Here you go. Enjoy.

Halfway Gone

Chapter Thirteen

"She is awake."

Kagura paused, turned, and smirked, flicking her fan open almost at once, knowing that now was the time. Now was when the plan would be set in motion.

Her elder sister looked at her, her mirror rotating slightly to show the image of the miko through the glass, to let everyone know the state she was in.

Kagura had always found it shameless, the way her sister was allowed to look into other people's lives, but she tried her best to ignore that sudden rush of bitterness, focusing her attention directly on the mirror.

The white priestess had been surrounded by bright, giant flames of white, and it was churning around her, burning the kitsune kid, causing him to scream and writhe in pain. Causing his tiny claws to scratch and rip the miko's skin in desperation, in defense.

The sight of blood caused Kagura to smile wickedly.

"Where is she?"

Kanna rotated the mirror again, and for a second it faded to black before the image appeared in full force, and Kagura frowned.

It wasn't what she had expected.

It wasn't who she had expected.

But it was simple, and it was easy, and she had torn him to shreds once before and she knew that she could do it again.

That same cold, haughty look appeared in her eyes and she turned around, her hand reaching up to pull a feather from her hair.

"What does he wish?" She asked her elder sister, sliding the shoji door open slowly.

"Her destruction."

Kagura smirked.

"He wishes for the impossible."

"And yet you will give it to him," Kanna answered, the image fading from her mirror. Kagura scowled, angry at what her sister had said, and yet, she knew that her sister was right. Her sister was right about so many things, about so many absolutions. It grated at her. She hated the fact that her sister knew so much, that her sister was already three steps ahead of her, the way her master was. The way her master always knew, without a doubt, when she would leave without his permission. The way her master knew, without a doubt, just how to punish her, just how to make her hate him even more.

And he reveled in it.

In her hate, in her desire to see him dead.

And it only made him stronger.

Kagura turned around, frowning.

"You have already spoken to the wolf?"

Kagura nodded.

"The undead priestess is next."

"Very well," Kagura answered, throwing her feather to the ground before she floated completely away, out of sight of her older sister.

"Kanna."

The small, white-haired girl turned towards the cold voice, her face completely emotionless as she rotated her mirror again, the image of the undead priestess appearing quite vividly behind the glass.

A cold, pleased smile came to his lips, and he faded back into the darkness, a low dark chuckle spilling from his lips.

"Destroy her," he answered.

Kanna bent her head respectfully, and obeyed.

Sango and Miroku both sat still, feeling that pulling burning energy coursing through their body, wondering when it would stop - wishing more than anything that it would.

Miroku could see Sango struggling, could see her uniform peeling slowly away from her body as the flames surrounded them yet again, rooting them to the spot.

He wanted to reach out to her. He wanted to keep her safe, yet the power was so strong, so harsh, he could feel his own spiritual energies begin to wane, to fade into the power of the flames and it caused his body to ache so completely - so painfully - that a scream was threatening to spill from his lips. He could feel his skin beginning to burn, beginning to give way until there was nothing more than a bubbling, bloody mess.

He didn't want that to happen.

Slowly, painfully, he reached into his robes, pulling out an ofuda, praying that it wouldn't burn, exerting all of his energy just to keep it in tact.

Next to him, Sango screamed.

And then he was praying, quickly, weakly, and there was a barrier surrounding them, electricity crackling all around them and Sango was collapsing, her head falling gently against his shoulder.

"Her... powers," Sango managed, watching as the barrier crackled and shifted, "are extraordinary."

"Yes," Miroku answered, his fingers curling around his staff, "it is no wonder that Naraku would want it for himself."

Sango shifted, pushed herself up.

"She can't control her power."

Miroku shook his head.

"Which makes her a threat to these entire lands."

"She is a legendary miko, Lady Sango. She was able to control her powers, once. But ever since she handed the Shikon no Tama over to Naraku, it seems as though she lost the ability to harness those powers, the way she was used to."

"Or maybe," Sango started, sheathing her katana and hefting her boomerang, "her powers are just fluctuating because of all the demonic auras."

Miroku glanced at her, pondered the situation.

"That would seem to be the reason," he answered, glancing towards the outside of the barrier, towards both the Inu-youkai, "however she used to surround herself with youkai often, if the stories are correct."

Sango frowned.

"You don't mean -"

Miroku nodded.

"She needs to learn how to control her powers Sango," the barrier around them shifted violently, "these youkai cannot show her how. They can show her how to control, but spiritual power, when unused will react violently to remaining confined within it's physical body. It will sense the corruption around it and want to reach out to purify it. Unfortunately, because she has been around these demons for so long, it has reacted more violently than it should have and is using any type of power it can to help wipe everything clean."

Sango frowned, biting down on her lip.

"So, what are we expected to do?"

Miroku stood, watching his barrier closely as the energy crackled violently, as Kagome's own powers caused it to become more and more unstable, as worry began to spread throughout his mind.

He could train her, he knew, but he needed to get closer to her, nearer. But that was going to be completely impossible with the way her powers were raging, it was going to be impossible to move beyond the barrier without falling completely into her powers. They would drain him, the way that they had earlier, and rapidly.

There would be no way to protect himself. To protect Sango.

And the thought infuriated him.

But... but there had to be some way, anyway, to be able to make it past her powers, to be able to clear a way through them and -

"Uhm, Miroku? Is he supposed to be able to move?"

Miroku turned quickly, and froze.

It shouldn't have been possible. It wasn't supposed to be possible.

Because they were both demons and even though Inuyasha was only half demon he still shouldn't have been able to move. Because - because Kagome's power affected humans as well and -

"Holy hell." Sango mumbled, taking a step back and unsheathing her katana.

Miroku's eyes widened, and he gripped his staff tightly, wishing that it was nothing more than a dream.

But Inuyasha had stepped through the barrier, and he was standing in front of them, his eyes dark red, his cheeks covered in thick purple markings.

And, as soon as he did, the barrier around them shifted violently and disintegrated.

Are you ready?

She was floating.

She could feel the air around her, swirling angrily, violently, and she wanted it to stop.

Because it was hot, and she was hurting, and she didn't think she would be able to handle it.

It was like the last time, when the blood had surrounded her, when the voice was forcing her to try and kill those two people, when it had taken over her body and forced her to do something that she never would have done in her life. When it manipulated her.

It was exactly like that time only - only this power was more violent, angrier, and was begging to be released.

She didn't want to give into it; she wanted to fight against it.

But it was burning her, and she could feel her resolve beginning to crumble; she could feel herself giving into the brutal desires of her power.

It's already started. Are you ready?

Kagome shook her head, curling in on herself.

He has already taken you, but he cannot take you away from me.

"I know," Kagome whispered, tears leaking from her eyes, "but I need him so much."

Then get ready, otherwise, you will fail.

Kagome whimpered, her chest tightening.

Are you ready?

"I think so," she murmured, feeling her fingertips burn, feeling her heart beginning to ache.

Then go to him.

"I don't think I can," she cried as something soft and warm wiggled in her arms, as her face stung and burned and bled.

Do you wish to fail again?

"No," she mumbled, her hands clenching into tiny fists, "I don't want to lose again. But I don't want to have to win, either."

They know where you are. Soon, they will come and take it all away, anyways.

Kagome's heart ached, and her tears burned, but slowly, she unfolded herself, opened her eyes, and felt the flames flickering around her body.

Are you ready?

"Yes," Kagome whispered as blood ran down her cheeks, as the sound of Shippou's screaming reached her ears.

Good. Finish it.

Kagome nodded obediently.

He was confused.

He had heard the words, he had listened to the story, but he was still confused and it bothered him.

He had believed her to be gone. He knew she had left, for he had banished her himself, ordering her to go. Forcing her to leave. He had seen the sadness in her eyes, the way her warmth had given way to a deep freezing cold, and it had hurt him.

But she had hurt his pride; she had believed him to be weak.

And he would have rather died with honor, than to have lived being protected by a woman. A woman who, at the end of it all, would have been is mate, if only she would have stayed when he asked her to. He knew her duty, her responsibilities, but he had still wanted her with him, despite the dishonor that had fallen upon himself, upon his clan, because he had needed her.

He had needed her the way that she needed air, the way that she needed to stay alive.

Because she was his duty, whether she wanted it to be or not.

But she had left him, she had walked away, and now, the words of the wind sorceress were running through his head over and over again, bothering him, making him want to find her and rip her limb from limb.

Because it had to be a lie.

But - but then, it couldn't be.

He knew his enemy, he knew his cruel ways, and the fact that they had even come to him, just so he could know that she was alive was cruel.

She is no longer yours.

The wolf growled, slamming his fist into the wall.

The hell with what the wind sorceress said.

If she was alive, he would find her. She was his woman, his mate, and there was no way he was going to give her up. Especially to another demon.

Growling, he stood, the anger coursing through him.

He couldn't start looking for her yet; he had no leads.

He would have to continue, pretending that he didn't believe what the sorceress had said, but he would listen closely, and he would follow her. He would find her.

Kagome was his, and there was nothing that anyone could do to change that.

Not even Naraku.