Hey!! Look, it's the next chapter! This story is going really well! (at least, I think it is…) Anyway, I know you don't want to hear me talk, so here's chapter 5 of One More Chance!

Disclaimer: Still don't own it…

Chapter 5: More Changes and the Stalker's Identity

"We what?" Inuyasha cried. "I can't even see the hair, how am I supposed to follow it?"

Kagome looked at the angry inu-hanyou. "Look, if you can carry me on your back, then I'll direct you so that you can follow the hair, and yet not get tangled in it. Does that work for you?" Why did I ever wish to start over again? I should have asked to start a month ago or something… I guess there's nothing to do but go on with it now though…

Inuyasha looked her over, then nodded. "You don't look too heavy, I guess I could carry you." Kagome didn't know whether to laugh or be offended. Then she noticed him removing his outer haori, the coat made from the fur of a fire rat. "Put this on." He said, handing it to her. "It'll keep you safer than most armour would, then I won't have to worry about you quite so much."

Did he just say that he would worry about me? Kagome wondered. Last time he never admitted to that until he got the Tetsusaiga!

"If you die, then I can't kill that baka Oni, so don't even think about dying." He continued.

I knew it was too good to be true…

"Well, come on, hurry and get on my back." Inuyasha said, looking over his shoulder at her. Kagome climbed on his back with practised ease. "Now which way do we go?"

Kagome looked at the hair. There was only one clump of them this time, so it was much easier to follow. She pointed over Inuyasha's shoulder in the direction the hair was coming from. "That way." She told him.

As they bounded through the trees, Kagome revelled in the feeling of once again travelling with Inuyasha. She'd had no idea how much she missed the feeling of the wind in her face as he bounded through the air. The strands of hair didn't seem to pay them any mind, which was strange since the last time it had actively sought out her life, and Inuyasha's. In fact, the hair only seemed to be interested in reaching the village.

Kagome clutched the Shikon no Tama through Inuyasha's haori. She always wore it on it's chain around her neck so that there would be no chance of it getting shattered like last time. If Yura was after the jewel, then why wasn't it after her instead of the village. Maybe, since it hasn't been shattered, Yura heard that the Shikon no Tama was in Kaede's village. If that is true, then she won't be looking for the Shikon's aura, she'll just assume that the jewel is still in the village!

As they raced toward the site where the hair originated from, Kagome got an arrow ready on her bow. Kagome was glad to see that there were no dead Samurai this time. In fact, the hair was coming from a different direction entirely this time. As they approached an area where the hair was much thicker, Kagome decided to tell Inuyasha to slow down.

"Why would I want to slow down, wench? I want to kill that Oni!" Inuyasha snarled.

Kagome glared at the back of his head. "Because you won't be able to fight if Yura knows we're coming." She explained through clenched teeth.

"Feh." Inuyasha slowed down and stopped just before they entered the clearing. "If you're so worried about a trap, then get off now and I'll go kill this 'Yura of the hair'."

Kagome got off and walked to the edge of the trees. "Just be careful Inuyasha." She whispered.

From off to her left she heard a quiet "feh", but she knew that he had listened to her since he didn't go charging in.

Kagome turned her attention fully to the clearing. There was the large ball of hair that she remembered from the last time. She could also see Yura sitting on top of that ball, playing with the hair that was tied to her fingers. A low growl to her left let her know that Inuyasha had also identified their enemy. Then his impulsiveness overcame his caution and he ran out into the clearing. As he began to bound up to where Yura was sitting, the Oni turned and looked at the hanyou in surprise.

"Well, if it isn't the hanyou, Inuyasha! I had heard that you were bound by a geis by that miko fifty years ago. Ah well, I guess she wasn't as strong as we all thought. Maybe I should have come and taken the Shikon from her, instead of waiting for it to reappear. It will soon be mine anyway, as my hair has now reached the village and will use the villagers to find where it has been hidden." During this speech, Inuyasha had gotten up to where Yura was and was about to slash her, when her hair grabbed hold of his wrists and ankles. Kagome watched in silence, lining up her sights with the center of the hairball. She powered up her arrow with the purification of a miko and let it fly. The arrow hit it's target and the hair holding Inuyasha let go, just as Yura was about to use Crimson Mist on him. Inuyasha dropped to the ground and bounded back into the trees, while Yura's attention was taken with finding Kagome.

Kagome had pulled far back into the trees to avoid the Oni's notice, and Inuyasha came to join her. "So what do we do now?" He whispered directly into her ear. She put her mouth close to his ear and barely audibly whispered back "We find the skull with the comb." His ear twitched against her lips as her breath touched them. She had the urge to rub them again. This is neither the place, nor the time Kagome…

She moved a little bit away from Inuyasha and watched Yura. The Oni didn't seem particularly worried about the destruction of her nest, not like last time. Why isn't she mad? Her soul is in there, isn't it? What if it's not?

Kagome looked the situation over again. At this distance she couldn't see the skull that had held Yura's comb, but it could very easily still be hidden in the unbroken top half of the nest. There was also something different about Yura, but she couldn't really put her finger on what it was. It had been so long since she had fought Yura that first time. The Oni still wore her revealing outfit… though Kagome couldn't remember if it had been red last time… and her hair was done up in three hair combs… was that the same? She couldn't remember, and yet Kagome was sure that the answer was there somewhere.

While Kagome was scanning the area again, Inuyasha had jumped back out into the clearing to confront Yura again. He slashed at the Oni with his claws, but since he had not sustained an injury yet, he could not use his blood claws on her. Kagome watched as Yura dodged the blows, always making sure Inuyasha was far from her head. Of course, most people would not want the claws of a hanyou coming at their face, but Yura seemed to be extra careful that he stayed away from her hair. Now considering how much Yura loved her hair, this would not be too strange, but even when Inuyasha did cut a little of the Oni's hair, her rage did not seem to warrant the care she was giving in keeping the hanyou from her hair. That's it! One of those combs in her hair must be the one that's holding her soul!

Kagome got another arrow ready to fly, but she couldn't get any kind of clean shot, the two adversaries were moving too much. Either Inuyasha was in the way, or the Oni was facing her. Finally, after many long moments of waiting, Kagome got a shot at one of the combs. The arrow sped through the air and hit its target. The comb exploded, but Yura was fine. The Oni whipped her head around, looking for Kagome, but couldn't find the archer. Yura shot the hair on her fingers toward Inuyasha and bound him once again. Then Yura went looking in the direction the arrow had come from.

Kagome had moved immediately after firing her arrow, however, and was getting very close to where Inuyasha was bound. She silently powered up her sword, and waited for Yura to lose interest in Inuyasha for a few minutes. As soon as Yura had her back turned and was all the way across the clearing from them, Kagome crept out and cut the hair holding Inuyasha. Yura turned as she felt the hair go lax and saw Kagome going back into the trees.

"So… you're relying on a human to help you, eh Inuyasha? I knew you wouldn't confront me by yourself. You're only a hanyou, good for nothing. I don't know why your brother, Sesshomaru, doesn't just kill you. It can't be good for his reputation to have a half-breed for a brother." Yura laughed as Inuyasha swiped at her. "You missed me complete-"

The pieces of a second comb fell to the ground. Yura's eyes blazed as loose hair fell around her face. Kagome was doing a tiny victory dance, but then she noticed that the Oni was still there. There was one more comb in her hair. Kagome knocked an arrow, but Yura noticed the movement and quickly darted toward her. Before she could get her sword up, Yura had grabbed her, causing Kagome to drop her bow and arrow.

"So, you're the one who's been shooting at me and my nest, hmm? Well, for that I'm going to kill you." Yura's sword flashed toward Kagome's chest, but it was blocked by Inuyasha's haori. "La?" Yura looked at the garment in confusion. Then the Oni put her hand to Kagome's throat. "Ah, you have the Shikon no Tama!" Yura cried as she pulled the jewel out from under the collar of the haori. She pulled it off of Kagome and dropped the girl, forgetting about her in the Oni's desire to possess the jewel.

"That's mine!" Inuyasha yelled, running towards Yura.

"You silly puppy! I was going to overlook your presence. But since you are making a nuisance of yourself, and your brother is too soft to do it, I will gladly give you what you seem to desire: a quick death!"

An energy whip flashed through the air, cutting Yura and her remaining comb, in half. As it cut through her body, it hit the jewel as well, shattering it into tiny pieces that flew in all directions. "I would have overlooked your presence as well, Oni, but you slighted my name once too often, and so you die." Came the cold voice from behind the whip. Kagome looked up to white hair streaming through the air and golden eyes glaring at the remains of Yura of the Hair. Those eyes were so cold.

She hadn't sensed his presence, even though he had been watching her for days. But this wasn't what plagued her mind. This isn't how it's supposed to happen! So many things have changed that I never imagined would! Why was Sesshomaru watching me? Why does our bond still work? Why was Yura's comb in a different place this time? What else has changed that I don't even know about?

Kagome stopped asking herself questions as Sesshomaru came to settle in front of her. She stiffened in confusion and fear. She didn't know what to think of this. He was so familiar, but this wasn't the Sesshomaru that she knew. Even though she knew that their bond was still working, Kagome was still startled to hear his voice in her mind. Now, why is it that you, a human, can speak to me in this way? His mental voice gave off a feeling of confusion, as well as a little bit of annoyance, and a tiny bit of amusement.

Why in the world is he amused… She still hadn't gotten the handle on shielding her thoughts from him when she wanted to, so he heard her comment.

I am amused, human, because none have had this power in a long while, not even youkai. So, to find a human who has this ability makes me admire the irony of life. His mental voice lost some of its humour as his thoughts went to something else. Kagome knew what that was, but she refused to let him know that she knew about that little secret of his.

She just looked at the powerful Taiyoukai that was standing mere inches from her. Then she heard Inuyasha coming towards her, and she couldn't decide if she was relieved or annoyed at his intrusion. "What do you want, Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha snarled, coming between Kagome and his elder half-brother.

"What I want is directions to our dear father's grave, Inuyasha. I have reason to believe that you would know where that is. And if you don't tell me, then I may have to resort to other measures." Sesshomaru responded, looking pointedly beyond Inuyasha to Kagome.

"What in the world would you want with a bunch of bones?" Inuyasha asked, confusion plain on his face. "If knowing would get you out of my face, then I wish that I knew where it was."

Sesshomaru smirked. "Is that the case, then? Well, it looks like I will have to invite your miko friend to join me until you have figured out where our father's grave lies." Sesshomaru moved quickly to stand behind Kagome, placing one hand heavily upon her shoulder.

"Feh, like I care about that stupid wench. The only reason I kept her around was because she had the Shikon no Tama. Now that you broke it, brother, I have no more use for her." Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest.

"Then perhaps you would not like your fire rat haori back either… Ah well, it will keep her safe until you wish for her return, in exchange for the information regarding our father's grave." Sesshomaru smiled at Inuyasha, showing his fangs. I can see some things in your mind girl. You can see the shard of the Shikon, can you not? I know he will want you back when he realizes your worth. Have no fear, I will not harm you, much. You are too valuable to me at the moment.

"Until later then, dear hanyou. You will soon realize your mistake, and then you will beg to have your wench back, and tell me where our father's bones lie." With that, Sesshomaru's youki expanded to become a fairly solid cloud beneath his and Kagome's feet, and they flew off in the direction of Sesshomaru's castle, leaving Inuyasha staring after them.

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Well, there you go! Yes, the stalker is Sesshomaru! Kudos to those of you who guessed that he was the one! That's all for now, and I'll try to get the next chapter out in the next week.

Reviewer response:

Little-angel-no-one-els: glad to hear that you're enjoying the story! I'll keep writing if you keep reading!

Valeve: I absolutely LOVE Inuyasha! I'm not sure how this fic will go yet, but since many things will be changing, I don't know how many of the episodes I will actually have to worry about. We'll see what happens… I'm glad you like my idea, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter!

Seida02: I updated!! I'll try not to leave you hanging for too long this time!