.

Launching herself forward, she penetrated the barrier, somehow managing to get ahead of the attack, placing herself between it and the man she loved. She would not see him die.

All Inuyasha knew was that a pink blur moved in front of him, taking the force of the attack, but he didn't know what was happening until after the blinding light subsided and he saw a painfully familiar figure falling to the ground, her ebony hair billowing out around her.

The whole forest shook with his scream of agony as the hanyou thrust himself forward, toward her falling form. "Kagome!"