Disclaimer: Wonka

And again, forwards to the next chapter of Guardian Angel! Will Inu-Yasha screw things up, yet again? Will Kagome get kidnapped, yet again? Will everyone die while Inu-Yasha's gone because he's stupid? What's Sesshoumaru doing with his free time? And what of Naraku? What are his evil plans, regarding those mysterious bodies he's chased Kagura to dig up? These questions probably won't get answered (except the first ^^) in the next chapter, but I decided to put them up anyway!

Shout outs:

Chri: Inu-Yasha realize that running off gets Kagome kidnapped? Please, realization is a form of learning and we all know how well our little puppy fares at that task. =P

Tanuki-chan: Romance between Kouga and Kagura? *bewildered look* I have honestly never heard of that one in my born days. Maybe I shouldn't do such a thing just for your punishment of not reading my story in such a long time! *laughs maniacally* =P But hey, if you beg enough I may just put it in if it fits. After all, there's still room in further chapters for improvement and tweaking. (That doesn't mean I'm taking all requests… just some of them…)

Talon skydragon: Yes, I just had to put a random scene with Rin in it in the last chapter. It was also a way just to give you guys a look of what's going on in Hell (since Naraku's mysteriously disappeared from the chapters… I can never find a suitable place to put his part in _*) And if that's your reaction to Kikyou you're not going to like the next chapter. And thanks for the helpings on the html bit. It actually makes sense! I'll still be emailing the pics for now, but I should have the simple, simple website up soon. Hopefully…

Fate: I can think of far worse insults than 'scared little puppy' *evil grin*

WarriorGL: Miroku's your favourite character? I have to admit, compared to other anime lechers he's not bad (at least he asks them indirectly to sleep with him, rather than some others *cough*SorcererHunter'sCarrot*cough*) but he's still a lech. Ah well, I suppose I can't blame you. At least he has emotions. I can count on one hand how many times Sesshoumaru has shown emotion (and indifferent boredom doesn't count) And everyone had their bad points in drawing, especially someone else's style. For me it's Jaken. He's impossible. (and more of Ama's website coming up! Next time: what I don't like!)

Violet: Why you… I oughta hunt you down and call –you- nametag! Leave me alone! It's not my fault!

Chapter 23:

Time

"K-Kikyou?" Inu-Yasha said, bemused. "What are you doing here? I thought… you weren't… why are you…?"

"You're stammering again." Kikyou smirked and Inu-Yasha snapped his mouth shut, ears back. Kikyou chuckled and lifted a hand, letting one of the glowing, serpent-like youkai rest lightly on her wrist. "How long has it been, exactly?"

Inu-Yasha tried to cover his surprise by shrugging. "200 years, I think."

"Two-hundred years…" Kikyou echoed, smiling simply and letting her hand rest back at her side after the demon took flight again. "My, how time flies when you're dead."

Inu-Yasha leaned against a tree, quickly making sure it wasn't close to the tree the youkai were nesting on at the moment. He cleared his throat and tried to gain his composure as he crossed his arms. "Kikyou, what are you doing here? I mean… you are dead…"

"I was dead." The former Guardian corrected. "But I've been brought back to life by the most uncanny of all of them."

"Naraku." Inu-Yasha growled, his ears folding back once again.

Kikyou shrugged, an indifferent look on her face. "Yes, it was in fact Naraku. In fact not only did he resurrect me but he filled me in on recent happenings. You're a guardian angel now, aren't you? Seventh task, right?"

Inu-Yasha shifted uncomfortably. He didn't like leaving Kagome and the others asleep, alone, for so long. "Kikyou, I don't see-"

"Guarding a Reborn too, I've been told." She said, catching his attention. Inu-Yasha quickly tried to hide his shock but the sly, undead angel caught it and a tiny smirk caught at the corner of her lips. "So I was right. Am I also right to believe when I was told that the Reborn is… my Reborn?"

Inu-Yasha gulped. Shit. Shit, shit, damn, fuck, shit. He knew Kikyou well enough from when she had been alive and she was sneaky at finding things out, especially from him. He knew she was digging for something but he'd never know what for until he eventually gives in and finds out for himself. But now that she was here, and Kagome was here, and the third strike was four days away from happening… shit, shit, shit, shit, shit.

Kikyou smiled coldly. "You're a horrible liar Inu-Yasha and you're even worse when you try to cover up completely. I still don't know why they didn't kick you out. Especially when you're wanted for murder."

Inu-Yasha's head shot right up when he heard that and he blinked at Kikyou in shock. "What?"

Kikyou's expression turned dark. "You remember, don't you? Two-hundred years surely couldn't have fuddled your brain of that."

Inu-Yasha thought for a second before his eyes widened with shock and realization. He shook his head quickly, waving his hands. "Kikyou, no! I didn't… that wasn't… it wasn't… it was…"

"Inu-Yasha, shut up." Kikyou nearly hissed and Inu-Yasha did so. The former Guardian walked right up to the half-angel and put her hands against his chest, pushing him against the tree with immense strength, her eyes glaring hatred at him when they had been laughing a moment ago. "Nothing you say will change my mind. I don't know how you managed to brainwash the other Guardians up there but I know the truth: you're a murderer, a liar and a thief; a worthless threeblood!"

Inu-Yasha struggled but the angel was surprisingly strong and was holding him fast against the tree. "Kikyou, it wasn't me! It was Naraku who killed you! Naraku, using me!"

Kikyou eyed him for a moment before loosening her grip on him. "Why should I believe you?"

Inu-Yasha put a hand to his throat and coughed, quickly trying to think of how to word his answers. "Kikyou, it's me. We've lived together for over 200 years before… before that! Sure I was an ass-"

"Understatement of the year." Kikyou scoffed. "You were foul-mouthed and violent as well as an ass. I'm surprised I didn't see it before."

Inu-Yasha frowned at her and continued. "No matter how much of an ass I was I would never hurt you! It wasn't me who killed you that night! I – I mean… it was me but it wasn't… wasn't me… you know what I'm talking about, don't you?"

Kikyou didn't look convinced and she crossed her arms, holding up three fingers. "Three." She said. "You have three minutes to explain yourself. Then you die."

Sesshoumaru fiddled with the armour on his left arm again, flexing his fingers to make sure it fitted right, his impatience beginning to show as he glared at his computer screen. Naraku's attack was in three nights and he, Fourth Lord of Hell, was forced to train minimally and gather his troops in small forces so the Outcast would not be warned that they knew of his plans. Granted, Naraku was resourceful and probably already knew they had received the information; in fact it was very well reasonable that the whole plan had been set up and Kikyou was intended to escape. Sesshoumaru clenched his armoured claw around a stone and crushed it satisfyingly with one squeeze.

His dark eyes suddenly flitted to the side and he straightened, turning to the demon behind him. The demon was dressed in a general's war armor, the Fourth Lord's crest on his chest and a triple-pronged staff in one hand. He was tall, slim and humanoid, with bright green eyes, blue hair and dark skin, with the tell-tale pointed ears that signified him has a youkai. He leaned on his staff and saluted, a fanged grin on his face.

"Report, Sesshoumaru-sama!" he said with a salute. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed and he nodded.

"Report then, and leave my sight afterwards. I have no time for foolish water sprites today." He turned around and continued his work on the war simulator on his laptop as he tried to figure out the best position for the war.

The kappa continued his grin as he stuck his tongue out at his superior's back, twirling the staff once before tapping it on the ground as he made his speech. "Sesshoumaru-sama, the last two generals you've requested have arrived! Your brother's friend's son has come by surprise and accepts your offer! Sir!"

"Indeed…" Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he positioned more soldiers to the far eastern side of the battlefield, where'd they have a closer advantage to the gates.  "Well then, send the boy in. And Mizuki you can not watch your tongue yourself I will personally remove it so that you may keep a closer eye on it."

Mizuki gulped but continued grinning, seemingly unfazed by the threat. He turned around and walked out the commander's room, whistling an old river song cheerfully. Sesshoumaru ignored him and continued working on tactics, one delicately clawed finger tapping against his nose as he thought, a curious habit only few had ever seen.

"Naraku… just what could you ever be thinking?" He muttered to himself when a small message popped up, signalling a voice message had been activated. Sesshoumaru opened the file and continued to work on the army as he spoke.

"What is it girl? I, Sesshoumaru, am occupied at the moment and do not want my time foolishly wasted. Is everything going well?"

"I've completed my mission, Lord." A husky voice came out of the speakers, sounding distant and slightly curious. "It's worked out fine at first but the girl... well, what can I do about her?"

Sesshoumaru squinted at the screen, lost in thought as he muttered silent curses to his virtual enemy. "This was your idea," he raised his voice louder to speak with the messenger, "so fix it yourself. Just remember that contact is not allowed. For the plan to work, everything must be flawless."

The voice on the other end snorted. "As you wish, m'Lord. There is also about…. him. What should I do about that? Sneaking in shall be easy enough but sneaking out…"

"Did you not come to this Sesshoumaru to offer your services?" The Fourth Lord nearly snapped, his patience running thin. "If you are whom you do claim to be then I suggest you begin your work and you do so flawlessly. If there are no more interruptions…"

A pause on the other end. "Yes m'Lord. Right away." A small click signaled the caller had signed off. Sesshoumaru did a few more touches to the battle strategy before standing up. Three more nights for his army to become completely organized. He'd best go and inform the two new generals, he thought, crushing another rock just to feel better. Soon the Outcast will be dead, Sesshoumaru would rise in power and the Lord would then dispose of his nephew and complete his collection with his father's fang. He smiled, just slightly, as he left the room. Only he, Sesshoumaru, could ever be powerful enough to have fate so completely on his side.

Kagome woke up with a start, sitting up quickly. She had felt a strong, demonic aura just now. She had to warn Inu-Yasha… Inu-Yasha… where was he? She looked around the rock where he had been perching on but he was nowhere to be found. The demonic aura was gone but where was her guardian? Carefully, as to not wake Shippo up, she eased the tiny angel sleeping on her lap off of her onto the ground and she floated up to where Inu-Yasha had been standing. Nothing. No dog-angel sleeping on the job or anything. What was going on?

She lowered herself on the ledge and looked around, trying to sense her guardian's aura. There! She looked over into the forest, where she sensed a bunch of small, lesser youkai and… and… what was that? She sensed something else, something familiar that she couldn't put her finger on, something totally not there. She bit her lip. What was wrong? Inu-Yasha wouldn't just leave like that, it wasn't like him. Something was right.

A sudden flash drew her attention to the trees beside her but she saw nothing. Shippo sneezed in his sleep and curled up closer to Miroku, where Kagome had placed him. Everyone else was fast asleep, oblivious to what danger may be coming. Couldn't they feel it? Kagome sensed, under all the other auras around, that there was something strong and evil watching them, watching her…

Kagome shivered involuntarily and shook her head to clear it of those thoughts. She knew she was just being paranoid and that all this excitement was just getting to her head. There was no demon watching them. The only demons she where the fifteen-odd demons in the forest and a small mouse youkai that was busy eating a few sunflower seeds to her left. There was the small sense from Inu-Yasha and then that other aura… it was beginning to worry her. She quickly glanced at her sleeping friends, wondering if she should wake them up, then decided against it and ran into the woods.

The demon nearly fell out of the tree as it watched Kagome run into the forest. Kami, one wouldn't think Kagome was that stupid! Still, it made one's job easier. The demon hurriedly began jumping trees, following after the dead girl into the forest.

Okay, Kagome thought, now I'm not imagining it. She could feel the demonic presence right behind her, following her. At least she was leading it away from her friends, on a positive note. Now her only hope was that she could reach Inu-Yasha before it reached her. And she was still tired and feeling drained from that last fight…

Suddenly a black shadow appeared in front of her, not giving her enough time to stop. Kagome screamed and crashed right into the demon, knocking them both to the ground. Kagome was up first, getting to her feet and backing away from the demon. Her pursuer shook it's head and brushed itself off, still in the shadows as it looked at Kagome and then at the moon before glancing behind it.

"Dammit, I need more time… Distraction, distraction, distraction… Screw it, I'm breaking the rules." the demon muttered before turning to the girl. "Uh, hi! Kagome, isn't it? Nice to meet you!"

"You have three minutes to explain yourself. Then you die." Kikyou leaned against the tree and looked at Inu-Yasha expectantly. The half-angel folded his ears back with nervousness, trying to figure out where to start. His ears twitched worriedly as he thought.

"You remember when I was an exterminator, a few days before… the fire?" he asked, trying to word it carefully. Kikyou nodded slowly, the cold look in her eyes not wavering. Inu-Yasha fiddled with a loose thread on Tetsusaiga's hilt as he continued. "I think that's how it started."

"Started?" Kikyou interrupted. "Is that where you got the idea to steal the jewel?" her hand went instinctively up to her neck where the Shikon no Tama had once hung.

Inu-Yasha quickly shook his head. "No, I'm telling you Kikyou it wasn't me! Please, let me explain!" Kikyou frowned but motioned that Inu-Yasha continue. The half-angel nodded and kept with his story.

"Well, a few days before the fire I had been fighting that nest of insect youkai, you remember that right? That large scorpion demon cut me up pretty bad and you forced me to stay at home even though we both knew that Naraku was out there despite the fact that my pa killed him." Inu-Yasha frowned. "I don't remember much after that but I do remember that when I was fighting the scorpion there was another demon who had the smell of Naraku on her. She attacked me with a knife and cut me right here -" he mentioned with his claw the slice along the back of his neck and right shoulder. "- before I killed her. There must have been some kind of poison on the blade because after that I got razed by the scorpion and blacked out.

"I was barely awake when you guys found me and brought me back, but I remember smelling something, something like Naraku. I thought it was just the dead demon girl so I dismissed it. Now that I remember it, it smelled alive."

Inu-Yasha's eyes narrowed as he remembered and Kikyou nodded, curious to his story despite her straight and determined belief that he was making all this up.

"I blacked out for a while and had some pretty crazy dreams, most of them about fire." Inu-Yasha continued. "I must have had a pretty high fever then."

"You were burning up." Kikyou agreed. 

"Poison." Inu-Yasha nodded. "And Naraku's doing. When I came to completely it was still really hot and I felt like I was burning; but for a different reason. I woke up in the middle of the village and everything was on fire. When I realized it was the village I freaked out and started looking for you. Then I smelled your blood and nearly had a heart attack. I didn't realize then that it had come from me. Then I found you…" he trailed off and Kikyou wondered if he had run out of time yet. She had forgotten to keep track but decided to give him one more minute before she cut him off.

"You didn't die." Kikyou remarked. "Pity."

Inu-Yasha's eyes flashed but he shook his head, remembering that she was still brainwashed by Naraku's lies. "No, you missed my heart by a few centimetres. And I was in shock so I didn't really feel it anyways. But after that I went ballistic, trying to find out who actually did this to you. No one stopped me. Only Kinu thought I was innocent."

Kikyou smiled, but still coldly. "Kinu was always short-sighted."

Inu-Yasha shook his head. "It didn't matter; Naraku killed him three years after you." Kikyou frowned again but allowed Inu-Yasha to continue. "That day I was still searching but I came back to the village because Kinu wanted me to take care of his brat for the day and he thought the break might do me good. On my way back to the village I met him. Naraku.

"He was in one of his disguises but I could smell that it was Naraku clear enough. He didn't seem fazed that I recognized him though, cocky bastard. Instead he asked me how you were doing. I nearly killed him.

"Naraku's a cocky bastard but he has reason to be." Inu-Yasha ears flushed as he growled through this part of the story. "He had me down in a minute; I was still weak from both the poison and your dagger… not to mention the fact that you had died. He was going to kill me but Kinu came in and started fighting him. Kinu was a Guardian by then, just so you know. Had been promoted the year before. But Naraku was still too strong and killed him, right before my eyes. Then he told me that before he would kill me that he would tell me just how he did it. Then entire time he was dangling the Shikon no Tama in my face, where it hung from his neck.

"Naraku told me that the demon girl with the scorpion was a wanderer, a threeblood like me. She wanted the Shikon no Tama and offered her services to Naraku to kill me and you and take the jewel. But he was smart and knew that you had purified the jewel so that he couldn't even touch it. So instead he would contaminate first. The demon was to put this poison on her dagger and stab me with it so that I would nearly die. Then Kagura, you remember her, the wind demon that brought Naraku back to life, used her specialty technique to take over my body and use it to kill you…" he trailed off.

"Time's up." Kikyou said, snapping her fingers. "I must say Inu-Yasha, that's a detailed story."

"I'm had 200 years to think about it." Inu-Yasha said.

Kikyou frowned. "Two-hundred years to invent it."

"No Kikyou, that's not what I meant!" Inu-Yasha protested. "What I meant was –" he froze, ears trained to one side.

Kikyou looked at him oddly, glancing over at her youkai, which also seemed to be focusing on a certain direction. She looked over curiously, wondering what had caught their attention.

"You've known Inu-Yasha since he was a baby?" Kagome asked curiously. The demon nodded vigorously and grinned. "And he was a fat pup too! I mean really fat!" she puffed out her cheeks to demonstrate and Kagome giggled. The demon laughed along as well before calming down. "So whatcha doing out here anyway, Kagome?"

"Huh?" Kagome blinked, then remembered why she was in the forest. "Inu-Yasha. He's missing and I sensed some demons out here and thought he was out here…"

"Say no more." The demon held up her hand and stood up, jumping up to perch on a tree branch. "I understand completely. And you're right, he's back there with a bunch of demons." She snickered at a joke that Kagome had a feeling wasn't going to be shared. The demon swung upside-down and hung there, her striped, braided hair nearly touching the ground. "We can go visit him if y'want."

Kagome eyed the demon curiously and suspiciously. The humanoid demon was a cat youkai; that was apparent from the pointed, feline ears that poked out of the top of her head, the two brown stripes on both sides of her cheeks and the curving tail that clung onto the branch, not to mention she had the build of a twelve-year-old despite the fact she was over five-hundred. Kagome was no expert on cat demons but she knew that they were mostly thieves and not very trustworthy. And this demon that had just popped out of the blue and seemed to know a lot about her… too much. Still, the way this demon was grinning at her with wide eyes, a picture of innocence, Kagome couldn't help but be reminded of her cat Buyo and Buyo was about as devious as a teapot.

"How do you know so much?" Kagome decided to voice her suspicions. The cat looked hurt and flipped down the ground, ears hanging dejectedly, the many earrings on one jangling. "Ka-go-me, I'm a cat!" she stuck her tongue out. "How can I not know so much?" Suddenly she glanced over her shoulder and up at the moon, frowning. "Whoopsies. C'mon Kagome, let's go meet Inu-Yasha! I'm dying to see him again and see if he still has those fat cheeks!"

Kagome decided to allow herself to be dragged along by the smaller girl, not seeing the complete harm in this. They were after all just going to meet Inu-Yasha. What wrong could come of it? And besides, this demon didn't seem all that bad.

Suddenly the cat-girl stopped and pulled Kagome behind a tree. "Ssh." She whispered, putting a finger to her lips and nodding her head towards a small clearing where Kagome had seen Inu-Yasha. Curious, wondering why they were stopping, Kagome peeked around the tree and gasped. Inu-Yasha was there, surrounded by flying, serpentine youkai and talking to a girl who looked slightly older than her. A girl giving off an aura that felt exactly the same and yet different from hers. Kikyou.

"That's Kikyou!" Kagome hissed, turning to her companion, only to realize with shock that the cat demon had disappeared. Kagome looked around frantically for the other girl but she was nowhere in sight and Kagome could no longer sense her. Wondering just what in world was going on, she peeked around the tree and eavesdropped on Inu-Yasha and Kikyou's conversation.

Inu-Yasha was nodding, taking both of Kikyou's hands. "Kikyou, in the time we knew each other, have I ever lied to you?" Kikyou started to open her mouth but the half-angel quickly intervened. "I mean a serious lie, not lies about how much sake I've been drinking or whatnot."

Kikyou thought for a moment, then shook her head. "There's a first time for everything." She said coldly. Inu-Yasha's ears twitched and Kagome wondered if she should just leave now but her curiosity got the better of her. Inu-Yasha's ears turned back to where Kagome was hiding but he didn't seem to notice anything when he put his full attention back to Kikyou.

"Kikyou, this must have been hard for you to understand but I'm perfectly serious." He put a hand on her shoulder. "As much as I'd hate to say it, maybe you should go see my uncle so you can finally rest in piece."

Kikyou gave him a look. "Actually Inu-Yasha, the first person I went to see after I escaped from Naraku's was your uncle. All he did was listen to what I had to say and then he sent me here."

Inu-Yasha's nose twitched; so that's who Sesshoumaru's strange visitor was. At least one mystery solved here. "Why did you come here?" He asked. "If you had just stayed with the pompous ass you'd at least be safe from Naraku…"

"I wanted to see you, Inu-Yasha." Kikyou interrupted, moving closer to him. "I wanted to know why you were still alive."

"I told you already." Inu-Yasha argued. "I did my best to try to save you Kikyou, I'm so sorry." Without warning he pulled the undead angel into a hug. "How about I promise to protect you from now on?"

Kikyou seemed startled but soon hugged the half-angel back. Suddenly her eyes opened and she looked into the woods; straight at Kagome. "You!" She hissed, pulling away from Inu-Yasha.

"A word of warning, Kikyou. Do not venture to close to the girl who contains the other half of your soul. She will destroy you both just by being near you. It is, however, in your best interest to kill her. You will gain your full powers back and granted an actual life, instead of the false one that this Naraku has created for you."

Kikyou glared at Kagome as the girl stumbled back. Kikyou had seen her and didn't seem to friendly towards her Reborn. And the way Inu-Yasha was looking at her too, surprised and… angry at her for interrupting. Without a second thought Kagome turned around and shot through the forest back to the campsite, hoping she would get there before the others woke up and she could just pretended none of this ever happened…

"Kagome!" Inu-Yasha called after his task but she was gone and out of hearing range. "Shit." He started to chase after her when Kikyou grabbed his arm. "Inu-Yasha, you mean to leave me for that girl?"

"I-it's not that…" Inu-Yasha said, tugging to pull his arm free. "She's my task and has a tendency of getting kidnapped…"

"Then let her die." Kikyou said coolly. "Besides, both she and I cannot live for very long while both of us are still alive. It's upsetting the balance of things and one of us must die for the other to live. Who do you choose?" She eyed him, daring him to respond against her liking. "Inu-Yasha?"

"Kikyou, I…" Inu-Yasha trailed off. He didn't know what to do. He wanted Kagome to live, but he also wanted Kikyou to live… at least until he could finally convince her of what actually happened.

"I believe your story, Inu-Yasha." Kikyou said suddenly, leaning against his chest, much to his surprise. "I believe everything you told me. So come on, let's dispose of my Reborn and we can both go kill Naraku together. Please, love?" She looked up at him expectantly. There was no way he'd choose that child over her and when she had the chance, Kikyou would kill Kagome and then Inu-Yasha.  

Inu-Yasha was at a loss for words, when suddenly the silence between them was broken by Kagome's scream. Inu-Yasha was at the edge of the clearing in a flash, ears ridged as he smelled some dangerous and nastily familiar. "Kikyou, I have to –"

"You choose her over me?" Kikyou hissed. Inu-Yasha held up a hand. "No, Kikyou, it's just that –"

"Save it." Kikyou turned coldly around, raising her arms at the serpentine youkai flitted around her, glowing in the darkness of the night. "I see you've made your decision, traitor."

"Wait, Kikyou!" Inu-Yasha shouted up to her as the youkai raised her into the air, but all she responded with was a deadly glare before the darkness swallowed her up. Inu-Yasha growled with frustration before remembering his task. Quickly he took off into the night.

End Chapter 23

Whee, it's SuperBowl Sunday! Who doesn't care? *raises hand* Who forgot? *raises other hand* I'd much rather watch Yuki and Kyo from Fruits Basket duke it out instead of large men in 'fancypants' (beer commercial. Don't ask) At least Yuki and Kyo are attractive. And besides, I've had to write this as well. If I stayed up watching the game instead, wouldn't you be sad?

And Kikyou comes and goes =P truly I would like to hang her by her toenails over a vat of boiling cat piss but those are the breaks. She an essential character, unfortunately. Speaking of characters, how'd you like the two new ones? So there's no confusion, Mizuki the kappa (for those that don't know, a kappa is a powerful water demon in Japanese lore) and the cat-demon aren't from Inu-Yasha, I made them up. Mizuki's based after another kappa, from an anime I saw a few days ago, which was based on Journey to the West (I can't remember the name of the anime. I think it had something that sounded like 'sayuki' in the title but I can't remember. It has a white dragon named Hakuryu with an impossibly long neck that turns into a jeep if that helps any). The cat-girl's just… there. They're both minor characters, but I needed a general for Sesshoumaru and I needed some distraction for Kagome.

Shout outs:

link no miko: See, you learn things as you read chapters. I have no idea why this one is called 'Time' but I think it has something to do with the minute flashbacks and Kagome's perfect timing in to the conversation. I dunno, the chapter titles just come out that way. And I don't think what you choose in KH really affects the game that much. I picked magic and offence, but my magic sucked (hence the Donald dying all the time) and my defence was my strongest. It's a conspiracy I tell you! And sorry for still not revealing who Naraku's going after. You'll find out next chapter, I promise! Actually, you do and you don't. You meet them but you don't know their names or who they are, if that makes any sense. And they're actual IY characters, but if you've only read up to Kouga you wouldn't know who they are. They're recent characters, but I don't know how far into the manga they are… somewhere around book 25 (BIG hint, don't anyone else ruin it now!) And Inu-Yasha's stupid. Eventually he'll learn… we hope for Kagome's sake. And I hoped you liked the picky! More to come!

Crystal Twilight: Yes, hang Kikyou by her toenails over a vat of boiling cat piss ^_^ And McDonalds is actually a fine place to work, since I get paid for doing ruffly what I do at home (ie cleaning the table and getting the food ready) Besides, now I know everybody and the nickname helps, since there are far to many Amanda's working where I work. Only one nametag! (I'm sure you're the only 'blondie' at your school, eh?)

Keito: I have sent you a pic and I hope you like it, more coming soon. And thank you. Odd dreams lead to good stories.

Nariko: Miroku is a hippie! Just without the colourful, see-through clothes and the drugs! And the war action's coming, don't worry. Chapter 25 is where the fighting starts, but wait until Book Three, which is coming out at chapter 32: it's all war. I know, it's a long wait. I'll try to put in more battles to keep you happy!

And that's all for now folks! Have a great day! (or night, whatever)

~Ama