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Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter: Six

Inuyasha and Kagome stayed like that for a little while. Kagome was so happy and content like this, she felt the now grown and almost completed jewel against her neck as they hugged. She was sure Inuyasha could feel it too and was thinking about it also. Kagome shut her eyes tight, trying to cherish each and every second.

Inuyasha's problems, worries, and doubts vanished at that moment. He felt so...right, like this with her. Then it hit him like a punch in the face…Well ok, maybe not that but he realized here and now that he loved her. It was so unclear before but now it was as plain as day. He could have a future with her. He could be happy with her. But would she want that? She had just said he was her best friend. Is that really what she thought?

He slowly pulled away and looked into her eyes. He still had his hands on her shoulders as he opened his mouth to speak but then something slowly floated by them that made both their hearts stop and blood freeze.

Kikyo's soul stealer.

It flew around them once and floated back into the forest. They both looked at it silently as it disappeared in the trees, still holding each other. A moment later Kagome's mouth quivered and she let her arms drop carelessly to her side and just kept looking the way the soul stealer went in the forest. Inuyasha then did the same with his arms and looked at Kagome to see she was still looking the other way.

He carefully put a hand on her cheek to make her look at him. She still held the same expressionless gaze. "Don't worry, I'll be back." He whispered to her as he stepped back and slowly went to the other part of the forest where Kikyo was.

Kagome turned to fully look at him leaving. She fell to her knees, losing all her strength as she clenched her fists. Tears blurred her eyes and all she saw was a red haze walking away from her. She held out her hand to reach for him until he was gone. Then, at that moment, held that hand to her heart and couldn't believe how much pain she felt herself suffer. Her gaze never left him. 'Bye Inuyasha.'

Miroku and Sango broke apart as they heard a laughing Shippo and Kilala come their way. Shippo just fell over exhausted, and kept taking deep breaths. Kilala just mewed at him and went to Sango. She picked her up and held her in her arms.

"So it seems you both are done playing?" Sango asked and chuckled.

"Yeah! It was so fun and Kilala won!" He said from his position on the ground and pointed at Kilala, smiling.

"Oh she did?" Sango said as she looked down and Kilala looked up and mewed energetically. Sango now laughed and petted her gently. Miroku watched her and smiled. But then wondered what Inuyasha and Kagomwe were doing. 'I hope they are both as happy as Sango and I are.' He thought while walking to the direction of where he last saw them.

Miroku came to see Kagome now walking toward him and wiped her face while holding her bow and had her arrows.

Miroku's heart sank, 'Inuyasha, what have you done?' He shook his head and walked toward Kagome.

"Kagome, where's Inuyasha?" Sango and Shippo walked to her also. Kilala jumped down and stood by her master's feet.

Kagome didn't look at them, "He went to talk to Kikyo, we saw one of her soul stealers and he told me he'd be right back." She said depressingly as she pointed behind her. Miroku looked that way and hoped Inuyasha could see his glare. He shook his head again, knowing the hanyou couldn't and so just looked at Sango who was getting angry and looking in the direction Inuyasha was as well.

"Listen, I'm fine. I…I'm just fine." Kagome said defensively as she sat down on grass, not wanting to sit in dirt and get her blue jeans dirty. Sango sat next to her where Hiraikotsu was still leaning on the trunk of a tree behind them.

Shippo was just silent for once and now got mad at Inuyasha for hurting Kagome again. He crawled on Kagome's lap and gave her a hug, she hugged back. Miroku then sat down on the other side of Kagome and let his staff lean on his shoulder. They all waited silently until he came back.

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Inuyasha walked into a small clearing in the forest where the still rising sun was hidden behind the leaves above them. He stopped walking and stood several feet in front of her. All was silent for a minute. Inuyasha didn't know what to say, so he just waited for Kikyo to say something first.

"So it is true..." She finally said calmly while looking in the direction of where Kagome was. Then she looked back at him, smiling lightly.

"Inuyasha, it seems fate had another plan for you." She stopped smiling and looked down. "The ties of our destiny to be together have come undone."

"Kikyo, I…I did want to be with you. But life didn't let us. All I have to ask is do you still hate me and want me to go to hell with you?" He asked her quietly.

She looked up at him again. "No I do not. Naraku deceived us both into thinking we betrayed each other...When I was brought back to life I…I gravely thought it was you who did had killed me in the first place… But when I gained knowledge of the truth, I still wanted to blame you… Because it was just so much easier that way, it was you I saw." She looked at the direction of Kagome again.

Inuyasha was silent. He understood what she meant, because he felt the same way long ago.

He looked up when she spoke again, "I know that you love her. Who wouldn't? She is a resourceful and dominant young woman. She saved my life and I am in her dept." She looked at him and saw him nod in wonder, trying to remember how that must have played out between her and Kagome.

"You do know that Naraku is coming again, do you not?" She asked

"Well I just had this feeling… but now I guess I know." He said kind of embarrassed and he rubbed the back of his neck with a sweaty hand. She only nodded.

"Naraku is a fool." She looked straight into his eyes and smiled. "He knows not of what he is up against." Inuyasha smiled at this and instantly went to give her a hug she hugged back. It all came back to them. What they had felt fifty years ago sparked, but then immediately went away. Inuyasha pulled away and gave them space again.

"Kikyo, will you help us?" He asked with determination in his voice.

"I had already planned to." He nodded in understanding; he trusted that she knew exactly what to do at the right time. The hanyou suddenly became worried though.

"What if he's learned a new stupid trick and uses it on us?"

Kikyo shook her head. "I doubt that, but it wouldn't hurt to be on the safe side and keep a lookout for things as such." Then she smiled once more. "As I stated before, Naraku is a fool. And a confident fool is a tedious burden. Let us rid this world of that burden shall we?" Inuyasha smiled, "Yes."

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They gang were waiting still and suddenly Miroku stood up, staff ready in hand. "Something evil is coming." Sango stripped herself of her kimono and put it away, wearing her armor that was underneath it and ready for battle. Kagome stood up and told Shippo to get Inuyasha. Shippo nodded and went to go get him. Kagome pulled out an arrow and readied it on her bow as Sango gripped Hiraikotsu.

A gust of wind appeared and it was...Kouga?!

He paused and looked at everyone in battle stance and then they all face faulted. Kouga was very confused but nonetheless, walked up to Kagome.

Sango was angry when she stood and dusted herself off. "Miroku, you told us it was evil!" Sheexclaimed angrily whilegrabbing him by the collar of his robes and shaking him till his eyes were spinning.

"I-I guess my senses- are- a little jumpy today!" He said trying to get his love to release him. "What?! Damn your senses! You scared the life out of me you jerk!" She said still strangling him.

Kagome watched them in distress as Kouga walked up to her. "How are you Kagome?" He asked her as he looked around for Inuyasha to pick a fight with him.

"Um uh, just fine." She answered getting nervous at what he might do. Kagome hoped with all her heart that Inuyasha was coming. Kouga wasn't a very shy person when it came to…well anything, especially talking about 'his woman'.

"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!!" Shouted Shippo as he came to find him already looking at Kikyo walk away and turned to the fox demon. Then, at that moment, he knew exactly why Shippo was here and calling for him. Inuyasha started growling. Shippo became frightened and told him Kouga was here and with Kagome.

Inuyasha ran off at the speed of light and arrived to find Kouga talking to Kagome and. The wolf prince was about to ask where Inuyasha was but smelt him instead, "Oh wait, never mind. I can smell his spiteful scent from here." Said Kouga coming to face Inuyasha and standing proudly beside Kagome with an arm around her.

"What the hell are you doing here wolf?! Get away from Kagome!"

Miroku and Sango stopped their fight, or "Sango beating up Miroku time" and looked at them.

Just then Miroku yelled, "Something's coming! Again!" Sango rolled her eyes and muttered, "Are you sure it's not 'evil'." She got in battle stance anyway and prepared for the worst, as did everyone else.

Kilala transformed in to her larger size and got ready to pounce on whatever would come. Shippo stood behind her figuring out how to help.

Kagura emerged in front of them and held her closed fan to her cheek and smiled her evil smile. "It's Kagura!" Shouted Kouga. Everyone looked at him as if he was crazy and rolled his or her eyes in annoyance.

"We can see that you deranged flea bag!" Shouted Inuyasha.

Kagura just laughed and snapped her fingers, "I wouldn't pay attention to the wolf right now if I were you Inuyasha."

At the sound of her snapped fingers, Kohaku came out of the shadows, his eyes lifeless for he was still under Naraku's control.

"Kohaku!" Cried Sango and was about to run to him when Miroku stopped her. "Sango don't, he's still under Naraku's control." Sango nodded and then gulped. She was agonized now at seeing her younger brother being controlled by Naraku so many times. And not once could she have saved him.

Kagura swiftly opened her fan with a flick of her wrist and spoke.

"I have come to tell you that your deaths are in your immediate future. Let us have fun till then shall we?" She turned to look at Kohaku and he nodded, bringing out his weapon that was similar to Sango's.

Kagome was scared, despite her seventeen years. She was just a kid. She didn't belong here, battling demons like this! She would be in school right now or trying to get a job. Kagome thought of her family and sent them her love in prayer. She didn't know what was too come. Death? Redemption? Victory? Loss? Love?

Whatever was to come, she was ready… and yet apart of her wasn't.

Everyone stood and braced themselves as the first attack of the battle that had begun.