A/N: Hey guys. Sorry I haven't updated in like forever, but we finally actually got to the 'moving' part of our move. For those of you who don't already know, I went from Okinawa Japan to Charlotte, North Carolina. I don't have my house yet and the computer that I am using doesn't have word, so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors for a while, because I can't check them with the computer. Again, sorry about the huge delay on the update, I hope you guys like this chapter. Please review and let me know, and I will let everyone know when I am finally set up in my own home.

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Manipulation

Chapter Seven

"Quit arguing with me, Inuyasha. You know I'm going to stay here no matter what you say about it, so you might as well get used to the idea." Kagome snapped.

Inuyasha frowned deeply. "But it's dangerous!"

"Everything in this time is dangerous. That excuse doesn't work anymore..." Kagome smiled.

"Fine."

"That's what I thought," she nodded.

Naraku laughed. "Why are you so willing to lose your own life?" she smirked. "Fine. If that is how you wish it to be, then I will make due in my own way," he smiled at Kagome and Inuyasha, and then glanced at the various people around them. Sesshoumaru was busily trying to revive Kagura. He smirked at the two of them, and redirected his attention back to Kagome and Inuyasha. "If we're going to fight, why not get started?" he suggested.

"Now you're talking..." smiled Inuyasha, drawing his sword.

Suddenly, everything began to go black, and Inuyasha and Kagome realized that their friends were disappearing. Soon, they were on their own. Naraku stood in front of them, smirking at their confusion. Kagome looked around her several times.

"Where did everyone go?" she whispered to Inuyasha.

He shrugged. He was beginning to look very nervous. "What happened?" he whispered instead.

"She said she wanted to fight with you..." Naraku explained. "You get to fight together. Isn't that what you wanted?" he laughed.

Inuyasha released a growl from deep within his throat. This is not good. That stupid smart alek. I should have known something like this would happen. As tricky as he has been before, I can't believe I didn't see this coming. Darn! This is exactly why I didn't want Kagome here! I was afraid...I don't want Kagome to die....How are we going to beat Naraku all on our own? His sword glowed a blood red color. "Naraku! You sneaky son of a....!" he screamed.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed.

Inuyasha spun around to see what had frightened Kagome. He gasped. Surrounding them was Miroku, Sango, Kikyou, Kagura, and his brother, Sesshoumaru. Each had thier weapons drawn. They were closing in. Kagome clung to Inuyasha's robe in fright. "Inuyasha...why are they doing this?" she whispered shakily.

"I don't know." he replied, glancing suspiciously at Naraku.

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"...What are they doing?" Shippo's eyebrow rose in curiosity. Several feet in front of him, Inuyasha was flailing his sword wildly, and Kagome was spinning around, bow in hand, as if she was about to strike someone with one of her arrows. Neither of them seemed to notice Naraku, who was standing only a couple yards ahead of them, laughing wildly at the spectacle before him.

Sango looked up. "I...don't know, Shippo. They look like they've gone mad. Should we point out that Naraku is in the other direction?"

Miroku nodded. "That would be beneficial...especially since I feel rather useless without the use of my wind tunnel. If it weren't for these blasted insects...." he cursed.

"We know, Miroku." nodded Sango.

"Don't go near them." Sesshoumaru warned, throwing his hand in front of Sango.

"Why not?"

"I would think it would be obvious." he growled his reply. "You said it yourself. Do they look like they are in thier right minds? It's another one of Naraku's illusions, I'll bet. They're fighting enemies that we can not see..."

Miroku nodded. "...Enemies?" he gulped. "Then why is Kagome pointing those arrows at us?"

"We have to break that illusion of his," Sango nodded. "Look...Naraku is not attacking us. All his attention must be focused on the illusion he created. All we have to do is break his concentration...that should bring them back to reality....." She aimed her boomerang, and shot it straight at Naraku's midsection. "Kirara!" she hollered. Hopping on Kirara's back, Sango charged towards Naraku at full speed.

"Sango! Be careful! Watch out for Inuyasha's sword!" Miroku warned.

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"Inuyasha! Watch out!" Kagome yelped.

Inuyasha ducked. He had avoided Sango's boomerang for the third time, but her aim was getting better with each throw. He didn't want to hurt the only friends he had, but he was beginning to run out of options. Sango jumped at him. He aimed his sword, and thrust it forward....

Naraku blinked. Sango's attempt at his life had done its job, breaking his concentration. The black illusion of death surrounding Kagome and Inuyasha quickly disappeared. Kagome screamed at the sight in front of her. Inuyasha dropped his sword in shock. In front of them, Sango was gasping for breath and clutching her stomach. She fell to the ground, her eyes wide, and lay motionless in front of them. Inuyasha's sword was drenched in blood.

He took a deep breath. "Sango....oh god...what did I do?" he gasped.

"Sango!" Kagome sobbed, holding her friend in her arms. "Sango...Inuyasha, she's..." Kagome took a deep breath, and let out a deep and labored sob.

Miroku blinked. He could not believe what he had just seen. Coming out if his trance, he grabbed Shippo by his tail and began to sprint toward Sango. She wasn't moving, but maybe if he could just get to her... "Sango!" he screamed. "Please...don't die...."

Naraku found the whole incident to be very funny, and was laughing hysterically at the group by the time that Miroku arrived. "Fools! I don't even have to worry about you if you insist on killing one another! Why not just make it easy on yourself and hand over the jewel shards now? If you do as I tell you, I will make your death quick..." he smirked, but noone seemed to notice his comment.

"Sango....Miroku....I didn't mean to..." Inuyasha mumbled incoherently. "I thought she was...." he took a deep breath, and several stumbling steps backwards. "I can't believe...."

Sesshoumaru took several steps forward. Finally reaching his brother, he placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. Inuyasha turned to look at his brother. His expression was not the usual emotionless glare that Inuyasha had become so used to. Sesshoumaru took a deep breath, nodding to his brother. "Calm down, Inuyasha. Did you forget about our father's sword? It has worked before..."

"You'd do that?" whispered Miroku.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I don't see why I wouldn't. Besides, you all are of no use to me in such a state. It will take all of us to defeat Naraku."

Inuyasha blinked several times. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru...."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed.

"Wha...woah!..." he yelped, barely avoiding one of Naraku's tentacles.

"This is all very lovely, but I'm tired of fooling around." Naraku smirked.

"So are we..." Inuyasha smiled. He turned to Kagome. "Be careful. Sango, Miroku and I can take on those stupid tentacles, and I want you to take your shot as soon as it's open, all right? Aim for the jewel fragment. You can see it, right?" he whispered.

She nodded. "Aim for the jewel fragment..." she repeated. "But...Inuyasha...whatt if you...." she began.

"He isn't going to die." Sesshoumaru shook his head.

Kagura nodded. "We're going to help."

"But you..." began Sesshoumaru.

"I'm not going to fight, Sesshoumaru...I'm going to go find the boy." Kagura assured him.

"Kohaku?" gasped Sango.

She nodded. "You just make sure you take care of Naraku. There isn't a lot we can do for the boy until after Naraku is gone..."

"We understand." nodded Kagome. "Inuyasha, you just tell me when to shoot, all right?" she whispered to him, and he nodded. Inuyasha, Sango, and Miroku charged forward, met quickly by Naraku's tentacles. Kagura slipped off into the castle to look for Kohaku.

"Kagome..." Kagome looked down to see Shippo tugging on her sock. "I want to help."

Kagome frowned deeply. "Shippo, follow Kagura. I don't want you near all this danger. Help Kagura find Sango's brother, okay? Just stay away from this place for a little while. I'll take care of Naraku, all right?" she smiled.

"Uh-huh..." Shippo nodded uncertianly as Kagome redirected her attention to the battle.

"Now!" Inuyasha screamed. "Do it now, Kagome!"

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A/N: All right, people. I know I sort of left yet another cliff hanger, but you guys are going to have to bear with me for a while, okay? I know some of you want to beat me with a stick right now, but I have a lot going on, and I should be able to move some of my stuff into my house on Monday, although I still don't have any of my stuff....Again, sorry about the format on here, and I hope you guys liked it. Please review, and I will try to update soon, okay? Bye bye for now!