Author's Notes: Hello, everyone! I think I got this update out in a generally fair amount of time, considering how crazy my life has been lately. For those of you who don't read 'Soul Therapy' and as such don't already know, I'm going to be having shoulder surgery on June 8, followed by a six week recovery period. I'll still be able to type, because my forearm will still be able to move slightly, but because I'll be out of commission otherwise for a while, I've been doing a lot these past few weeks to get things done in a timely manner, including taking my final exams a week early, since the week of finals is the week of my surgery. So forgive me if there are errors in this chapter as far as grammar...I'm only really typing with my left hand (and I'm a right-handed person).
Anyway, in this chapter we finally see some action as the group moves out and splits up to search for Kagome and Kikyou. There's some highly demanded Sesshoumaur/Nancy fluff, as well as some Kagome kick-butt time, so hopefully everyone will be happy with this chapter. Thanks for all your wonderful reviews, they mean the world to me, and thanks for being patient with the slower updates...my life is just too crazy to write these chapters any faster right now. Thanks, and enjoy chapter fourteen!

DolphinSlam: I like the name! (

Kumori Ookami: I would be happy to read your story...I'm honored you value my opinion so much. But I might not be able to get to it for a few days. I just wanted you to know that I want to, and I will, just give me some time! Thanks for the review, and good luck with your novel! I'll want to read it for sure if you ever get it published!

April-chan: If you're wanting Sesshoumaru/Nancy fluff, then I think you'll like this chapter (grins mischievously).

InuyashaGirlie: I hated the second question on the AP English test! It was waaaaay too broad for me...like you said; you actually had to take the time to come up with a topic. And you wrote about illegal drugs? That's cool. I talked about the possibility of reinstating the draft (my uncle's in the air force, and I turn eighteen next year, so it's a big deal for my family). I don't know if I passed or not, we'll just have to see. The multiple choice part wasn't too bad...but man, that second essay was so easy it was hard, you know what I mean? Anyway, thanks for the review, I love hearing from you!


Title: Soldiers in a Timeless Battle

Author: dolphingirl0113

Chapter: Fourteen

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

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.


Miroku walked quickly behind Inuyasha, whose form was partially covered by his mass of silver hair, which acted almost like a curtain separating the hanyou from his friend. They had been moving now for two days straight, without any rest, and due to the aching feeling in his legs the monk was just grateful that, as he glanced at the map, he saw they were approaching a village, and the place for the group's first rendezvous. A rest would be nice, he thought, and a hot bath with his wife.

Picturing Sango in a bathtub put a stupid grin on his face, but it also prevented Miroku from seeing that Inuyasha had stopped walking until it was too late, and he slammed right into his friend, toppling them both down into the dirt.

"Keh, watch where you're going, baka!" the hanyou snapped, his amber eyes glaring at the monk with deadly meaning.

"Sorry Inuyasha, I guess I was just lost in thought," the monk scurried back onto his feet, or at least he tried to, in the process tripping over Inuyasha's legs and falling back on his face, in the process covering the hanyou with his body. They currently resembled a bridge over water, and to Inuyasha's frustration, he was currently the water.

"Get off, monk!" He pushed, though careful not to use all his strength, finally rolling Miroku onto the ground, and sat up in a cross-legged position. Miroku somehow managed to sit up as well, and the two friends stared at the ground for a few minutes, saying nothing. But then, that is how their entire search had been so far, Inuyasha saying nothing, and Miroku following his example because he was too scared to upset his currently very irritable companion.

I suppose I should consider myself lucky for the silent treatment, he thought with a barely visible smirk, considering how he was when he first woke up. Images of the hanyou chasing after Kaede, who hobbled away from him as best she could until Kouga swept her into his arms, made him laugh outright.

"What's so funny, monk?"

"What?" Miroku looked over at Inuyasha and saw him giving off one of his trademark glares. "Oh...nothing."

"Keh, how did I get stuck with you anyway? I could have done this on my own."

Miroku was wondering the same question, but shook his head to clear it and smiled. "I'm with you because everyone else wanted to make sure you didn't do anything stupid while by yourself. We all know how you can get when Kagome's safety is on the line."

Inuyasha gave off a growl and rose to his feet. "Of course I'm reckless, you idiot. How would you feel if Sango was taken from you?"

Knowing he had a point, Miroku tried to make light of the situation instead. "Considering the fact that I don't have your strength, and that I don't run the risk of turning psycho demon at any moment, I'd say our situations are not comparable."

"Keh," was all he got in response, and Miroku took the opportunity to stand up, wondering, for at least the hundredth time, where Sango was, and how long it would take her group, which included Kouga, Ayame, and Shippou, to reach the village he could now see down the road, although it was still far enough away that it was small.

"Hey Miroku," Inuyasha finally asked, and the monk glanced over at his friend. "Is that the village we're looking for, or what?"

Even though he knew the answer, Miroku made a show of pulling out the map that had been carefully hand drawn by Sesshoumaru, once again admiring the complex accuracy the demon lord had managed, considering he was just pulling it out of his memory. The villages were all marked by single red houses, major rivers were drawn in blue, forests were illustrated in green detail, and castles were indicated by gray houses.

"It is," he finally replied after admiring the map for several minutes, and Inuyasha nodded and moved on in silence, although, for some reason, things didn't seem quite as tense as they had before.

Compared to Kaede's village, it was small, but still had a welcoming aura about it, for which Miroku was grateful. Unfortunately, that didn't prevent the villagers from gawking when Inuyasha made his appearance, and Miroku was reminded, again, of how most of the world viewed hanyous. They were certainly a unique situation, with Inuyasha being married to a human and friends with a monk and a demon exterminator. Most holy men would try their hardest to purify Inuyasha, not befriend him.

Since the hanyou wasn't making any attempt at introductions, instead choosing to stand like some impassive statue, Miroku put on his best smile and walked up to a man who, considering how he was dressed, seemed like the village leader. He made a large bow and opened his hands in greeting.

"Hello, good sir, we have come here to wait for some friends of ours, if that is alright."

The man, although somewhat nervous about Inuyasha, smiled anyway and nodded. "Of course."

"Thank you," Miroku bowed again and then took Inuyasha by the elbow and led him away from the gawking villagers to the end of town, near the rice fields and a small river, and sat down. Inuyasha continued to be silent, and Miroku just shook his head in exasperation. "You could try to be social, you know."

"Keh, I don't see any point in that, they don't want to talk to me."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do...did you see the way they were looking at me? Like I'm a freak?" A look of pain flashed across his face, and Miroku knew he was remembering something from his past, perhaps a time when he was rejected from a village because of what he was.

"They're just ignorant," the monk grunted in reply, folding his legs beneath him in a more comfortable position. "Besides, this sort of thing never seemed to bother you before, and when we were chasing Naraku we went through many villages."

The hanyou actually seemed to blush slightly and looked away, and Miroku looked at him in surprise. "Inuyasha?"

"Look, it's stupid, it's just that..." he swallowed, clearly trying not to sound so embarrassed. "When Kagome is with me, I don't mind so much. It's like, now that she's not here I feel exposed, okay?"

"Inuyasha..." Miroku couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face, and the hanyou grunted and turned away in response.

"You don't have to laugh about it, monk."

"I'm not...it's just...thank you, for sharing that with me."

"Keh, it's not that big of a deal."

Miroku was struck then with the thought that, without Kagome around, the hanyou had reverted to his old habit of closing himself off and not talking, and it really sunk in then how much the woman had changed him for the better, and how crucial her presence was for his sanity. I wonder if even I can say I love Sango that much, he wondered, almost in shame, as he stared at the ground, and together the two friends waited patiently for their friends to arrive.


The forest had long ago ceased seeming beautiful to her, considering how much her legs were complaining from all their walking. Nancy used to think she was a woman in excellent physical fitness, but now, thanks to Sesshoumaru and Rin, she felt like the most out of shape woman on the face of the earth.

Two days they had been walking, and while Nancy was starting to slow down, her body unable to keep up the rigorous pace of the demon lord, Rin was still happily skipping along at his side and sending her curious looks whenever the blonde let out a heavy sigh of exhaustion. But she didn't want to give in and appear weak in front of Sesshoumaru, who in of himself seemed so immune to fatigue, and so she kept plugging along, falling farther and farther behind every step they took.

Finally, about halfway through the morning fate forced her to take a break when she tripped over an exposed root, falling to her knees and cursing at the pain and frustration she was currently feeling. Her clothes were dirty, her shoes were all but ruined from trudging through swamps and mud, and Nancy couldn't understand how Kagome had been doing this for over three years.

"Nancy, are you alright?"

She looked up into the stoic face of the demon lord who always made her heart race in excitement, and lowered her eyes in shame. "I guess I'm just not as fit as I thought I was," she tried with an empty chuckle, and surprisingly felt an arm help her rise to her feet.

"Here," he turned around, "Climb on my back."

"What?"

"Climb on my back, woman," his voice was harsh, but she saw no anger in his eyes, and so Nancy obeyed without fear or trepidation.

"Thanks," she said once she was nestled against his back, her face resting against the crook of his neck.

"It's nothing," he grunted in reply as he started walking again. "I just don't want you getting lost because you fall so far behind you can't see me any more."

Nancy smiled at the underlying concern in his otherwise monotone voice, and gripped his shoulders a little tighter. "You wouldn't let me get lost, I know it." He remained silent at that, but Nancy knew him well enough by now to understand that meant he agreed with her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, is Nancy alright?" Rin asked from where she was walking at his side, and the blonde gave the girl a smile to assure her she was all right. Rin was quickly becoming very close to the modern lawyer, and Nancy was slowly developing maternal feelings of her own, but then, who could not for such an adorable, innocent child?

"I'm fine, Rin," she finally said when Sesshoumaru didn't respond to her question, and Rin smiled in response, her little face lighting up with the gesture. Nancy again wondered how such a ball of light had ended up in the care of Sesshoumaru, a man who seemed to be just barely beginning to understand his own emotions.

After walking for another hour or so, a stream came into view, and the demon lord stopped and lowered her to the ground as Rin excitedly walked over to the water and dipped her toes in.

"Why don't you get a drink," he finally commented after watching the little girl play for several minutes, and Nancy nodded, walking over and cupping her hands in the water, unwittingly glancing at her reflection as she did so, and noting her hair falling out of the clasp at the nape of her neck, falling about her face in ragged strands. There was dirt on her nose and cheeks, and her eyes looked worn out and tired from not sleeping very well on the ground.

"I look horrible," she commented, not really wanting a response, just to say it out loud, but Sesshoumaru came to her side and sat down next to her.

"You look fine," he replied, and she turned to look at him with a grateful smile.

"Thanks," she giggled, "Even though I don't believe you."

He shrugged his shoulders, as though to say 'believe what you want', and remained silent. She smiled and lay back on the grass, putting her arms behind her head and staring up at the sky, where several white clouds were blowing by.

"Look at that one," she said suddenly, pointing at one that looked strangely like a dog, with ears and a tongue lolling out of its mouth. Sesshoumaru, in spite of himself, looked up, but seemed confused by what she was pointing at.

"What is so fascinating?" He asked, genuinely sounding mystified.

"The clouds," she replied, still looking at the sky. "Can't you see the dog? And over there," she moved her finger to another formation, "Is a bowl and spoon." She laughed and continued pointing out shapes, unknowingly bringing a smile to the demon lord's face.

"You really do look just fine, you know," he said suddenly, and she dropped her arm to her side giving him a surprised look as she did so. A smile spread across her face, causing her blue eyes to sparkle, and he felt a strange, warm feeling well up in his chest. Perhaps, he decided, this is what caused his father and brother to be so foolish as to get involved with human women. And perhaps, after all, it wasn't so bad.

"Can I ask you something?" Nancy finally spoke after several minutes of beautiful, comfortable silence. He just grunted in reply, and she took that as permission to proceed. "Do you hate Inuyasha like everyone claims you do?"

He seemed surprised by the question, because his eyes opened slightly wider and he shifted uncomfortably. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because I want to know from you if it's true or not."

"You don't believe what the others have told you?"

"I believe that they don't know you as well as they think they do," she replied with a gentle smile, and for some reason it unlocked something in his heart, making it possible for him to be honest with her.

"I don't hate him...not any more, at least..."

"But you did once?"

He shrugged, as though it were something natural. "In a way...yes."

"Why?"

"I suppose because he represented something I couldn't stand. He represented the woman my father had loved more then my own mother, and had been willing to sacrifice his dignity for by taking her as his mate, and even marrying her in the human way. That alone was enough to make me jealous. Then, after his death, he bequeathed the great sword, tetsusaiga, to Inuyasha, while giving me the sword tenseiga, which enraged me beyond reason." He went silent and Nancy cocked her head to one side curiously in a way that caused that warm feeling to spread even more throughout his chest.

"But why, Sesshoumaru? They were just swords...just swords..."

"To me they were more then that," he corrected, though his voice had a more gentle tone to it then usual. "To me, the tetsusaiga represented strength while the tenseiga represented weakness, and as such I considered it an insult to receive tenseiga as my inheritance."

"So what changed your mind?"

"Many reasons..."

"Like what?"

He couldn't help but smile slightly at her persistence. It always amazed the demon lord to no end the incredible courage of this woman, this human who he could crush in his hand so easily if he wanted to. She had no fear of him, not even a small hint of it on her scent, and for some reason he was grateful to her for that in a way he had only ever been towards Rin.

"Like the fact that I discovered the tetsusaiga harnesses and seals away Inuyasha's demon blood so that it can't consume him and turn him into a mindless killer. My father clearly must have created the sword for the very purpose of preventing Inuyasha from destroying himself." He paused and reached down to touch tenseiga, feeling it pulse slightly in recognition. "And also, over time, I realized my father had a purpose in giving me this sword as well. He...wanted me to discover how to feel compassion by giving me the power to grant life. I think it had something to do with the fact that he knew Inuyasha, as a hanyou, would always have to defend himself, so he gave him the sword of destructive power, but understood too that I was bitter about many things in life, and would need a sword of healing instead. As always, he was right...in the end."

It was more then he had ever said at one time to any being in the world, and Sesshoumaru was feeling suddenly very exposed and uncomfortable in a way he had never known before. It confused him to no end, and as such he nearly jumped when he felt a gentle hand come to rest on his shoulder. But once his nerves settled and he had control of his emotions once more he turned to look at Nancy and nearly felt his breath leave him.

Her blonde hair was framing her face in long strands that had escaped the clasp holding the rest at the nape of her neck, and her beautiful blue eyes seemed even more clear and intelligent then ever. She smiled, and the gesture lit up her face, her orbs sparkling, and the demon lord found himself swallowing as he tried to gather his courage.

"I'm glad," she finally whispered, caught up in his amber gaze.

"What?" He couldn't look away any more then she could.

"I'm glad your father gave you the tenseiga. I mean...I don't know all the details about its power, but I do know Kagome told me it can bring people back from the dead, and heal others who are mortally wounded. I'm just glad you have that power in your hands...it just...seems fitting for some reason."

He stared at her then in a way he had never stared at any woman, demon or mortal. Before now he had been trying to convince himself that his feelings for Nancy were no different then his feelings for Rin...protective, like a parent. Now he realized the fast beating of his heart was caused by something completely different then what he felt for the little brunette currently playing in the stream as Jaken tried to call her out without wading too deeply into the water himself.

"Nancy..." Her name was barely a whisper on his lips, and he saw her respond by moving closer to his face, a look of purpose and longing in her eyes unlike anything he'd ever seen before. Not sure of what else to do, he remained completely still, watching and waiting.

Suddenly her lips were on his in a sweet, gentle kiss, and Sesshoumaru, the mighty demon lord of the Western Lands, felt something break in his soul, letting loose hidden emotions and desires he had never had a need to know before. He reached up and put a hand behind her neck before he realized what he was doing, pulling her closer to deepen the kiss, and felt her respond by placing her hands on his shoulders, turning herself so she was facing him directly.

Of course she had joked with the others and teased him to no end, pretending they had kissed before to embarrass him, but in reality this was the first time they'd shared anything of such intimacy, and also, in reality, it was the first kiss of Sesshoumaru's life. And all he could think the entire time was that it was the most beautiful thing he had ever experienced.

Finally, after several minutes, Nancy pulled away and gave him a beaming smile that said she was satisfied, feeling elated in ways she had never thought possible. Sure, she had kissed men before, but never like that. Usually they had always been out for their own needs, pushy and needy, but Sesshoumaru had just taken what she offered and given back without asking for more, and she felt tingly all over her body as she broke contact.

"We should probably get going," she commented finally, trying not to sound embarrassed, hoping her cheeks weren't as red as they felt to her.

Sesshoumaru glanced over to where Rin was, only to find the girl standing in the middle of the stream staring at them with a huge, knowing smile on her face, and quickly looked away with a brief nod. "Yes, we should move on, I'm sure the others have reached the village by now."

"Okay," Nancy rose to her feet, also feeling slightly disconcerted, but it all faded when she saw Jaken. The poor green man was staring at Sesshoumaru, who offered Nancy his back again, as though his jaw had fallen open and would never close again. "Catching flies, Jaki?"

She knew the nickname irritated him to no end, but then it was just too fun to resist, seeing him huff and puff and stomp around. "My name's not Jaki, you ungrateful woman!"

"Careful Jaki, you wouldn't want to offend me," she warned playfully, and saw Sesshoumaru smile out of the corner of her eye as Rin ran up to their side and gave her another huge smile. Together, the demon lord, the blonde lawyer from the future, and the orphaned girl made a handsome family of three, and frankly, as they walked away, Jaken started to fee a little left out.

"Sesshoumaru-samaaaa!!!"


Kagome rolled over as she opened her eyes, reaching up to rub her right temple from where she had a slight headache, and noticed several long strands of black hair intermixed with her own ebony locks. The only reason she could tell the difference was because they were much longer then her own and, as she rolled over she saw Kikyou lying on her side, asleep, her hair having come undone from its clasp.

For once I'm awake before she is, Kagome thought ruefully, rising to her feet slowly and stretching, trying to work all the kinks out of her neck and shoulders from sleeping on a thin futon on a hardwood floor.

Something was prickling at her senses, and that was the reason she had woken up in the first place. It was like her body was telling her something or someone important was nearby, and she could almost sense their familiar aura, even through the barrier around their room and the bigger one surrounding the castle where they were currently being held. She had a feeling of who it could be, but dared not get her hopes up too soon. And yet...the more time that passed, the stronger the feeling came until, by the time Kikyou woke up, Kagome was pacing, feeling the walls desperately for any weakness in the barrier.

"What is it?" Kikyou asked, watching her intently from where she was now sitting on her knees, tying her hair back once more in its usual white ribbon.

"Inuyasha..." Was all Kagome said in reply, continuing to walk around. Kikyou smirked and rose to her feet, stretching her own body in the same manner Kagome had a little while ago.

"I guess its true then that there is a link between mates," she commented casually, but Kagome didn't hear her, instead continuing to touch the wall, each time getting repelled by a barrier of negative energy.

"There has to be a way out of here," she finally sighed in desperation, and felt Kikyou come to her side so that they were both staring at the door, so inviting, and yet so impossible to use it was almost mocking them to even try.

"You have to give our captor credit for being intelligent," the older miko finally commented after several minutes of silence. "He took our arrows, and knew the only way to keep us captive was by a barrier of negative energy. Clearly he observed his father more then we've given him credit for."

Kagome nodded and felt herself shudder slightly like she always did when someone mentioned Naraku's name. She associated him with Ted Wilkins because she had destroyed both of them around the same time, and as such neither came to mind with pleasant thoughts. But, as she reminded herself again, Naraku was dead and, thanks to Nancy, her rapist was in prison, so she had nothing to fear from them.

"He's like his father, yes...but he's different too," she finally commented, still staring at the door.

"What do you mean? Everything he's done so far is exactly like his father. This castle, the barrier, the secrecy...his obsession with you."

Kagome blushed at Kikyou's blunt manner of speaking, but didn't take it personally, knowing it was just her personality. In some ways she almost appreciated the bluntness, because she was never left wondering what the woman was really thinking, and she always knew that her incarnation meant what she said.

"But Naraku was all evil," she persisted, and Kikyou turned to look at her.

"And you're saying his son is not?"

"Sukiono was raised by a human woman, so until she was murdered he knew what love and kindness was." She recalled the way he had told her his memories of his mother, and how she had died, and the hate in his eyes when he recounted how she had been brutally murdered by bandits. "You can't blame him for hating men for what they did...I know I would have been thrown into a rage if my family was killed in front of me."

"So you are defending him?"

Kagome blushed, realizing how she must be sounding at that moment. "No, not exactly, I'm just...um..."

"Trying to find the good in the situation," Kikyou finished, and Kagome nodded in response. "I thought as much."

"He's never shown me cruelty, and was even distressed when I was hurt that time when I stepped in to protect Inuyasha. He may be obsessed, but it's different then with Naraku, who hated his obsession for you like he hated everything else in this world. I think Sukiono, in his own way, really cares for me...he just doesn't know how to show it."

Kikyou was giving her a strange look, and Kagome began to feel uncomfortable under the hard gaze. Finally, the older miko sighed and her eyes softened into amazement and slight disbelief. "He has stolen you from those you love twice, and is the reason you lost your baby, and yet you...you still defend him."

"I defend that in him that is good," Kagome corrected, knowing how it must sound. "With Naraku I could only sense evil. With Sukiono, while there is evil, I also sense some good. So I've been thinking that maybe...instead of killing him like I did Naraku...he could be purified instead."

Kikyou nodded. "A noble thought, but to do that you would have to hit him with one of your arrows, and in order for him to survive he would have to have more then just a little purity in his heart."

"I know..." Kagome twisted her hands at her waist. "But then, if he did die, I would know I was wrong, wouldn't I? And either way the evil would be gone."

"You're forgetting one thing."

"That I have to actually shoot him for this to work?"

"Yes, and you know as well as I do that he won't just willingly let you do that."

"He seems to trust me, so maybe he would listen to reason."

Kikyou shook her head. "Doubtful...even if some part of him is pure, the negative feelings in his heart far outweigh the good, and they control his mind. He trusts you as much as any captor can trust his captive. Don't put too much faith in that."

Kagome nodded and looked away, back at the door, and felt a sudden jolt, almost like something was physically twisting her heart. "Inuyasha..."

"He is closer?"

"Yes...I...I have to get to him." Kagome walked back up to the door, but was once more repelled by the barrier. "Damn it!"

Kikyou shook her head from where she still stood. "You have power, Kagome, but you don't use your brain with it. Think about what can destroy a barrier, and then do it."

Smarting from the near insult, Kagome frowned and glared at the door, but then closed her eyes, feeling the pull toward Inuyasha coming from another direction...and turned instead to face the far wall.

"Inuyasha..." she whispered again, and felt her hands begin to glow with power. Looking down, she saw she now held a ball of pink energy and, smiling in triumph, thrust it at the wall. A loud, long crackle rent the air, and the smell of something burning filled the room, but unfortunately, after several minutes the pink energy disappeared, leaving them still alone in the room. Walking over and testing the barrier, she saw that it was indeed still there, and sighed in frustration.

"That was not nearly powerful enough," Kikyou commented from where she still stood by the door, and Kagome gave her a glare.

"I think that was obvious, thank you."

Kikyo shrugged, ignoring the glaring dagger points her reincarnation was sending her direction. "So try again."

"Why don't you do it, if you're so powerful?" Kagome snapped back, feeling frustrated as her soul screamed that it felt Inuyasha's presence. She wanted to see him so badly...to feel his arms around her...comforting her...

"Because I'm not powerful enough, Kagome, my soul is not nearly as pure as yours. Now try again."

This time Kagome turned around and closed her eyes, picturing Inuyasha's face in her mind. His amber eyes that glowed like water under the rays of a setting sun...his handsome face...the way his lips curved up into that cute half smile of his...his silver hair that gleamed like the moon when it caught the light...his beautiful heart that was so big, even though he tried to hide it away from the rest of the world...all this she pictured in her mind, a peaceful smile coming to her face, and she didn't even notice the growing energy ball in her hands until she heard a crash, followed by a large boom.

Her eyes flew open, and she found herself staring at a gaping hole in the wall, along with a gaping hole in the outer wall of the castle, beyond which was a surprisingly lush, green forest. Shocked, she could only gawk at what she'd done.

"KAGOME!"

The trance-like moment ended as Sukiono's surprised howl rebounded throughout the castle, and Kagome realized then he would be headed straight for their room. Thinking quickly, she reached over and grabbed Kikyou's hand, causing the miko to break out of her shocked stupor, and together they began to run as fast as they could. After all, without arrows, they didn't really stand a chance of defeating him, only holding him off, and that is not what they needed at the moment.

"Do you know where to go?" Kikyou called out, but before Kagome could answer she heard a furious scream of rage from the castle and knew Sukiono had found them missing.

"Run..." she called over her shoulder, "Just run!" And together they ran into the forest, Kikyou following Kagome, who was following the force that pulled her to Inuyasha.