Alright, time for another update. Hey everyone! We now have our Christmas tree up and Vira's cat keeps trying to climb up it! Yikes! Oh well. Before we get started, here's some A/Ns to read:

1) I don't own Inuyasha, duh…

2) Vira is starting a new Inu fic! Yep, that's right! Another pairing, another storyline…and you'll never guess the couple! Hehe. Well, I suppose you could try to guess it…anyways, that'll be up for viewing either next update or the one after that.

3) I'm starting to get the impression that some of my readers have disappeared…I'm hoping that it's just because of the time of the year! Tell me what I'm doing wrong if this is boring you!

That's all for A/Ns. And now, here's the next update for this story. Hope you enjoy!:

I had no time to react. I felt something begin to pull me along…something cold, evil. And even if I could move, what would that have done? I had been on the opposite side of her mirror before. No physical attacks could possibly deflect it. But yet, it was a place that I did not belong inside, and did not want to go back again. And so, I fought with my own soul. She had already ensnared me with her tangled web of souls, but I wouldn't give up so easily. I clutched my chest as my soul began to push against it.

"He resists, this one." Kanna mumbled in that quiet tone of hers. "His soul must be exceptionally strong. Do not prolong it." She said to me. "The mirror will finish its task in time. It will only be more painful this way."

I stumbled down not yet giving up, and silently uttered "Kagome…" to keep my mind focused. She needed me, and I needed her. In my state of pain I remembered her soft touch, her happy laugh, and her wonderful scent that I adored. It was all these things that kept me going. Kept me alive. "I will not die here…I will not die without seeing her face one last time…"

"Sesshoumaru!" A voice cried from a short distance. I looked up feebly—my pupils were starting to darken. "Sesshoumaru!" The voice repeated. "Quick—catch this!" An object was thrown to me—what it was I did not know. I reached over to examine this new item. My eyes widened and all at once I understood. I gripped the hilt and stood up to my full height once again.

It was the Tensegia, my own sword. Kanna didn't bat an eyelash. "You may try whatever weapon you wish."

I smirked at this. "As you wish." I sprinted to her with a speed to match the gods. Upon contact, the sword released the souls trapped inside to free them across the atmosphere. Kanna cried out in surprise and tried to raise her mirror at me, but I was too quick for her. With a swipe from my other hand to the back of her neck, Kanna crumpled to the ground. The mirror rolled out of her vacant hands and off the edge of the castle, down, down below.

After witnessing this, I stood up solemnly. "So…you're still alive, I see."

Inuyasha's ego flared. "What's that supposed to mean!? I just saved your life, you know!"

I ignored this, looking up the stairs. "I do not have time for conversation—where is he?"

"…Well…you could be just a little grateful…" Inuyasha sighed. "You mean Naraku? He's still up there…our father sealed up the room they're in with a barrier of his own with the jewel half we possess…he didn't want the two of us to get involved."

I growled bitterly. "He will be killed if we don't act! Naraku is the stronger fighter!" I did not come all the way here just to watch the leader of the youkai die. I leapt up the stairs quickly, without a second thought. I didn't have time to waste with Inuyasha—I needed to aid my father, or my whole purpose for being here would be gone. A distance behind me, I heard Inuyasha shout to let him catch up. I promptly ignored this. The stairs winded up and up, seemingly endless...but I was determined to reach the end.

Finally, I reached a doorway surrounded by torches. Behind it I could hear the clanging of metal and other battle noises. Without hesitation I moved my shoulder forward and rammed it against the wood structure.

It didn't budge. Realizing this, I slammed against it again and again, but to no effect. Eventually, Inuyasha reached where I stood from far behind and shook his head.

"I told you, our father doesn't want us to interfere. He's sealed this door with some sort of charm. We can't enter this fight."

I growled in frustration. Now more than I ever, I wished Kagome was with me. Yes, she would know what to do, and would whisper the obvious answer into my ear. I slammed a fist against the wood and again growled, more angrily.

"I've already tried everything. It's not use, Sesshoumaru. We'll just have to wait."

I looked at him fiercely. "You expect me to sit idly by? Our fate rests behind this door!"

"Look, I want to fight Naraku just as much as you do!" He shouted with new anger. "Probably even more so! Don't forget—he's the one that killed Kikyo. I promised that I'd extract her revenge to Naraku, and I fully intend to do that. Don't you think that I feel just as much hatred for Naraku as you do?"

Now more than ever, I wished I could speak the truth. That I understood what his feelings were more than Inuyasha could ever imagine. But he would never believe the truth. And so...I could say nothing in reply.

"We'll just have to put faith into our father. He must not want us to fight for a reason." He slumped down on the ground.

"Wrong." I answered. "He doesn't want us to fight because he's afraid we're too weak. You haven't mastered the Tetsusaiga's techniques, and I've been away for too long. But we're going to fight anyways."

He stared at me. "How?"

I looked at the door. "With both of our strength combined, we should be able to break the door down." I smirked suddenly upon hearing my own words. So that was it. He wanted us to prove that we could work as brothers instead of bickering so our strength would be enough to fight Naraku. "Inuyasha, draw your sword."

"You mean the Tetsusaiga? Why?" He pulled it slowly out of its sheath.

"I have an idea of what our father wants." I placed my hand over my own sword and drew it out as well. "On my count, strike the door as hard as you can with the Tetsusaiga."

He began to pick up on my meaning. "Do you think that our swords will be able to nullify the charm he placed on this stupid thing?"

I nodded. "Yes. If I know him as much as I hope, then this is what he has intended."

"…Fine." Inuyasha agreed at last. "Have it your way. Let's hurry on with this already." He took a step back and gave his standard stance for his sword. I did the same with the Tensegia.

"…NOW!" We forced all of our weight to the door and struck it with both swords at the same second. The outline for the door flashed a bright red. Odd, magical symbols surfaced from within. "…It's drawing energy from our swords…" I whispered to him. "The barrier is breaking…"

And indeed, the two swords repelled from the wood, breaking it along the way. We had a split second to react before wood and other remains flew everywhere angrily. After the dust cleared, I stood up to see the pathway leading into the room completely open. My eyes glistened with delight. "Come." I called to him. "It's been done. We must hurry inside…" As Inuyasha stood up, we hear a loud clang suddenly, and we knew that one of them had been directly hit. We needed no other incentive, and quickly sprinted into the room where the battle had been taking place.

What we saw inside was a truly surprising sight. With the power of the Shikon no Tama half that Naraku had stolen, he had multiplied into a number reaching the dozens. Once our presence became knew, all evil eyes swiveled around to face us.

"Ah, your sons are here…perhaps now this fight will be more of a challenge?"

I could smell our father's blood strongly. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him gripping his shoulder tightly. "Sesshoumaru! Inuyasha! Leave now, hurry! I will…deal with Naraku on my own accord! Take care of the castle!"

"Not a chance!" Inuyasha shouted back, extending his sword. "We're going to finish him here and now!"

The many Naraku figures smirked. "Nonsense. Now there's two more that I can kill…you really made this too easy for me. Now, the whole line can be erased away…who shall I kill first?"

I growled from where I stood loudly. "You've killed too many, Naraku." The image of his blade piercing Kagome's flesh was still very clear in my mind. I would never be able to forget it, or the extreme emotions of hatred and despair that I felt afterwards.

Their eyes turned to me. "Ah…Sesshoumaru. Yes, I think you'll be the first one. I have particularly wanted to finish our fight from the burning village."

From the corner of my eye, I saw Inuyasha becoming angrier and angrier. "Naraku, your fight is with me! You'll pay for what you did to Kikyo!"

"…No." I immediately said to him. "This fight…is mine." Those words held more meaning to them than any other phase that I had uttered previously. Inuyasha stared at me with confusion. "He has killed another…another that is dear to me…I will make him pay." Her dying face flashed through my mind briefly again, and I shut my eyes tightly with grief from the past that I thought I had rubbed away.

I could tell that he still did not quite grasp my meaning. "Someone that means as much to you as Kikyo did to me? I don't think so, Sesshoumaru."

"…You wouldn't understand." I retorted.

"You're the one who doesn't understand!"

"I hate to interrupt this indulging conversation." Naraku spoke to us from where he stood. "But by all means, then, allow me to kill both of you at the same time. It'll be a much faster process, now that I think about it more…"

I turned to him. "Before we do, I must ask you one question, Naraku. Why did you decide to take the risk and come here in person instead of hiding somewhere in a far off distance?"

He chuckled. "Because I felt no need to. I am no longer worried about safeguarding my every move when I have this half of the Shikon no Tama. And when I obtain its brother half…" He glanced at our father happily. "…I'll be invincible."

"Enough talk!" Inuyasha shouted impatiently. "Sesshoumaru—bring him out of here! I'll deal with Naraku…myself."

As he began to leap towards one of Naraku's figures, they pulled away suddenly. "You wish for a hasty death? Fine—I will bring you this request."

"Remember the listen you just learned!" The Emperor shouted. "Work together like brothers—focus on your goal and stop him!" Some of the Naraku illusions, upon hearing this, whirled around and leapt straight at him angrily. I immediately sprinted after them and deflected their attacks with a single swipe. When they pulled away, I looked down at him. "Is the wound fatal?"

"No, I'll be fine. Hand me my sword…" He staggered a little while standing up. I was quick to observe this.

"You are not strong enough to fight for this battle. Allow Inuyasha and I to take your place instead."

Before he could answer, we heard an enormous metallic clang from behind. I turned to see that Inuyasha's sword had collided with some of Naraku's armor. "He does not yet know how to use the hidden techniques…" The Emperor whispered to me. "Together, though…you should be strong enough."

I nodded. "I see. Rest here. And…arigato." Without looking back, I leapt forward to help my half-brother. Yet again, his ego had taken control of his caution, and five of the Naraku illusions were beating down onto him. He continued to slash back in an attempt to destroy them, but more of the copies kept reappearing after every attack that was inflicted.

"Concentrate, Inuyasha." I called to him. "Use your instincts to find the real one. You're wasting precious energy."

I could feel his temper flare even from where I was, but he stood back and quickly closed his eyes anyways, smelling around. After a moment or two, he opened them again. "…There!" In a flash, Inuyasha leapt up and struck one of the figures. A small amount of blood spurted everywhere as he gave a counterattack with a blow to the chest. Yes, this was the real thing. I ran to him and gave three, quick slashes to Naraku's chest. He stumbled away as fast as lightning. When he managed to maintain his posture, the illusions floating all around seeped magically back into their master.

"…Perhaps I have slightly underestimated you, then. No matter—I'll just have to…upgrade…my protection…"

He reached into his robe and pulled out the valuable Shikon no Tama half that was stolen. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as I wondered what was coming next. Naraku held it out right in front of himself and uttered a quite phrase. A magic aura began to form, and suddenly, it extended outward, enclosing around himself entirely.

"A barrier." I observed.

Inuyasha stared with surprise and anger. "That's a…what? Damn! How're we supposed to get past that thing!?"

Naraku gave a full laugh from within. "In here, you cannot harm me. Go on—do your worst. I'll be watching…"

I turned to Inuyasha. "Use the Kaze no Kize! Hurry!"

Sweat began to fall from his face. "I…can't! I don't know how to use it yet!"

"If you don't try, he'll kill us!!" I shouted back impatiently.

"…It's alright, Inuyasha." A voice said behind us. We turned around quickly to see our father, now standing up, with his sword in his hand. "You've done well, my sons." He bowed his head solemnly. "You will make fine Emperors someday." He stepped forward and pointed his own sword at Naraku. "The Tetsusaiga has many uses, Inuyasha." He whispered to him. "I put a variety of my own techniques into it. You will learn in time." He smiled proudly. "Sesshoumaru, help your brother with the task of unlocking its secrets. And…take care of her. Oh yes, I know." My face became surprised. "I predict a wonderful future…for both of you."

Inuyasha became confused, and yet, somehow I could tell that he was beginning to understand. "What's he babbling on about now?"

I ignored this. "Stand down. I said leave this fight to Inuyasha and myself." A slight amount of caution could be heard in my voice.

"No." He answered. "I know the way…" He raised his sword promptly and looked at Naraku. The blade began to glow a powerful red. "Your evil will now be purged from my lands. Goodbye." With that, he slammed his glowing sword to the ground. The wave of impact hit the barrier, and it immediately dispersed in all directions with a bright flash. When it was done, all that was left was Naraku himself. Somehow, the Shikon no Tama half that he had possessed flew out of his hands and rolled down to my own. I grabbed it carefully and put it away.

Review Responses:

butterflyrin: Hahaha! Glad you like it—hope you'll keep reading!

yuki kesuma: Woo hoo!! XD Yep yep, Vira DOES love her cookies!

Wake-Robin: Ah, I forget what time it's on now…stupid school…well one of these days, I'm going to tape it!

Cali1043: I know I know I know it's short, but what can I do…if I don't shorten them then I can't update as fast, ne?

Harmony8390: Haha, you shouldn't look at the screen that close…Vira went to the eye doctor the other day, and they wouldn't want her doing that, ne? I suppose I'm glad that you like it though!

Tskui Yume: Huh. That sucks, I had no idea it's like that over there…well I'd buy you some books, but I'm rather poor at the moment! Perhaps you'll get some nice new books for Christmas! And yeah, he's supposed to be really fast and stuff but unfortunately the mirror was already taking his soul.

m1s7ress: Hahaha! Oooo, cookies! The YAY! XD

Row: Well yes, that's true…I guess we'll just have to wait to see what happens, ne?

Fire/Ice Fox Goddess: Arigato! Hope you'll be able to read the rest!

fluffys-sidesick: Good to hear! Glad you like the story so far, and I hope you'll like the rest, too!

Well that's all, 'til the next update. Where oh where have all of my readers gone!? I guess finals has everyone busy, ne? If you think I'm doing something wrong, PLEASE tell me! I know I need to update faster—I promise I'm trying! Anyways, R&R! Arigato, ja ne!