Chapter 3:

The Trip

In the same shabby hut that Ashinito lived with her parents, she entered, still carrying Kagome over her shoulder. "Gee, I hope a human can survive until the next moonrise after being poisoned." She carried her into the sleeping quarters and set her down on the floor. She covered her with a blanket and looked down into her face. "I can see what Inuyasha sees in you now. You look a lot like Kikyo-sama." She turned and left the quarters.

She walked into the once nice looking kitchen, but now it was melted wood, ashes and blood splatter. "I've killed many for coming in here, collecting a total of six Slivers. With the three I'm going to steal from her, then I'll have nine. A nice odd number."

Meanwhile, Kirara was struggling to find Ashinito's scent. She was shifting nervously. She had two humans, a youkai child, a flea youkai, and a hanyou riding on her back. Too much weight for one youkai to carry.

"Uh, Sango." Miroku started. "Maybe I should get my friend Hachi. Kirara doesn't seem to be able to support all of us."

"No," Sango said, surely. "Inuyasha and Shippou can take to the ground." She patted Kirara's head and smiled. "Land, please." She turned to Inuyasha and Shippou. "Since Inuyasha's nose is injured, Shippou, you'll have to lead. Inuyasha can help you if you need it. Is that okay, Inuyasha?"

Of course Inuyasha didn't hear her. He was looking at the ground and fighting not to cry.

Inuyasha's DAYDREAM:

He was running towards Kagome, who was getting further and further away. "Kagome! Kagome! Where are you going? KAGOME!"

Kikyo appeared in front of him, bleeding from the wound Naraku gave to her that killed her fifty years earlier. "Does that girl mean more to you than I do?"

"Ki-Kikyo. I-um-I don't have time for this! I have to rescue Kagome!" He growled to her.

"Inuyasha, you traitor!" She fell and died.

"Kagome!" He called.

When he finally caught up with her, she was dead. "KAGOME! NO! KAGOME!"

END DAYDREAM.

"Inuyasha!" Sango called.

WHAP!

"What?" Inuyasha yelled, rubbing his head. Sango's hit brought him out of his nightmare. "Gods, you hit hard."

"You and Shippou are going to check the ground for any sign of Ashinito or Kagome. Okay?" Sango said.

"Yeah, yeah. I get it." He answered.

"You're fortunate that she can't do 'Sit.' Aren't you?" Shippou asked.

"Whatever. Let's go, Fur Ball." Inuyasha said, sadly. He even missed her saying 'Sit' whenever she got mad at him, even though it hurt, getting his face smashed into the ground. His heart longed to see her, to hear her. He would do anything to make sure that Ashinito didn't do anything to Kagome. He would have given her the Slivers if it meant that Kagome would be fine. All he knew, Kagome could be anywhere, but one place stood out in his mind. It was a good one-day walk from where they were. He remembered the way there easily. "Follow me, Shippou."

"Inuyasha, where are you taking me?" Shippou said.

"One place that I know Ashi would bring Kagome."

"Where's that?"

"Her old house. It's just on the other side of this forest." Inuyasha finished. "Go tell the others. I'll be fine on my own."

"But Inuyasha-."

"Don't worry about me. Just get going before I get irritated." He watched Shippou transform and float towards the others. He waited until Shippou was out of sight before he broke down. "Damnitall! Why am I crying again?" He asked himself. He kept on moving, but it seemed like his legs led and the rest of him just went along for the ride.

"Are you the hanyou called Inuyasha? I am Tsui, and I am a neko youkai. I have come to slay you." The neko youkai girl said, though Inuyasha didn't see her.

"What do you want? I don't have time for a catfight." Inuyasha growled.

She jumped out from the top of a tree. She had what Kagome called a "bathing suit." It was black. Tsui had short black hair, neko ears, whiskers, claws, and a long, slender tail. She had black eyes and pale skin. Cats appeared from nowhere. "These are my minions. Try not to tear the doggy to bits."

"Like I said. I don't have time for you. TETSUSAIGA!" He yelled pulling out his katana and watched it transform. When the flow of dark energy collides with the wind it creates The Wind Scar. If I can thrust Tetsusaiga into it, I can slaughter one hundred youkai with one stroke. He remembered. He saw it. The fissure was right in front of him. He thrust his katana into it and released its full power.

"What are you doing? No!" Tsui and her minions caught Tetsusaiga's full fury and were destroyed.

"Like I said, I don't have time for this!" He finished.

The sun had completely set, so it was dark.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called.

"Kagome!" He heard it. He had to find her. "Kagome! Kagome! Where are you!"

"Right here." She said.

Smiling, he ran to her. Only to see that it was Shippou posing as Kagome. "You're dead you little fraud! Iron Reaver-."

"I was only trying to help." The little kitsune answered. "Besides, Sango and Miroku want to set up camp. Come on! I'll led you."

Inuyasha followed right behind him, though he couldn't possibly sleep. His fears were getting closer every minute. Every minute, Kagome was closer to death. Every single second, the poison circulated in her blood. She was dying, and there wasn't anything he could do about it. It was Kikyo all over again. She died, and there wasn't a damn thing he could have done to stop it. But why? What was the point of him running headlong into danger just to save Kagome? It was love. He didn't want to admit it, but he loved her.

Shippou led him to a small clearing where Sango and Miroku were waiting. "I despise seeping outside, and the closest village won't let us near it because they heard that a hanyou destroyed another village. They know we're traveling with Inuyasha and don't want anything to do with us." Miroku said.

"Well, get use to it." Inuyasha said. He jumped into a tree and climbed to the top. "I'll stay up here and keep watch."

"Go to sleep Inuyasha!" Miroku yelled as he fell asleep. Sango followed, Shippou was next, Myouga followed him, and even Inuyasha fell asleep.

INUYASHA'S DREAM

He, as a child, was playing with his ball in the village, with Ashinito. He passed her the ball, but she missed it. It bounced and hit a nearby village girl. "Who's the girl, Inuyasha? Your girlfriend?" She asked. "Hey girls! Let's tie him up, again!"

"Yes!" Other shout.

"Leave Inuyasha alone!" Ashinito said.

"Are you a hanyou too?" They asked.

"Yes, I am, so you better leave Inuyasha alone, or you'll have to deal with me!" Ashinito growled to her.

"What can you do? You're just a little girl." The first girl said.

"This." Ashi said as she held out a clawed hand and held it open to the girls. "Puppy, come here and stand behind me." Inuyasha did just that. He cowered behind her and watched. "Poison Claws." The green light came from her claws. After all the girls fell, Ashi closed her hand, turned to Inuyasha, and smiled. "They won't tie you up again, Puppy."

"What did you do Ashi?" He asked.

"Poison Claws. It's my youkai attack."

"Inuyasha! Ashinito!" A woman called probably Inuyasha's mother. "Dinner time! Come home now!"

"Come on, Puppy." Ashinito said as she led the way through the village.

"I'm coming, Ashi!" Inuyasha said as he followed close behind.

END DREAM.