Disclaimer: : coughs lightly and holds up paper : Crystal Renee denounces any implications that she owns the copyrights to the tale and story of Inuyasha. They are the product of Rumiko Takahasi's mind, not her own. : closes paper : BUT I CAN DREAM, YES!

Author's Notes: Ahh! I see you haven't all left me yet! I can't say as much for the readers of my 'Building the Hitokiri' story… sadly, I have not updated that story since April. Bad me! But I am much more focused on my Inuyasha fan fictions than my Rurouni Kenshin ones; oh well. That just means more for you folks, yes?

Angel in the Abyss

Chapter 4- Encroachment

Although he had the urgent need to elongate his strides and quicken his pace, Inuyasha forced his body keep at the steady rate he was traveling. There was no guarantee that Kagome's body could take the harsh beating of him leaping from limb to limb, and he would be damned if he put her in danger again. It had taken long enough for him to find out that she was still alive; he wasn't prepared to worry over her life again.

Kagome was sprawled over his back, gripping his haori tighter than usual as they sped along the uneven ground and back toward Kaede's village. Inuyasha couldn't blame her though; without her sense of touch, she had no idea if she had a grip on his clothing or not. Mentally, Inuyasha attempted to count the abilities Kagome had back since the spell that Naraku had cast upon her; she had the ability to move, wake and sleep, talk, think coherently, and see. She remembered who everyone was thus far, so obviously Naraku wasn't using her memories. But what else did she need back besides hearing and touch?

Inuyasha slid to a sudden stop before the well that could transport him and Kagome back to her era. He wasn't exactly positive as to why he has stopped here; rationalizing that Kagome's family had the right to know she was alive; he slowly began to walk closer to the well.

"How long has it been since I was here, Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered.

Opening his mouth to respond, he shut it again just as quickly when he remembered she could hear. Quickly holding up three fingers, he waited for her to question him further.

"Days?"

He shook his head.

"Weeks?"

Inuyasha nodded solemnly, standing both of them on the edge of the well. Gripping him harder, Kagome told him to jump in. Following her orders, Inuyasha leapt down into the old, rotting well and surfaced on the other side. Leaping out of it, he turned his attention toward the doorway before stopping dead in his tracks.

Kagome wasn't with him.

That meant Naraku was trying to develop the power to transcend throughout time just as he was using the rest of Kagome's powers and physical abilities to heal himself. Cursing himself for not thinking about that before, he turned back toward the well, preparing to travel back to Kagome and get her out of the well again.

"Inuyasha?" came a small voice.

Turning, Inuyasha found himself facing Souta, who had recently opened the door to the sacred well. "What do you want, kid?"

"My sister, where is she? She's never gone this long. Is she okay?" he asked, stepping closer to his idol and looking at him with worried eyes. "My mom says not to worry, but she's worried too, I know it."

Sighing and sitting on the edge of the well, Inuyasha placed his hand on Souta's head. "Listen, Kagome's fine. Naraku cast a spell on her though, and she can't pass through the well anymore. We lost her for a few weeks, but I've got her back and she's alive and well now. She won't be back until we can get rid of Naraku's spell, though. If you want, I'll come back every once in a while to let you know how she's doing and to pick up some of that junk she always brings to us. Okay?"

Souta nodded enthusiastically. "I'll go tell mom right now!"

As he rushed out of the well room, Inuyasha stood up again and penetrated his way through time and back to his own era. Kagome was sitting at the bottom of the well still, looking up at the top of the well and cowering in a corner. Kneeling next to her, Inuyasha turned her head to face him and watched as she slowly allowed herself to recognize his features once more.

"There's a demon outside the well, Inuyasha." She stated softly. "I can't travel through the well anymore, can I?"

Sniffing the air, Inuyasha growled deep in the back of his throat. Kagome was right, there was a demon lurking just outside the well, and it wasn't a very friendly one at that. Using his claws, Inuyasha scrawled the words 'don't move' into the dirt at the bottom of the well for Kagome to read. After he was positive that she understood what the words meant, Inuyasha climbed his way out of the well, turning his attentions completely onto the demon around him.

A strong wind came as he unleashed the tetsusaiga, willing for it to transform like always when he protected Kagome. It did just as he presumed; the power the sword emanated was pulsating within his grip once again. The same, notorious grin found its place back on Inuyasha's face as he allowed the sword to set over his shoulder. Eyeing the area around him, he finally picked up on the nearly invisible moments of his opponent. The demon leapt out from the treetops, spiraling downward with its talons outstretched for attack.

Blocking quickly with tetsusaiga, Inuyasha forced the bird demon back into the trees, listening with a sadistic enjoyment at the sound of shattering branches and bones.

"You're going to have to try harder than that to defeat me!" Inuyasha boasted, preparing himself for another attack. "You're so much weaker than I anticipated."

Finding himself flipping over backwards until he slammed agaisnt the stone covered well, Inuyasha became overly disoriented. Bringing his hand to his head, he forced himself back up again. What had caused him to fall back so much? The bird he was fighting with wasn't a very strong fighter, so what was it?

"Don't underestimate your enemies." The demon shouted, spiraling back down toward Inuyasha, prepared to embed its steel-like beak into his chest. "Now you die!"

"I think its you who's going to be dying!" Inuyasha shouted, flipping himself over the well and resheathing tetsusaiga. "Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"

The only thing that was left was feathers and a small, shimmering object that floated toward the grass. Inuyasha dove, grasping the small thing in his palm before slamming unceremoniously to the ground. Sitting back up again, he eyed the pink tinged sliver of stone.

"A shikon no tama shard?" he whispered aloud. "But that's impossible, we collected and solified the jewel at the last battle with Naraku…"

Deciding to wait on the decision on the glimmering stone, he stuffed the shard into his haori before bounding back into the well to retrieve Kagome. She looked up at him with a deep, scrutinizing gaze before she shook her head. Allowing his head to lean toward the right, he gave her a look that read 'what are you looking at' before he lifted her and took her out of the well on his shoulder.

When they landed outside of it, Inuyasha placed Kagome on the ground and plopped himself into a sitting position. He as tired and wanted to rest a little before they continued the walk to Kaede's village. Kagome followed him in fashion, folding her legs under herself and sitting down beside him.

"Why do you have a shard of the jewel, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked him.

Pulling the object from his clothing, Inuyasha inspected the shard once again. Obviously Kagome could still sense the shards of the jewel; if this was a shard, then why was the jewel solid once more? He shook his head. There was no time to think about that at the moment. He needed to focus on getting Kagome back to Kaede's village before sundown. Standing once more, he lifted Kagome onto his back and darted off once more.

"Inuyasha, you came back already?" Sango questioned, sitting up on her futon. "Usually when Miroku gets you upset you don't return for days."

Grumbling, Inuyasha turned. "I had some unfinished business to attend to this time."

"Kagome!" she shrieked, trying to force her body to stand. "Where did you find her? Is she alive?"

Inuyasha nodded, noting how Miroku reached over from his futon to push Sango back down onto hers. Agaisnt his better judgment, Inuyasha placed Kagome down next to the lecherous monk and settled next to the door. He suspected that Shippo would catch Kagome's scent soon and come scampering back from picking herbs with Kaede—he wanted to stop the runt before he could latch onto Kagome's side and cause more damage to her body.

Three. Two. One.

"Kagome's back!" came Shippo's happy cry as he shot into the hut, pushing back the bamboo door with ease.

Catching Shippo's tail in mid-jump, Inuyasha pulled the kitsune demon toward him and stared him blank in the face. "Don't go jumping all over Kagome. I don't want anyone messing with her until the old hag gets a look at her. She can't hear and she can't feel as it is, so don't make it harder on her, you hear Shippo?"

Grumbling his response, Shippo soon found himself deposited back on the ground. He continued in his trek toward Kagome, but with much more caution than before. She smiled at him.

"Hello Shippo!" Kagome stated happily, opening her arms to welcome the kit.

Without hesitation, Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms and continued his tale of how much he missed her and how Inuyasha had been acting. Inuyasha grinned; the kit didn't listen very well, but he was glad. If Shippo told Kagome how he had been reacting now, when she wouldn't hear it, then she would never end up knowing in the end, which was all the better for him. Miroku helped Sango into a sitting position, with the occasional groping, but all Sango could muster up to him was a growl of disapproval. Inuyasha observed the exchange with a keen eye; if Miroku's hand went anywhere near Kagome………

"What was this you said, about Kagome-sama not being able to hear or feel?" Miroku asked, diligently keeping his hand in plain view. "That seems highly unordinary."

"Her heart isn't beating, either." Inuyasha informed them. "Sesshomaru told him it's some kind of spell that Naraku cast at the last minute; he's living off of Kagome's abilities and powers until he's strong enough that he doesn't need her help anymore. Each time he's done gaining back a specific ability, it returns to Kagome."

Sango blinked a few times before she could respond. "You talked to your brother about this, Inuyasha?"

"I didn't say I wanted to, you make it sound like we're all buddy buddy now or something." Inuyasha declared. "We have a truce at the moment, but it was the only way I could get Kagome back. I had to do something. Besides, if Naraku is still alive, and if he is gaining Kagome's powers at the same time, then we'll need Sesshomaru's help, even if I don't want to admit it."

Miroku stroked his chin in mock thought; Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched. He knew what was brewing in the young monk's skull. A small smirk flew over Miroku's lips as his thoughts registered in his head.

"So, Kagome-sama cannot feel, can she?" he questioned.

"Yeah, and just because she can't feel doesn't mean you can have a field day and start groping her butt! I told you once not to touch her and I'm not letting off of that now! So you keep that hand of yours to yourself, or you'll regret it." Inuyasha warned.

Miroku's response was simply as follows. "I cannot believe you would think so lowly of me, Inuyasha!"

"I can't blame him!" Sango snapped. "You find touching any female's bottom as some sort of sick enjoyment!"

"And may I say, yours is quite superior to any other I have encounter…"

Smack.

Inuyasha grinned. "Serves you right monk."

Kagome leaned forward to examine the new, red slap mark over Miroku's cheek. This one looked like it had hurt; Sango had managed to even get Miroku's head to hit the wall behind it. Even though she couldn't hear, she knew he had obviously said something obscene; that was just Miroku's way.

"You need to learn to hold your tongue, Miroku." She stated. "I may not be able to hear what you said, but I'm sure you deserved this."

And what a time to get her sense of touch back, right when she was inspecting an injury on Miroku.

Turning deep crimson, Kagome shot backward and managed to slam directly into Inuyasha's chest, gripping his haori and burying her head in the folds. She scrunched up agaisnt him, waiting for the initial shock to get over before opening her mouth.

"Ack! Miroku you know you're not supposed to do that!" Kagome shouted.

"Where'd you touch her monk?" Inuyasha demanded, looking at Kagome before sending his venomous glare at Miroku.

Before Miroku could muster an excuse, Kaede walked inside. She looked between the states of all the people within her hut and sighed; they were all in bad shape, but it was obvious that Miroku was back to his usual ways. Her eyes stopped at the sight of Kagome huddled in Inuyasha's grasp and she shook her head.

"So she was alive, was she not?" Kaede questioned. "I though Shippo was lying when he said ye were back at the hut."

"She can't hear you Kaede." Sango responded calmly. "Naraku cast some spell on her, so he's using her abilities to regain his own so he can live."

"Aye, and I suppose Inuyasha will be wanting me to make sure nothing is wrong with Kagome, ne?" Kaede asked.

Inuyasha dislodged his arms from Kagome before looking at her. "That's right, can you do it now?"

"I'll be needing some privacy! Why don't you take yourself and the monk out of here while I do this, ne Inuyasha?"

Grumbling as he pulled Miroku from the hut, Inuyasha sent his own fair share of cruses left and right at no one in particular. Once he was sure they were far enough away from the hut for Kagome's privacy and close enough for her safety, he stopped and set himself up in the infamous crossed-legged, arms in haori sleeves position. Another scowl marred his face as he kept his eye on the monk he brought with him.

"It was really harmless, I swear Inuyasha…" Miroku attempted to create peace between then.

"Then why'd you touch her in the first place?" Inuyasha growled. "You know I hate it when you do that. You're as bad as Kouga. Is there anyone out here that's not after her?"

Miroku shook his head. "At least I understand you've already claimed her."

"That's ri—wait, what do you mean I've claimed her? She's not mine!" Inuyasha cried. "I… I…"

"You can deny it all you want, Inuyasha, but that's not going to change the truth, and even you should realize that." Miroku responded. "But enough of that. There is something else on your mind, is there not?"

"Feh."

Pulling the shard of the shikon no tama from within his clothing, Inuyasha allowed it to be put in Miroku's plain view. The look of astonishment on Miroku's face was priceless; he reached out and took a hold of the shard, inspecting the object from all different angles.

"This is a shard of the shikon no tama." He deduced.

"Good going, I thought you'd never figure it out." Inuyasha stated. "Kagome said it was too. But how can the jewel be solid if there are still shards out here?"

Miroku sat and thought momentarily before responding. "Perhaps the jewel isn't solid at all. Perhaps it's hallow."

"Hallow? How could it be hallow?"

"Don't ask me, but it is possible that during the fight some of the shards were displaced again, and the solid jewel you found were simply the shards that hadn't flown to all corners of the earth. It makes enough sense." Miroku responded. "Kagome was trying to create a solid jewel, so when she 'died', the jewel created a hallow version of its former self. That would be that Naraku is still collecting shards as well."

Inuyasha began to grumble again. So the jewel wasn't whole after all; there were still shards of it lying around in random places. That didn't make the situation any easier on any of them. Turning to take the shard back from Miroku, he was met with a grin that frightened him.

"What is it?" he demanded.

"Nothing, nothing." Miroku answered. "I was just thinking of how funny it would be if Naraku gained Kagome's ability to subdue you with the word sit."

Creating a fist with his hand, Inuyasha counted to ten to control his anger. He knew that if he smacked Miroku, Kagome would have his head. How she could still stick up for a guy who groped her at any given chance, he'd never know, but if it was going to get him in trouble with her, then he'd keep himself behaving.

"He won't get that." Inuyasha responded. "That is something that no matter what, only Kagome can control. Kaede is the one who cast the spell, and she can't even use the word on me. Only Kagome can, and that's how it's going to remain. Now shut up before I punch you, Miroku."

Author's Notes: So, there is your new chapter. I didn't know where to end it so I just ended it……… I really hope that's okay……… This one was actually LONGER than the other chapters I've put out so far, and I think it was kinda rushed and I feel bad but oh well, you'll all forgive me, ne?

Well, don't forget to review. It helps keep me on track!

Love and hugs—

Crystal Renee