---------------------------------------- Awakening ----------------------------------------
"That's impossible Inuyasha, people just don't disappear." Kagome rose to her feet, hands dusting off the dust around her knees.
"That's what I'm saying! I know she was here. She talked to me." Inuyasha seemed to be on the edge of reason.
"Inuyasha," began Miroku as he placed a hand on the half-demon's shoulder. Inuyasha gave him a dirty glance from the corner of his eye. "Inuyasha, isn't it possible that all the talk about your friend only gave you the illusion that you saw her here today?"
Inuyasha grunted. "Great. You all can think I'm crazy if you want. But I know what I saw." His claws swiped at the bushes as if doing so would reveal some great secret. Shippo in the meantime had gone to exploring the area. He picked up the kunai blades and examined them closely as if they would tell him what really happened. He looked up at Kagome and the others, blades in hand. He wanted to tell them what he found but they were all too distracted as they tried to convince Inuyasha he was crazy. Shippo shrugged and began to wander further into the grove of trees.
"If only Akemi was really here," he said out loud to himself before he came across a large chrysalis. His brown eyes widened as he leaned forward, sniffing it warily. It didn't smell or look like anything he recognized. He reached up a tiny paw and knocked it against the cocoon.
"Solid as a rock," he said with a nod before he called out to his friends. "Hey you guys! I found something!"
Kagome turned her head and looked around for Shippo. "Shippo! Where are you?"
"Over here," he replied earnestly. Kagome cocked a brow and laughed. "Well, that doesn't really help but…"
"Don't worry, Kagome," Inuyasha said as he began to head off toward Shippo. "He's this way. I can smell 'im."
Kagome looked at the others and shrugged and followed Inuyasha into the trees. Miroku, Sango, and tiny Kirara weren't far behind when they suddenly stopped near a small area devoid of trees and bushes.
"Hey what's the big idea," asked Kagome in annoyance as Inuyasha refused to move. She pushed against him until he moved out of the way, his eyes transfixed upon the large cocoon.
Kagome's mouth formed a small "o" as she looked at it in wonder. Miroku and Sango peeked around Kagome's shoulders and made similar faces while Kirara mewed.
"You don't supposed that's another demon caterpillar do you," asked Sango with wide eyes.
"Well, it would turn out to be a butterfly wouldn't it, if it's in its cocoon already?" Kagome was proud that she had actually remembered something from her science class.
"Oh you're right Kagome, I-" Sango cut herself off as she noticed Inuyasha sniffing at it wildly.
"No it's not a cocoon…" said the half-demon quietly. He remembered the substance the caterpillar spat out at Akemi the first time, the one that bound her legs. This was the same substance. What if…
His yellow eyes grew wide as he flexed his claws.
"Dammit! Akemi's in here! Shippo stand back!" The little fox demon jumped back and watched in awe as Inuyasha sliced through the chrysalis easily. The pieces fell away and dust rose into the air. When it cleared there lay the other half-demon, unconscious.
"Ha! I told you I wasn't crazy. That," Inuyasha said as he pointed to the girl. "Is Akemi." He beamed triumphantly, he knew he wasn't crazy.
"That may not matter, Inuyasha," said Sango who had taken a place next to the unconscious fox-demon, her face near Akemi's as if she were listening for something. "Inuyasha… she's not breathing." She looked up at Inuyasha and the others, her eyes clouding with worry. What were they going to do now?
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Naraku had been watching the scene carefully through Kanna's mirror. He clenched his hand into a tight fist and narrowed his eyes.
"That fox-demon is causing more trouble than she's worth," he snarled to Kanna and Kagura, the wind demon. "Kagura, I want you to go after the shards." His dark eyes focused on the female demon that stood quietly behind her sister, her fan folded peacefully at her side.
"Why don't you send another one of your disposable spawn after her," she said with a smirk. "Since it worked so well the first time."
Naraku snarled. "And who's to say you're NOT disposable, Kagura. Or have you forgotten that I hold your heart in my hand."
Kagura glanced at Naraku with disdain. All she wanted was to be free from Naraku, to live her own life, to do as she chose. But as long as Naraku held her life in his hands she was at his mercy, to do whatever the deranged demon wanted. She bit her tongue to keep from retorting once more and turned on her heel.
"As you wish, Naraku." And with that the wind-demon left the darkened room without a second glance.
Naraku glared at Kagura even after she left. "Kanna. Keep an eye on your sister for me. I want to make sure she won't betray me."
The small, white-haired demon girl nodded and continued to hold her enchanted mirror for Naraku as the image in it changed to that of Kagura who was flying in the air upon her feather boat. Naraku smiled wickedly and cocked a brow before he slumped against the windowsill, the almost complete Shikon no Tama rolling in between his fingers.
"Soon…"
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Inuyasha had taken a place on Akemi's other side, his hand grabbing onto hers.
"Come on you bitch," he said with a grin. "You never gave up before and you're not gonna do it now."
Miroku had moved to kneel next to Inuyasha, placing his staff on the ground next to him. He smiled as he glanced at Akemi, his eyes sparkling mischievously as he did so.
"Inuyasha, as your friend I cannot sit by idly and watch you suffer any longer. I will be more than happy to breathe the breath-of-life into this young woman."
Inuyasha eyed Miroku out of the corner of his eye and was about to smack him quickly over the head before he realized that Kagome was already hovering over Akemi.
"I learned how to do this in health class," she said with a slight gulp before she leaned in. But at that moment a breath sputtered from Akemi's mouth as her eyes fluttered open. Disoriented and confused she pushed herself into a sitting position, gasping for air. Inuyasha and the others leaned away from her sudden movement and watched her curiously. She didn't seem to be aware that she had an audience.
Akemi's breath had finally slowed down as she closed her eyes, her hand cradling her head gently.
"What… happened," she asked in a soft voice. Inuyasha put a hand on her shoulder carefully only to have Akemi grab onto his wrist tightly and flip him onto his back. She placed a knee on his chest and glared at him menacingly before she realized who it was.
"Inuyasha." She released her knee from his chest and jumped off his body, pulling him to his feet as well. She smiled with relief and then finally noticed that there were four other people in the small area with her. She glanced at them with confusion before she turned back to Inuyasha. She opened her mouth to say something but suddenly felt the strength leaving her body once more. Her knees collapsed underneath her body and she slipped into a faint almost as quickly as she had woken up. Inuyasha caught her falling body and lifted to carry her fully.
"Let's get back to the camp," he said as he began to walk. "Akemi needs to rest."
The others nodded in understanding and followed the half-demon silently. All except Kagome who stood in the small clearing and watched Inuyasha and the others walk off. Shippo, who had remained unusually quiet the entire time scampered up Kagome's body and rested on her shoulder.
"What's the matter, Kagome," he asked with curious eyes.
Kagome managed to smile. "Nothing Shippo," she lied. "I was just thinking." Shippo accepted this answer and didn't say anything else as Kagome began to move through the trees as well. Kagome was glad for the silence for once as her thoughts raced to a place she didn't like going. "Warning, Jealousy ahead" was flashing in her mind as she tried to get rid of the feeling. But the girl couldn't help it; she couldn't help but feel that no matter what she would always be second to any other girl in Inuyasha's life.