A/N: Thank you for your response everyone. Especially to Inuyasha Loves Kagome 4391 for being my 1000th reviewer! I couldn't have done this without everyone's support. ^_^ Someone accused me of laughing evilly while reading my reviews…and they couldn't be more correct. Some really sharp people caught my intention…others fell into my trap. You will slowly kill me and burn me over a bonfire when you continue reading the start of this…

Sorry about the cliffhanger last chapter. No, I don't have an obsession with them.

Also, Mr. Evil Monkey is back…Kukuku…

That means… its starting…THE DRAMA of this story…whoopee.

Disclaimer: If I really owned Inuyasha, it would be awesome. Can you imagine the fun I would be having…?

Behind the Masquerade

Obligatory Oaths

"Oh…my…god…"

Inuyasha saw Kagome's eyes widen as she stared up at him with a painful azure gaze. Wincing sorely, she closed her eyes as she squeezed his hand tightly. Not knowing what happened, Inuyasha lifted the girl up, but only caused her to grimace even more. He didn't know what was wrong with her, but the way she looked right then worried him.

"Are you okay, Kagome?" he asked, only allowing a hint of his concern seep through the tone of his voice.

"Yea, I just cracked my back," she mumbled, as she took her hand away from his, leaving his own hand feeling almost abandoned and cold. She used her own to rub her lower back as she squeezed her eyes shut. "That dip was painful."

"You were the one who slipped," he shot back heatedly, crossing his arms in front of his chest as his eyebrows came together in irritation.

"I know…" she muttered in defeat, slowing down on her rubbing, before she suddenly shot her gaze up to him with an unexpected twinkle in her eyes. She smiled radiantly before she started saying, "You said my name!"

Inuyasha's golden eyes grew wide as he looked at her. "No I didn't!" he tried to deny, although he silently cursed himself for saying her name so carelessly. He wasn't supposed to say it, damnit!

"Yes you did!" she pressed on, her eyes so wide in joy he could see the white of her eyes. Why she was so happy, he did not know. "You said my name!"

Inuyasha turned away huffily as he refused to look at Kagome, deciding he would just roll his eyes at her idiocy. Why was she so happy he said her name? It was just a dumb, stupid name! He didn't see the difference between calling her 'wench' 'girl' 'stupid' or 'Kagome.' They all seemed the same to him.

He could feel a tug on his sleeves and he turned around to glare at the girl who was smiling as the rain fell softly on her kimono and was absorbed into the material. He was about to open his mouth and retort in anger at seeing the optimism she was displaying, but she beat him to it.

"Don't you dare ruin this moment for me, Inuyasha. I'm just happy you finally said my name. It doesn't have to mean anything to you," she said as she gently started pulling him towards the castle, her normally bouncy hair turning straight due to the effects of the rain.

He put a clawed hand on the forearm connected to the hand that was holding his sleeves, causing Kagome to turn around in surprise and look at him in perplexity. He could tell she was about to ask him what he wanted, but he wasn't about to let her go into a tirade about what he desired to do.

"Get on my back."

She opened her mouth to say something in response, but closed it again as a grin lit up her face. "I can do that," she muttered, slowly moving to take her position on his back.

"Hold on tight, girl."

Kagome's response was to make herself comfortable on his back as she listened to him converting back to his defensive self. "I will." She slipped her arms around his neck as he began to leap back towards the castle, the rain rapidly falling again.

*~*~*

"This is not working," she grumbled in an infuriated tone, closing the drawers. Standing tall, she gazed around the prince's room, her gray eyes scrutinizing every corner of the area. She narrowed her eyes when she noticed a book on his desk, a marker clearly indicating the prince had been reading that page.

She quickly made her way over to it, grabbing the book and fluttering the book open to the page and eyes widening as she read the words. She had finally found a clue.

"Perfect," she muttered under her breath, carefully reading everything on the page as fast as she could and drinking in the information.

The Shikon no Tama, Jewel of Four Souls, is an ancient jewel created over hundreds of years ago. It was forged from the battle between a powerful miko and a demon created from bodies of thousands of other demons. Merely a small ball and the color of a light pink if purified, if such a jewel falls into the hands of one with dark intentions, it becomes corrupted. It is a fierce force of power, for whoever is its owner, it will grant one wish. It is rumored that if the wish made upon the jewel is one of purest intentions, the jewel will be purified completely while disa---(ppearing?)

"I'M SLIPPING!"

She slammed the book shut, moving over to the window and stepping out into the balcony slowly to see what the distraction was. She saw Kagome and Inuyasha down on the grounds, Kagome seemingly have fallen somehow and was on the pebbly earth while Inuyasha tried to pull her towards the castle.

She cursed rather unladylike and left the book on the table again, making sure the room looked as neat [or she admitted it, rather messy] as it had been when she had come in. Quickly, she snuck out into the corridors before the hanyou came up into his room and found her there.

Slipping out the door, she closed it behind her and stood there for a moment, her hands on the doorknob. "Naraku…you bastard…" she muttered under her breath darkly, turning to the corridors and stalking down it with a sinister aura around her. "That's what you're doing, huh? You think you're so smart…"

*~*~*

"Naraku…you bastard…That's what you're doing, huh? You think you're so smart…"

A young girl slowly lowered her mirror, its reflection swirling into a pale churn, much like the color of her skin and clothing. Her black eyes refused to make contact with her master as he chuckled under his breath, dark amusement twinkling in his menacing orbs.

"Yes, my dear, I think I'm that smart…" he said out loud to no one in particular, his voice bouncing off the walls of his dark room and repeating itself. He narrowed his eyes in a sinister way, letting out strings of 'kukuku's as he glared over at a few paintings of Kagome, Kikyou and himself at their castle. His eyes strayed from Kikyou to Kagome, and a dark smile appeared from his lips. "Kanna, show me what is occurring between that half mutt and his whore…"

Kanna, the 'maid' and girl dressed in complete white, lifted her mirror again as the reflection began to swirl faster. Images began to emerge slowly as the outlines of two people in the reflector were seen heaving and taking in much needed breaths under the protection of the main entrance.

"You idiot! You dropped me!" Kagome yelled, her kimono dripping wet and stained with dirt as she pointed an accusing finger at her companion.

"You slipped off! So, don't blame me, wench." Inuyasha crossed his arms across his chest defiantly, glaring over at the girl with his amber eyes.

Kagome opened her mouth in anger. "God, Inuyasha, can you stop calling me that? I thought you could say my name by now! AND!--- I trusted you to not drop me!" She brushed off the dirt on her clothes, but grimaced when she felt the uncomfortable feeling from the dampness.

"Then you better learn to not trust me anymore." Inuyasha turned his gaze away, deciding to glare at the soldiers patrolling outside the entrance. They didn't even twitch under his angry look.

"I can't do that."

"Why not, girl?"

Kagome smiled lightly over at Inuyasha. "I can't just trust someone and then have them lose that trust over petty arguments. They'll really have to betray me in order for me to lose my faith in them."

"That's all nice and sugar coated. But in reality, it's just better to not trust at all. That way, you're uncontrolled by treachery." Inuyasha sniffed his nose disdainfully.

Kagome gazed intently at the hanyou. "Inuyasha…you don't trust me…?"

"Stop Kanna. They're disgusting me." He tried to dismiss the reflection with a flick of his hand as emphasis and the pallid girl complied, the image fading away much like the one of Kikyou before.

"Stupid Kagome…she's suppose to be there to get me that Shikon no Tama. I did think she might fail…and yes, she gets closer to that hanyou everyday…so Kikyou enters…but no, that sister is too nosy. Stupid Higurashis." He growled angrily as he grabbed one of the paintings, ripping it slowly and noisily, watching the tear begin to separate Kikyou and Kagome from him.

He went over to the window, continuously ripping Kagome and Kikyou to shreds, before throwing it out into the darkness. A smirk graced his face as he watched the pieces of paper float down to the ground, where numerous amounts of servants were rushing in and out of his mysterious castle.

He could see sharply in the darkness, and he was sure all the youkai whom inhabited his kingdom could too, and he knew they were forced to anyway. His kingdom was forever shrouded in darkness, never seeing the light of dawn or the shine of the sun. Killing and bloodlust was common in these lands and if any human happened to stumble into the sinful town…

…Naraku was pleased to know another filth was exterminated.

As if demonstrating his thoughts, a bloodthirsty howl rang in his village and a dreadfully high-pitched scream was heard as more howls accompanied the first, the scream abruptly cut off. Naraku's smirk grew wider as he turned back to face his minion, who turned her blank gaze to her maker, ready to listen and obey.

"Kanna, get me Kagura." Naraku waved the girl off and she followed his directions, silently exiting the room and going in search of her younger sister by youkai age, but when based on looks, would be considered her elder sister.

Naraku didn't have to wait long, as a tall and extremely graceful youkai dressed in an expensive kimono entered the room, carrying her fan with her. She gazed over at her master with blood-red eyes, waiting for her orders.

"Kagura, you know where the Komiya kingdom is." It was more of a demand rather than a question. The wind youkai nodded mutely, her crimson gaze narrowing as Naraku turned his back on her. "Go there. Don't let anyone see you. I need to talk to Kagome…so bring her to the cliff."

Kagura stepped into the room more, gazing attentively at Naraku. "Are you still not strong enough?" she questioned, careful as to not use a spiteful tone.

Naraku turned around slowly, fixing his underling with a glare that could freeze fire. She shuddered involuntarily under his scrutinizing, knowing that question had been unnecessary and should not have been spoken. He frowned in displeasure at her. "You ask too much, Kagura. Do not ask what does not concern you or that will be the death of you. Now go."

Kagura nodded. "Yes Naraku," she muttered under her breath, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground as she took her leave.

She quickly walked down the corridor, her youkai eyes allowing her to see through the darkness. 'Bloody bastard…not my fault your plan to eliminate both armies failed. If it wasn't because you have my oath to serve you until you die and if you didn't own my heart…I would kill you without faltering.' She turned a distasteful gaze back up the castle as she walked out, directed at her master's room.

Taking out a feather from her hair, it transformed into a large feather. Boarding her flying object, she zoomed towards light and sunshine, not once looking back at the dark castle behind her.

*~*~*

Kagome grumbled, aimlessly walking around corridors and trying to find something to entertain her. It hadn't stopped raining all morning and she was starting to find it boring to be stuck indoors. She had changed into a new kimono, her old one thoroughly wet and nasty because of the rain incident a few hours ago, and then soon after, Inuyasha had disappeared. She wouldn't have mind if he disappeared any other day, but when she was in dire need of entertainment…

"Inuyasha!! Where are you~?!" she yelled through the halls, but there was no growl or shout answering her.

She huffed angrily as she turned the corner and saw a blur rush into a closet and the door slam shut quietly. She narrowed her eyes. Well, something interesting…finally.

Tiptoeing to the closet, she placed her ears to the door and listened for any movements inside. Indeed, there were hushed voices.

"Is she gone?"

"Why are you scared of her seeing us? We were just talking."

"But Sango…I need to talk to you in private."

"Where are you going at, houshi?"

"Well…since we're in a closet…and it's dark…and private…"

"What are yo---GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!"

A slap echoed in the small space and Kagome's eyes twinkled as she realized who the two inside were. Snickering, she placed a hand on the doorknob…

And the door slammed open to hit her smack in the face.

"OW!" Kagome cried, her hands flying up to hold her bruised nose and forehead gingerly. Sango tumbled out and eyed her cousin before flushing a deep crimson color.

"Kagome!? What are you doing---"

"It hurts!"

Miroku stepped out of the closet with a serene and placid gaze as he looked at Kagome. "Why Kagome, sorry Sango didn't know you were right outside. Are you okay?"

Kagome flashed him a look that promised pain. Still rubbing her nose now that her forehead was better, she shot the couple a dirty look. That was before she flashed them a sly glare. "What were you both doing in a closet?"

Miroku decided to look out the window. "Nothing. Sango just needed to talk to me in private."

Sango smacked the man across the head. "You wanted to talk to me in private! You pulled me into the closet once you heard Kagome screaming Inuyasha's name!"

Once the two realized what Sango had said, Miroku and Sango slowly and evilly glanced over at Kagome, who had arched her eyebrows so high, they nearly touched her hairline.

"What were you doing calling Inuyasha's name?" Sango asked deviously, a knowing smile on her face.

Kagome only gave the two a nonchalant look before calmly answering, "I was looking for someone to talk to."

Sango narrowed her eyes, making sure Kagome wasn't lying. "Why didn't you look for me?"

Kagome looked innocently surprised. "Why, I thought you were busy after all, so I didn't want to bother you. Really, I'm sorry, you can continue your talk with Miroku if you want. It doesn't bother little ol' me at all!" She smiled while silently chuckling in her head as she wordlessly continued her way down the corridor.

"It wasn't what you thought it was!" Sango screamed after her cousin, looking like she had been caught with her hands in the cookie jar.

Kagome shot Sango an incredulous look over her shoulders before beaming brightly. "Of course it wasn't. It was much more."

"No!" Sango shouted in panic, but Kagome had already curved around the corner, now giggling out loud as screams and slaps were heard behind her and Miroku was trying to defend himself with useless words.

"You stopped me, made me agree to talk, then when you start sprouting crap from your mouth, you pull me into a closet! *slap* Pervert! Now everyone is going to have the wrong impression! *slap*"

"But Sango dear---!!"

"Don't you 'Sango dear' me, houshi!"

Kagome smiled perceptively. It was obvious those two liked each other, but Sango was too shy to actually admit it and Miroku was too perverted to let her accept him. Young love…so violent.

Giggling, Kagome arrived at her room, or what she presumed was her room, and opened the door without thinking. Walking inside, she was hit in the face with a scent that wasn't her own causing her to look around in bewilderment. "Oh, just Inuyasha's room," she mumbled and was about to go to her own room before something nagged her in the nook of her mind. "That thing in his drawer…" she muttered, slowly gazing over at the drawer where she had previously noticed a mask. It still intrigued her…it had looked…familiar?

Ambling over to the drawer, she put a trembling hand on the knob. Why she wanted to see it one more time, she was not sure. But, she knew. She had to know. Taking in a breath, she opened it. "Oh god," she muttered, closing the drawer as she averted her gaze. So Inuyasha had taken out the mask and replaced the drawer with loin cloths. Not a pretty sight really.

She snapped her fingers in disappointment after getting over her initial shock, soon going towards her own room. That was until she heard someone say something.

"Girl."

Screaming at the sudden voice in the empty room, Kagome turned around, her heart thumping wildly in her chest. She instantly saw a woman on the balcony of Inuyasha's room and her eyes widened. It was obvious the lady was a youkai, her eyes were splashed a scarlet color and her ears were pointier than a human's. She seemed dressed in a noble-like kimono and was gazing at Kagome with an almost intimidating look.

"Naraku needs to talk to you," the woman informed, slanting a long crimson glimpse to the cliffs.

Kagome gulped and backed away. 'Naraku needs to talk to…me? Oh god…' she thought, as she stared keenly at the youkai woman.

"Hurry up. It's not nice to keep Naraku waiting." Kagome watched as the woman with the crimson orbs took out a feather from her hair and transformed it into a larger flying feather. She could clearly hear her heart beating wildly and she pressed a hand over her chest, hoping it would stop. "Will you get on already?" the woman asked impatiently, motioning to the feather.

Kagome frowned slightly. She certainly didn't want to talk to that man, but would it be wise to turn it down? He was evil after all…what if he had ordered this woman to kill her if she didn't go? But then…if she went, wouldn't it be more dangerous?

"Will you get on or not, girl?" Kagura asked dangerously, thinning her lips into a straight line.

Kagome flickered her cobalt gaze to meet with crimson. "I'm coming…" she muttered, moving towards the wind youkai. She knew she shouldn't…she couldn't…but she would.

However, as she precariously boarded the feather, she failed to see the wide cerulean eyes spying on the two as they both flew towards the cliffs. The cerulean eyes backed off into the corridor, soon running down it as fast as its furry body could take it. He had to find someone to help her…someone to save her…

"Kagome…"

*~*~*

Inuyasha jumped along the ground, moving so fast he was barely wet from the rain. He had visited his 'secret place' to think and he wouldn't deny, it was beautiful when it rained and he watched the waves inside the cave. The sea was stormy, rough and dangerous, something he liked to compare himself too. But he was there, not to admire the scenery but he needed to think…again.

The moment he had dipped Kagome was…entrancing. The way her sapphire eyes widened and then stared deep into his…it felt like nothing else mattered but that single moment. He didn't notice the rain had started falling again, only noticing how the droplets splashing on her face looked iridescent and ethereal.

The moment itself seemed ethereal.

He couldn't explain it, that feeling he felt rushing through him. He didn't want her to fall that moment, he had wanted to protect her. They never figured where the music had come from, but it was probably just some villager playing. She reminded him of someone a long time ago and he knew that wasn't right.

He was torn, really.

He felt a more-than-appropriate attraction to Kagome, yet he was marrying Kikyou in about two weeks time. He liked how Kagome would argue with him, always frowned at him even though she would break out into a brilliant smile afterwards, and felt compassion for any living thing---for example, that kitsune cub. Why she wanted to keep him around…he could never understand. Kagome…was life itself. She was absolutely endearing in her own special way.

Kikyou…he was betrothed to her out of the blue. She had this sort of mysterious exterior and was obviously shutting out her own sister and many other people. He could relate to her, the way she smiled but it wasn't true, but most of all, she reminded Inuyasha of himself. And her eyes…her eyes were so similar to someone else in his heart. Those captivating gray eyes…

But they were two completely different people and made him feel two completely separate emotions. And…to put it simply, he was torn.

"INUYASHA!!" a sudden kiddy scream rang through the hallways, causing Inuyasha to flatten his ears. "WHERE ARE YOU, YOU BIG FAT MEANIE HEAD!"

Inuyasha frowned when he saw the kitsune cub screech to a stop after spotting the hanyou. Stupid damn brat…he was going to pummel that Shippo into the wall again…

"Inuyasha! I've been searching for you for fifteen minutes!" Shippo squealed, rushing over to the half dog-demon with wide, terrified eyes.

"What is it, you lit---"

"It's Kagome!"

Inuyasha instantly stopped shouting at the kid, as he stared blankly at the kitsune.

Shippo was hysterically dancing from foot to foot as he tugged on the pants Inuyasha had on. "Kagome was kidnapped! Kagome is gone! Kag---"

Inuyasha continued to stare impassively down at Shippo.

Shippo bared his tiny fangs. "Don't you get it! She's gone, Inuyasha! GONE! Don't yo---"

"Where is she, you fucking brat!" Inuyasha growled out in sudden fury, grabbing the kit by the tail roughly and bringing Shippo to his eyelevel. He started shaking poor Shippo as he bared his fangs instinctively, looking as if he expected the information to come flying out of the ball of fluff if he shook enough.

"Stop it! My head hurts!" Shippo cried indignantly, lifting his paws to his swirling head. "Oh god, tha---"

"WHERE. IS. SHE." Inuyasha bellowed, trying to contain his anger and not throw the scanty kitsune into a brick wall.

Shippo stopped complaining and stared up at the protective hanyou, who if Shippo didn't mind saying, looked ready to come down on his poor kitsune butt and stick it into another wall. He shuddered involuntarily. He would never forget that moment…no! He must remember what he was going to tell Inuyasha!

"Inuyasha, Kagome was in your room before and then this scary, scary youkai appeared on your balcony. She started demanding Kagome to go with her to see Naraku and I don't know if Kagome tried to resist, but she agreed and they flew away on this huge feather thing!" Shippo explained, still staring at Inuyasha with wide, cerulean eyes.

"Who's Naraku and where did they go." Inuyasha's eyes darkened considerably as Shippo saw something flicker behind the hanyou's golden orbs. Was that red…? No…

Shippo gulped. "N-Naraku…? I don't know…" he lied, hoping he sounded convincing enough to the raging Inuyasha. "And they went towards the cliffs north of here…"

Shippo winced when Inuyasha dropped him onto the ground, his butt being abused when it met with the floor. Why did Inuyasha always mistreat his poor kitsune butt? It wasn't like his tail would lessen the impact!

Shippo crawled over to the entrance and watched as the hanyou leapt towards the cliffs at an alarming speed. Hmph. Why was he in such a hurry, even if it was to save Kagome? If Shippo didn't know better, the kistune would say Inuyasha actually cared about Kagome more than he was suppose to…

Hmm…

*~*~*

Kagome shuddered as she felt another rough wind blow around her. The icy cold air entered through her kimono and Kagome could feel the water already seeping through. Why did Naraku have to talk to her out in the open air with rain falling everywhere? And most of all, why on top of a cliff where if she looked down, it made her almost dizzy and wobbly from the height? Stupid Naraku…

She took a step back and her silken slippers made a *squish* sound as the water was released into the rocky ground. She frowned as she locked gazes with the idiot who had made her come out, watching as the rain almost seemed like it wasn't even touching him. In fact, his clothes looked almost dry. Why that…

"What do you want?" she asked resentfully, trying to warm herself by rubbing her arms with her frozen hands. Her teeth were chattering and she could almost feel the headache coming as the wind whipped her ebony hair around like a messy tornado.

She could see him smiling evilly over the rain and she shuddered even more. Oh how she hated him and his arrogance…how she hated that smirk…how she hated how he could act so well…how she hated Naraku.

"I just want to remind you of something, Kagome dear." A shiver ran up her spine when Naraku called her 'dear.' Kagome was reminded of Inuyasha this morning when he had sarcastically called her 'dear' and the results were strikingly different. While Inuyasha called her dear, it made her feel happy almost, but when Naraku called her dear, it made the word sound atrocious.

"The Shikon no Tama?" she hissed through clenched teeth, feeling her cheeks growing numb from the air at this height.

"So you didn't forget," Naraku said lightly, walking towards her while she backed away on instinct.

The woman Kagome had arrived with was in the background, idly playing with a fan and not concentrating on their conversation. She even looked bored. Deciding to focus on Naraku as he advanced on her, she gave him what she hoped was a bloodcurdling glare. It didn't seem to work as Naraku stopped about two feet away from her.

"No, I didn't forget. I will get you the jewel by the end of the month…Shippo won't die." She quickly brushed away the hair that had flown in front of her eyes, making sure to keep an eye on Naraku at all times.

"That little runt?" Naraku laughed darkly. "I realized the kitsune's life isn't worth anything. He can stay alive or die, it doesn't matter. But since I want that damn jewel soon…I'm making the stakes higher, Kagome dear. If you don't give me the jewel by around your 21st moon of staying here… you won't know what I'll do…you don't want to know what I'll do."

Kagome stared at him with wide eyes. "But! That's unfair! How…how can I do it so soon?!" she tried to reason, the cold momentarily forgotten as she thought about the injustice of the situation. "You said by the end of the month!"

"It's just a few days off, Kagome dear. Live with it. Life isn't fair." He smirked. "But you do know you'll only get your heart hurt again…don't you, Kagome dear?"

Kagome bit back a sudden feeling of crying. "I won't get my heart hurt again. You don't even know anything about my life right now…"

Naraku's eyes twinkled menacingly. "Are you sure…?" he whispered over to the princess before he walked towards Kagura, with her looking up suddenly and muttering, "He's coming."

"Heh." Naraku turned around to gaze at Kagome, whose lips by now were purple. "Don't try to deceive me, Kagome. I want that jewel, and you better give it. You know what I'm capable of…Kikyou knows what I'm capable of…don't mess with me."

Kagome chewed on her lower lip, as she clenched her fingers into her kimono sleeves. "I won't."

Naraku smiled, not in the warm manner though. "Kagome…do you want to know something?" he asked cunningly, waving for Kagura to fly back to his kingdom while he talked a bit longer with the princess. The wind youkai made a disgusted face at him behind his back before jumping back onto her large feather, flying along the coastline on the other side of the cliffs. She didn't look back at her master, only disappearing like the wind she was.

Kagome wouldn't look up at him, but she neither shook or nodded her head at his question. She was starting to think she shouldn't move at all. It was so cold…so unusually cold…

"Kukuku, Kagome dear. What you wish you had is right in front of your face, but you're too blind to see. What you need is taken by your sister again…what you yearn for can't be given. What your heart tells you is true, but you're blinded, so blinded by your hatred…for me." He said the last two words as if he was happy about the whole ordeal.

He pointed towards a black dot in the distance and Kagome gazed up as she squinted her eyes, trying to see what he was indicating. All she saw was the black dot, and nothing more. "I don't know the crap you're sprouting…I'm not listening, and there's nothing special out there, so stop trying to trick me," she muttered under her breath, noticing how mist came out of her mouth in thick clouds.

"Kagome dear…" Naraku said in a low voice lined with intimidation, causing her to unwillingly look up to meet his dark gaze. "That black dot…it's the wolf army…don't you see?" he asked, chuckling low in his throat as roots slowly began to form under his cloak.

Kagome didn't get his words, but as she glanced over at the black dot again and watched it grow bigger just a bit, it suddenly struck her like lightning. "Oh god…" she whispered, her eyes wide and her body going taut in the cold. "They're…they're…"

Naraku snickered as the roots slowly began to emerge, wiggling like large worms. "I need to get rid of that hanyou…" Kagome noticed the movement in the corner of her eyes and she looked away from the dot, turning slowly to glance at her hated enemy. Her sapphire orbs widened in horror at the sight and she backed away even more, stopping only when she noticed there was no more cliff left.

What…what was that bastard doing!? This was like something straight out of a horror play…and she was alone. Alone with this…monster! She screamed the first word that came to her mind.

"INUYASHA!!"

Through the harsh and bleak rain, she hadn't expected an answer…but the answer she heard brought warmth to her, and she didn't understand why.

"KAGOME!!"

Kagome watched as Inuyasha looked like he had just scaled the cliff, jumping high into the air and landing as gracefully as a swan in front of her, putting his body between her and that hideous thing that had previously been Naraku.

She shut her eyes tightly, as she slowly moved towards the comfort that was Inuyasha. Lifting frozen hands from her arms, she clutched his haori from behind, feeding off his body warmth. He was so warm…so cozy…

"Are you okay?" he whispered in a low voice so that only she could hear him.

"Yes…" she answered back, her eyes still closed as she clutched his haori tighter. She didn't know why she told him she was okay…she was freezing, she was scared…and she told him she was okay? Why…?

"What is this thing?" Inuyasha asked louder, and Kagome wasn't sure whether she was addressing the deformed Naraku or her. She decided to answer anyway.

"I don't know…"

"Well, whatever it is, it's going to die."

Kagome wasn't partial to killing, but this time, she only nodded. That…thing…it needed to die, and she felt as if Inuyasha was the only one who could do it right now.

"Stay out of the way, okay?" he muttered, but before Kagome could answer, the princess felt the soothing warmth ripped away from her as Inuyasha lunged at the Naraku-thing, using his claws to attack.

"Sankon tetsusou!" Ripping a root off of the 'thing' [puppet], Inuyasha smirked under his bangs at his opponent through the rain, backing off a bit as more roots appeared. "You fucking chose the wrong girl to mess with. I'll kill you for even taking Kagome away," he muttered under his breath, drawing Tetsusaiga from his belt.

Kagome watched entranced as Inuyasha held the rusty blade in front of him. She was vaguely aware of him calling her by her name, but she was more afraid for Inuyasha right now than anything else. What would a rusty sword do? She doubt it could even rip through one of those roots Naraku's body, which she dubbed a 'puppet', had.

"Inuyasha…" she whispered, watching as he pounced on Naraku again, ripping another root and trying to impale another with his sword. It only bounced off harmlessly and Inuyasha's golden eyes widened as a root suddenly whipped him away, sending him skidding along the ground and past Kagome, flying off the cliff.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, starting to run over to the cliff's edge but was surprised when Inuyasha pulled himself over, managing to get a grip on the cliff's rim when he was thrown off.

"Fucking bastard…" Inuyasha muttered under his breath, glaring darkly over at the 'puppet' who only smiled calmly back.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome whispered for the umpteenth time, moving slowly towards him with tears in her eyes. They wouldn't fall, but when Inuyasha turned around to look at her and saw them ready to plummet, he looked flustered.

"Don't cry!" he suddenly yelled, glaring at her with his amber gaze.

"Should I be laughing!?" Kagome challenged back, wiping the rain from her face.

Inuyasha turned around to face his opponent again, who was still smirking and waiting for Inuyasha to make another move, and this was when Inuyasha's frail patience snapped. "Shut it, stupid! I'll protect you, okay!? I said I'm going to protect you, Kagome!"

Kagome's breath caught. Did he say…

"So just sit back and watch."

She really couldn't answer.

Inuyasha turned his full attention on Naraku. "Whatever you are, I'm gonna waste you." He was about to attack again, but stopped when he felt something strange. His sword…was it beating? Tetsusaiga's pulsing…?!

He brought the sword up in front of his face and watched as the rain fell on the rust and dripped off. It's real…I can hear Tetsusaiga's…heartbeat?

He opened his eyes wide as he lowered his sword, still feeling the pulse in his hands. Narrowing his eyes at the demon that was still smirking, he was suddenly aware of everything around him, almost like his senses had sharpened. The rain's beat hardened and his ears swiveled backwards on instinct when he heard Kagome shout something.

"Go for it, Inuyasha!!"

That was all it took. He didn't really understand the sudden overwhelming feeling he had when he heard her shout those words, or how his spirit seemed to fill with courage, but he allowed it to be his advantage. He narrowed his eyes at the thing Shippo had called 'Naraku' or at least what he assumed was Naraku and picked up his sword.


"DIE." He charged forward just as Naraku shot another root out, this time looking like it would impale the hanyou through the chest.

It all happened at once.

Kagome shielded her eyes when white light shone, Naraku puppet's eyes widened when he saw the rusty old sword Inuyasha had used to block the attack grow bigger, and Inuyasha smirked almost evilly when he brought the shining blade right down the middle of the thing.

A heartbeat skipped.

Kagome opened her eyes and saw Inuyasha standing there in front of Naraku, with Naraku's root scant close to stabbing the hanyou. In Inuyasha's hands was not the rusty old Tetsusaiga she had remembered, but a smooth white blade almost the size of Inuyasha himself. It looked to be three inches wide at the hilt and curved slightly, glowing at the end. She gulped as she watched the scene, the two enemies staring hard at each other.

"Damn you…" Naraku's head whispered as the smile was wiped off of his face, the rain sliding down his face in droplets. The root in front of him suddenly divided in two and crumpled to the ground as a similar slice appeared from his head and cut right down the middle of his body and through his chest.

Soon after, his whole body broke apart and Inuyasha looked calmly at the crumbling remains of his opponent. It turned to soil, leaving behind a small, humanoid figure, with some thin strand wrapped around it. Inuyasha allowed an arrogant smirk to grace his face. "Don't mess with me, bastard…"

Watching the soil grow darker from the rain hitting it, he heard a small whimper behind him.

"Inuyasha…"

Turning around, he watched as Kagome tried to walk towards him. It was the first time he noticed how cold it was up here and how pale she looked, her steps almost seemingly swaying. His eyes widened as he saw her close her eyes and slowly fall forwards.

Running, he caught her in his arms just in time and unconsciously held her icy body close as he watched her try to focus on him. "Kagome…are you okay?" he asked, the victorious feeling slowly being washed away as more anger filled it. That bastard…look what he had done to Kagome…

But Kagome didn't seem to really listen to him as he picked her up bridal-style in his arms, turning around to jump back to the castle.

"No…Inuyasha…over there…wolf army…they're coming…" she whispered, pointing a weak arm towards where she had remembered the black dot.

Inuyasha hurriedly looked where she was pointing and his eyes widened when he saw the black blob far in the distance. Fuck…fuck! Not now!

"Don't worry Kagome. It's going to be okay. I'll get you back to the castle, okay?" he whispered lightly to her ears, watching as she weakly nodded in return. He was starting to worry as he watched her flutter her eyes closed, his ears keenly twitching to catch the small mumble from her purple lips.

"Thanks Inuyasha…"

A/N: Well…that was the longest chapter I have ever written in my life…I am so tired. I hoped you liked it…and like I said, it's gonna get intense. So Kagome is unconscious from the cold, the wolf army is advancing, she's being forced to retrieve the Shikon no Tama sooner, everything's getting chaotic, and this is going to end happy? Cross your fingers, readers! It might take me longer to update now thanks to school. Until next time, ja ne!