Well chapter seventeen is now here. It would have been up yesterday but I had to go to the dentist. Turns out I have to get my wisdom teeth removed. That will not be pleasant. Anywho now to answer a review. YuniX-2: the reason it's a sequel and not a two part story is because the sequel happens a few years after this one. and I wouldn't worry to much about the rating changing. The chances are so slim I honestly don't know why I mentioned it. Thank you once again to all the other reviewers. Now without any further ado on with the story!

Disclaimer: …

Kagome walked through the forest following the call she heard in her mind. She had no idea where she was going but she had a pretty good idea. She could faintly smell the stench of Naraku's miasma. So its true thought Kagome he did plant something in my mind. Well he had better remove it or his head will roll. Kagome flexed her hands in anticipation. On the other hand if he got rid of this annoying little voice he could prove useful.

The stench of the miasma was almost overpowering now. Kagome reched up and pushed aside some bushes revealing a small clearing. A woman was standing in the middle of it. "Its about time you showed up" she said.

"What do you mean 'about time' Kagura?" said Kagome walking closer to the other demoness.

"Naraku sent me out here to wait for you" said Kagura.

Kagome snorted and said, "What? To scarred to come out himself?"

Kagura chuckled. She decided she liked this new Kagome, she could use it to her advantage. "Something like that" said Kagura before turning and indicating that Kagome should follow her. Kagura led Kagome up through Naraku's barrier and into his castle.

888

Kouga caught Inu-Yasha's scent long before anyone else noticed he was coming back but instantly knew something had gone terribly wrong for, mingled with his scent, were the smells of blood and burnt flesh and wood. There was also the tiniest bit of Kagome's scent there as well.

Inu-Yasha came walking out of the forest slowly. His head was hung forward and his bangs shadowed his eyes. "Inu-Yasha?" asked Miroku when he spotted the hanyou. Everyone had a very bad feeling about this. "What happened, where is Kagome?"

"Gone" said Inu-Yasha leaning against a tree to keep from falling over.

"What do you mean 'gone'?" snarled Kouga. When Inu-Yasha didn't answer Kouga grabbed hold of his collar and glared at him. "Answer me mutt" he snapped, "what happened, where is Kagome".

Kouga was ready to throttle Inu-Yasha, but when Inu-Yasha finally looked up Kouga recoiled. The fire was gone from Inu-Yasha's eyes. Instead they were filled with a deep sadness. "She's gone" he said again.

"Gone?" asked Sango carefully, "gone how?"

"Do you really want to know?" said Inu-Yasha, pain written on his face and in his voice.

When the others nodded Inu-Yasha turned back to the forest and motioned for them to follow. "Okay" he said, "but you won't like it".

888

"What have you learned lord Sesshoumaru?" piped up Rin.

Sesshoumaru looked at the girl over the corner of one of Kenda's journals. "A great deal actually" said Sesshoumaru hopping down from the rock he had been sitting on in one of the courtyards of the ruined castle. Well it was really more of a fortress actually. The place was massive, he could spend days exploring and not find everything that was here. "It would seem" he said, "that this Kenda was a very powerful wizard of sorts. This is his final journal. The last entry explains how he planned to perform a ritual that would allow him to one day redeem himself as he is trying to do now".

Rin blinked and smiled not really caring about half of what Sesshoumaru had just said. She had been curious is all, but a wizard? Now that was interesting. "So he used lots of magic?" asked Rin.

Sesshoumaru nodded to the girl and said "yes. It is what allowed him to rise to power so fast. But it also made him believe he could control everything and it led to his downfall".

"That's silly," said Rin wrinkling her nose, "you can't control everything".

This Kenda sure tried though thought Sesshoumaru. One thing was for sure, he would not have wanted to face him at the height of his power.

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Kagome covered her nose upon entering Naraku's castle. Corpses littered the floors everywhere, their flesh long since gone due to the miasma. Still the stench was almost enough to make her retch. "Not much of a housekeeper is he?" said Kagome, sarcasm practically oozing from her voice.

"You have no idea" said Kagura. She led Kagome through the castle to one of the room's near the top. "In there" she said before turning to leave.

"Where are you going?" asked Kagome.

"I have personal matters to attend to" explained Kagura. Then she left without so much as another sound.

"Hmm" grunted Kagome before tuning to the door. She reached out and pushed it open.

"Ah, you have arrived at last I see," said Naraku's voice.

Kagome stepped into the room and eyed the other demon. "Yes I'm here" she said, "now get this annoying voice out of my head".

Naraku made an amused sound before standing up. "Patience my dear" he said, "besides it is already gone. Have you not noticed its absence since you met with Kagura?"

Kagome nodded. "I thought it was just because I was here and that, if I left, it would come back".

"No such thing I assure you" said Naraku "the spell has done its work. It is over with now".

"Good" said Kagome, "now. What do you want with me?"

"You can still sense the jewel shards correct?" asked Naraku.

"Of course" said Kagome. Then it occurred to her what Naraku was getting at. "You want me to track down jewel shards for you". It was more a statement then a question.

"That is part of it, yes" said Naraku.

"Well if you want the shards I already have your out of luck Naraku," said Kagome, "I left them in my backpack. Besides why should I help you search for more shards?"

"Because" said Naraku, "I can offer you so much more. Once I have the entire jewel I will have unmatched power. And those loyal to me will be greatly rewarded".

"I'm listening," said Kagome.

"You will have power," said Naraku, "you could do whatever you wished unnopposed. You could have the world if you wanted".

"And where do you fit into this Naraku?" asked Kagome, "What do you want out of this?"

"All I want is the jewel," said Naraku, "so. Do we have a deal?"

Kagome considered this. She would play along for now she decided. "Deal" said Kagome.

"Good" said Naraku "you can have any room you want in this castle that is not currently occupied. I will discuss more with you after you have settled in". Kagome nodded and turned to leave but was stopped when Naraku said "One more thing".

"Yes? Asked Kagome turning back.

"That clothing you are wearing" he said, "It's a disgrace".

Kagome looked at herself and agreed. Her new clothes where full of rips and caked with blood from her recent encounters.

"Here" said Naraku tossing Kagome a bundle of fresh clothing, "I saw you wearing it in the dream. I must say it suited you".

Kagome examined the clothing and found it to be identical to those her double had been wearing, symbol and all. "My thanks" she said tucking the cloths under her arm.

"They are magical, similar to the ones that half-demon wears. They clean and repair themselves".

Kagome nodded again and left going to find a room that was away from the dead bodies littering the floor and, more importantly, one that was far from Naraku.

888

"Dear god" whispered Miroku when the group emerged from the forest and saw the former village.

"How could Kagome have done this?" asked Sango.

"You didn't see her" said Inu-Yasha sullenly, refusing to say Kagome's name for some reason. "She enjoyed it, if you had seen her eyes like I had you would know that there is nothing left of her".

"I don't believe that" said Shippo stubbornly.

"Look around you Shippo" snapped Inu-Yasha casing the kitsune to hide behind the nearest person who just happened to be Ginta. Inu-Yasha sighed and looked away before speaking again. "Do you really think she would do this if anything was left?"

"Perhaps we should bury the villagers" said Miroku.

"Might as well" said Inu-Yasha as he begun to walk off, "sometimes it seems like all we do anyway".

Shippo hopped up onto Ginta's shoulder once Inu-Yasha was gone. "I sure hope Kagome will come back" he said.

"Me too kid" said Ginta.

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Kagome heard the door to the room she had chosen slide open to find Kohaku standing there. "What do you want?" she asked. Kohaku just stared at Kagome blankly. "Does Naraku want something?" she asked after a while longer. Kohaku nodded and backed out of the room.

Kagome headed out and went back to where she had spoken to Naraku before. "You wanted to see me" said Kagome when she walked into the room.

"Yes" said Naraku turning to face Kagome, "I want to give you a test".

"Test?" said Kagome raising her eyebrow.

"Yes" said Naraku, "I want to see how loyal you will be".

Kagome crossed her arms and chuckled. "I assure you I have no reason to betray you" she said.

"Then this should be no problem for you" said Naraku before outlining his plan.

When Naraku finished speaking Kagome grinned wickedly. "This should be fun" she purred.

"Indeed" said Naraku, "Kagura will accompany you. Now go, and remember, wait for my signal"

"Certainly" said Kagome before leaving.

Author's notes

Well that's it for now. I was going to write more in this chapter but I figured that was the best place to stop. Next chapter you get to see what Naraku wants Kagome to do. Ciao!