Disclaimer: I own no Inuyasha characters. They all belong to the person who made them.

A/N: Thanx again for all the lovely reviews. I would appreciate if anybody has any plot suggestions, I have a plot but I wouldn't mind new ideas. If you have nything just email me at Thanx.

Chapter 10: Losing Faith

Kagome couldn't think. What was wrong with Miroku? There was no mercy in those once warm eyes. She knew Inuyasha would not attack him; he would rather get beaten up.

Hoping to knock some sense into Miroku before he did something really stupid, she and Sango latched themselves onto Miroku's arms trying to hold him back.

"What the hell is wrong with you monk?" Sango yelled into his ear. Miroku seemed to be oblivious to the girls hanging off of each of his arms. With one strong thrust, he had dislodged them both from his person and had advanced on Inuyasha, who was still on his beyond reason perhaps.

"You will stay away from me if you value your life." One warning that is all he said before moving closer to Inuyasha.

"I almost got you once half-breed, and I won't lose again." He dropped his staff and then removed the beads from his right hand.

Inuyasha's head snapped up and jumped up into the tree right behind him, as the void in Miroku's hand was pointed in his direction.

"You can't escape from the Wind Tunnel, you bastard." Then he seemed to think, "But try why don't you? It'll only make things more interesting."

"NO!" Kagome hurled herself at Miroku's form and knocked him to the ground just as Inuyasha was pulled out of his hiding place and they both landed on Miroku, effectively knocking him out.

Inuyasha grabbed Miroku's hand and pulled the prayer beads over it stopping the void from sucking anything else in.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Inuyasha started speaking softly but was shouting at the end of the sentence, "You could have been killed."

"And if I hadn't jumped then you would have been killed." She snapped right back at him.

"But if you had died, then I ..." Inuyasha stopped mid sentence and then changed his mind about something, "What's wrong with Miroku?"

"Let's get him inside first and hope nobody asks us what happened to half the forest." Sango suggested.

Once, inside, Sango had insisted they tie the monk up. Kagome was not in favour of the whole tying up but Sango's reasoning worked. Inuyasha was off in his own world, he didn't take any sides; he just sat there and watched the two girls fuss over a very unconscious monk.

After making sure that Miroku was tied up securely, Sango left to get Kaede hoping that she would be able to explain some of the things that have been happening in the past few days.

Kagome moved to sit next to Inuyasha. He was worrying her. Inuyasha she knew was very loud and rude. This Inuyasha was quiet and reserved. He had barely said anything during their whole chat to the hut. And now, he was sitting in the corner of the hut, his head low and his eyes closed.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said softly, she bent down to have a look at Inuyasha's face.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked at her.

"Where is my sword?" His question was simple, yet Kagome's insides knotted. How should she tell him?

"Umm..." She started making weird gestures with her hands, "its... well...its not exactly with us..."

"Where is it?" He continued to stare at her. Kagome couldn't take his intense gaze anymore. She dropped her head and decided to go for it.

"Its with Sesshomarou." Then she braced herself for the shouting and cursing that will follow plus the demand for an explanation.

"Oh." Oh? That's it? Oh? Kagome looked up at him once again, what the hell is wrong with him? What the hell is wrong with everybody?

As Kagome opened her mouth to say something, Kouga stormed into the room demanding a 'talk' with her. Kagome looked at Inuyasha to see his reaction...there was none. Inuyasha was back in his dream world, his head bent and Kagome's presence forgotten.

"Sure, I'll be right out." She said distractedly.

"I mean now Kagome." Kouga said strongly.

Inuyasha look up and gave him a cold hard stare at the tone of his voice; Kagome decided that this would be a good time to leave before any bloodshed takes place.

"What is it Kouga?" Kagome said a little irritated, they had a lot of problems to deal with already, and the fight over her was getting a little old.

"So that's it, eh Kagome?" Kouga whispered, "he comes back and you don't want to be with me anymore."

"Kouga..." What should I tell him? I love Inuyasha; I cannot be Kouga's. "I..."

"You agreed to be my mate before he came, and now that he's here I'm not good enough anymore. Is that it?" Kouga's icy blue eyes looked hurt and betrayed. Kagome couldn't take the accusations anymore but she couldn't say anything to him either. She wanted to tell him she wants to be Inuyasha's mate. She wanted to tell him to go find someone else for himself.

"It's not like that," She answered weakly. She, however, didn't have time to explain herself. Kouga had taken advantage of her distraction and had placed his lips firmly on hers. She tried to pull back but he held onto her, asserting his right over her in the form of that soul-searing kiss. He ran his tongue lightly over her bottom lip, seeking permission and Kagome, lost in the sensations flooding through her body, opened her mouth to allow his wandering tongue in.

He snaked his arms around her and placed one hand firmly on the small of her back while the other one made its way to her neck, pushing her in order to make the kiss deeper. His lips released hers only to come into contact with the sensitive skin of her neck. He placed several wet kisses along her neck and lightly bit her ear making her gasp. She opened her eyes slightly, and then her skin paled.

She pulled back suddenly making Kouga stumble in the process and look at her with confusion and a hint of annoyance. Kagome went paler by the second and Kouga turned around to see what had frightened Kagome so much.

Inuyasha was standing at the door of the hut; his hands clenched into bloody fists, his claws piercing the soft skin of his palms. His head was bent, his bangs hiding his eyes.

In one swift movement, he had jumped onto the branch of the nearest tree and had taken off into the forest.

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"Ah, Kikyo!" Naraku's voice pierced the heavy silence of his castle. He was in his usual spot, sitting by the window looking out as if he could see the most interesting things.

"Naraku." Kikyo answered in acknowledgement.

"What brings you here, my dearest miko?" He shifted his gaze and rested it at Kikyo's tall frame.

"I come here seeking answers," Kikyo answered. She kept her distance from him; he was not to be trusted.

"It will not come without a price."

"We will deal with that later. Do you know about Inuyasha's demise?" She moved to the point.

"Ah...which demise are we talking about?"

"Stop playing games Naraku." Naraku threw up his hands in mock surrender, "It is but fair question. Inuyasha has suffered two demises."

Kikyo tried to make sure her gaze remained unaffected by his words, even though she was confused as hell.

"Ah...but I see. It seems you have forgotten the death you forced on him fifty years ago. Have you not?"

"You know which death I am talking about."

"Oh yes...the snake demons were an extraordinary success don't you think?" He inquired, then proceeded when he got no response, "I found out that demon's of the Inu-Clan are very susceptible to a certain kind of poison. And not just any poison, the venom of the snake demons who live deep under the earth. They despise the sunlight and cannot bear the cool of the outside world. Hence, the notion that descendents of the Inu-Clan are immortal or have a rather long lifespan.

"Inu-demons heal fast and hence very few battle wounds would be able to kill them. With this knowledge, I proceeded to plan an ambush that would cost Inuyasha his life."

"Next time you wish to lie to me, think of the facts and then create an alibi which incorporates them."

"What makes you think I am lying, Kikyo?"

"The ambush took place during the day and during spring when the temperatures were still fairly low. Both these facts prove that the snake demons you tell me about could not have been the cause of Inuyasha's death."

"Who said I didn't make any changes?"

Kikyo raised an eyebrow at his comment, encouraging him to further explain.

"I fused my poison wasps with the snake demons. This fusion allowed the snake demons to bear the sunlight and cool temperatures and hence they were able to attack him and his eccentric comrades.

"This fusion also prevented that blasted monk from using his void."

"Did you know he is back?"

"How do you know that he is back?"

"I incarnated him."

Naraku stood up abruptly, forgetting about his cool demeanour and his sophistication.

"What?? How could you revive him when I..." Apprehension dawned in his dark eyes and he settled back down on his mat on the floor.

"What did you do Naraku?"

"I revived him."

"How...?"

"I revived his human side. I believe you revived his demon side then, hmm?"

Kikyo pondered on the news for a bit before asking the million-dollar question, "why would you revive him, Naraku?"

"Inuyasha is strong, yes? His human side prevents his demon side from overtaking his body. If Inuyasha was to be just a demon, a full blooded one, he would be unstoppable. If I controlled such a being, I would be unstoppable.

"Why would you revive the one you hate?"

"That is none of your business."

"Kikyo, Kikyo, Kikyo...such harsh words from one so beautiful as yourself? A lady should be poised and sophisticated."

"How did you split his soul?"

"Kanna."

"Did you attempt to kill him when you found he was human?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"It just answers some other questions that plagued my mind."

"What questions?"

"How he broke through the wards?"

"How did he break through your wards?"

"His human side summoned the demon side to protect it." With that Kikyo proceeded to leave the castle.

"And where are you going?"

"As much as I enjoy your company, I have to leave."

"This conversation had its price."

"Let's make a deal, you forget about the price and I let you live."

"Big words for someone standing in someone else's lair."

"I don't fear death, after that there is no fear."

"But you fear his love is for someone else."

"I'm leaving." Kikyo left just as she had come, silent and discreet. Naraku chuckled, then he laughed. He laughed like he had never laughed before. His maniacal laughter echoed through the castle. He had Inuyasha he had the half-demon Inuyasha in his dungeons. But he had lost him again. Inuyasha had slipped through his fingers. His laughter turned into a roar of rage as he punched the wall closest to him leaving a large dent at the point of contact.

"Run Inuyasha. Run. Run for your life. Because this time you will stay dead." He hissed to himself.

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Meanwhile, Sango returned to find a very red Kagome next to a very awake Miroku. Kouga was nowhere to be seen and Kagome looked really pale. Sango asked her about it but she brushed it aside. Miroku looked fairly normal. He kept whining about his hands being tied together. They gave him some water but his hands remained tied.

"Come on dear Sango. Please untie me. I swear I will never do it again." He whined. Sango sudden burst her anger barrier and exploded on him.

"Are you kidding me? You went crazy we could have been killed. Inuyasha could have been killed." She yelled at him. Miroku grew more confused by the second and then was horrified by the end of her sentence.

"I would never, dear Sango, dare to grope a man. Believe me. I cannot...wait...what????"

"What are you talking about monk?"

"No what are you talking about? Inuyasha's alive?"

Kagome and Sango both opened their mouths but no sounds came out. How come he's confused about that, he just saw Inuyasha. Hell, he even tried to kill him.

"You don't remember anything?"

"What?? I just woke up with my hands tied up. What do you expect me to remember?"

Sango decided to lead the interrogation.

"What is the last thing you remember?"

"You giving water to me and then I fell asleep. Then I woke up with my hands bound."

Both the girls looked at each other before Kaede entered the hut. Something was wrong; Kaede was worried and called them outside. She told Kagome to call Inuyasha and meet them at the village while Sango and Kirara went with her. Something was not right and they needed Inuyasha, but Kagome didn't know where he was so she went of to find him and she was dreading the inevitable confrontation.

A/N: What is wrong at village?

What will Inuyasha do now that he knows Kagome's involved with Kouga?

Why doesn't Miroku remember his assault?

Why did Miroku attack Inuyasha?

What will Naraku do?

What is Kikyo planning?

What does Rei have to do with everything?

To find that out keep reading this fic!!!!

P.S. I'll try to answer most questions in next chapter. Let me know if I confused you with the whole Naraku and Kikyo scene. My sis thought the plot was a little confusing.