First off, I would like to take just a smidget of time to respond to reviews for once (since I actually got some respondable ones this time!)
Tailz: O.O Angel-Wing person… Wow, Sanj, you have fan mail!
Sanji: FINALLY! Erm…say, Angel… you're not gonna try to…er… trap me in a closet, are you?
Angel: ….?
Tailz: -; You mean, like Moogle did?
Sanji: :Shivershudder:
Tailz: - Eh-heh…well, super-omg-I-love-you-thank-yous to everyone that reviewed! I'm so happy! Could I take a second to respond to some reviews, Sanj?
Sanji: Well…it's your fic. You tell me.
Tailz: Yes, but…dare I risk it? Delaying the story usually makes the Angry Anti-Tailz Mob even angrier…
Sanji:Shrug: If they don't want to hear it, they can skip down to the chapter.
Tailz: - Good point! Okay, here we go….
THIS IS WHERE THE RESPONSES BEGIN! YOU ARE WARNED!
Katty-kat: Katty:Glomp: How are you, pouty-kins? Keep your chin up—I'll update just as soon as I can!
Sanosa: Oooooh, you're the clever one, aren't you? You'll just have to wait and see…that's right! Curse me! BWAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAAa—
Sanji: Tailz…. Hurry up….
Tailz: I thought you said this was 'my fic'?
Sanji: And it is, but the Mob is sharpening their ladles again…. And this time they have thumbscrews….
Tailz: Hey! I was wondering where those things went!
Sanji: Tailz!
Tailz: Okay, okay, fine…
Myeerah: As a writer, I know I've got to try to get used to criticism… but it's really hard. T.T But at least you were polite about it… Yes, I know there's errors dancing all over the place in here. You're right; the fact of the matter is, I'm on such close updating time, I usually submit the chapter without reading it more than once, so I miss a lotta little typos and things. Bear with me—I'm trying, and one of these days I'm gonna go back and edit chapters 8 and 9.
ChicaCubana: Oooh, another angst-lover! Perfect:D Don't worry—you won't be disappointed.
Silver's Shadow Tamer: Oh! Oh! SHE DID IT! This person just told me what she liked best about the story! And threw in a little actual-review-crit as well! Thank you:Hug: (Now if we could just get everyone else to do that….:sigh:)
AngelWing1138: Wow. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your nice long review! You made me giggle! And…yes, you've come to the right place. There'll be plenty of fluff, angst, drama, and action coming soon!
Miara Rigawa: Thanks for your input! I know there are a lot of mistakes… please read my response to Myeerah. As to the beads… I think it's been translated as both. You'll find a variety of fics that refer to them as both 'praise beads' and 'prayer beads'. In this fic, it's going to stay 'praise beads' until I get a chance to go back and edit everything. (Can't remember if I just thought it wrong or typed it wrong; sometimes my thoughts don't reach my fingers! -; ) Anyway, thanks again!
iMmOrTaLwOuNd—You brought up something interesting, and actually made me think for a second! If that—shifty glance around—plot device comes around, you and I'll know were it came from, won't we? And by the way—you didn't waste anything, you completely made my day. I love long reviews (and the people that write them. -) Please don't lose interest! I'll update as soon as I can! (Though that might not be saying much… -;)
Keiko89—Teehee! Another angsty-lover, huh? Good! Then you'll love what's coming next. :D
Endless Moonlight—Am I that evil? Haven't you been around long enough to know the answer to that question:Evil smirk: Of course I'm evil! But you also know that I'm a romance-lover and that I have a real soft spot for these characters…so maybe the evilness and my love for doggy-dude will even each other out. -; Maybe.
Anonymous ahsay-uni—Yes, you pretty much answered your question about the way I would. - If you like stories with Inuyasha's dad in them, you should check out my other story, Not Too Late. (As to this one, who knows? I'm not one to give away my own surprises! So maybe, maybe not.)
Lone-Puppy—Since you have some fics of your own, you're probably familiar with the term "filler chapter". If not, let me enlighten you—filler chapters may not necessarily be the most exciting of chapters, but they move the plot along and give the author/ess something to work with. As it were, I thought this chapter was pretty significant, but whatever. Maybe the next chapter will be more to your liking. (If you are in love with fast-moving plots, you'd best look elsewhere; I take my good time with my plots, and always lead up to them thoroughly.)
YuniX-2—- I missed you too! And yes…food for thought, isn't it? (Know what would be awesome? Send me what you think's going to happen in the plot. I'd love to compare it with my plot plan:D)
Delonwethiel—"It is always darkest before dawn." Don't you worry, I'm not giving up on any of my stories. It's just a lot to keep up with at once; that's why my updates are slowwwwwww.
Secret-punk-rocker16—hmm…even I don't know the full answer to that question. But it'll be probably be a good while, with a few more Humor-Tailzy-emotional-filler-chapters. (See my response to Lone-Puppy above.)
Everyone else—If I didn't mention you, don't get your feelings hurt. Notice that the reviews I answered gave me something to respond to. If you want to be answered, give me something thought-stirring, okay? I don't stick around when I'm bored. - Thanks for reading, everyone!
Sanji: Tailz….!
Tailz: Okay, okay. One more thing. I'm sure you've all noticed my increasing number of mistakes, huh? Would any of you be okay with being my editor? I'd send you the chapter a few days in advance, and you we could look for mistakes together. Two pairs of eyes are always better than one!
Sanji: IF YOU DON'T HURRY, WE'RE NOT GONNA HAVE ONE PAIR BETWEEN THE TWO OF US :Pulls Tailz down just as an arrow flies over their heads:
Tailz: Meep! Guys—!
—THIS IS THE END OF THE RESPONSES! NOW ONTO THE STORY!—
Inuyasha couldn't believe his luck. He was trapped with four unconscious friends in a small clearing with nowhere to run and no chance of hiding. It was a tactical disaster; his only able-bodied friend had left and not returned days before. He was by himself, and who knew how many enemies had been sent against him?
It occurred to him, despite his fear and pride, that Kagome had been dead on. Naraku's scent, while not exactly strong enough to be the real him, was all around them, and a glistening blue barrier had risen up from the ground. It had all the makings of a Naraku-style ambush. "Naraku," he shouted, knowing that the evil hanyou would without a doubt be observing, enjoying his trick. "Show yourself." Obediently, the evil cackling echoed around them. Kukukuku.
"Hello, Inuyasha. Have you enjoyed your break?" He appeared to Inuyasha's left, between two large trees, an arm resting comfortably on each trunk. "I could've attacked you a million times since our last encounter, but I figured this way would be much more fun. Well," he amended, "more fun for me, anyway."
"What are you trying to pull with all this?"
"Why, isn't it obvious?"
"If you'd just wanted us dead," Inuyasha said through gritted teeth, "you would've just done it. In the battle. You wouldn't have gone to the trouble of trapping me here and poisoning the others."
"Ah, very clever. You're much smarter than you look, aren't you?"
"Enough! I've had it with your games, Naraku! Tell me what you're planning!"
"That would be boring. Don't be so impatient, Inuyasha. A good plan needs its solid basis, doesn't it? Wouldn't you like to hear how the idea came about?"
"No." I've had enough of being toyed with, Inuyasha thought. This ends now.
"To be frank, I got the idea from dear Kikyou-sama." Naraku smirked as surprise and then fresh anger flitted across his opponent's visage. "I think you'll understand perfectly in just a moment, when the last addition arrives…or would you like a taste right now? A small preview." He glanced over at the base of the large tree where his sleeping friends lay. Inuyasha watched, dreading, as Shippo's small body gave a lurch and slowly, clumsily, stood upright.
It explained the dark energy. Kagome'd been right there, too.
Without warning, the kit staggered and then lurched forward with startling speed. Inuyasha only just moved out of the way in time, clutching Kagome close and swearing. Shippo's feet had barely brushed the ground before he sprang again, his muscles tight and his small, sharp fangs bared, and this time he caught Inuyasha's sleeve in passing. The tough fire rat material tore like ribbon, and one fang scraped the skin of the hanyou's upper arm.
Something was strange about that bite. It hurt more than a little scratch should.
There wasn't exactly time to ponder over that anyway—Shippo's attacks were merciless. He leapt at amazing speeds without the slightest sign of fatigue, and he did it again and again, each time with better accuracy. Inuyasha received cuts everywhere from his face to his ankle; with a heavy burden in his arms and the kitsune's incredible recovery speed, he couldn't possibly block or evade them all. He was running out of time, and the aching of the small wounds were driving him crazy.
Naraku laughed a few feet away, clapping his hands in delight. "My, my," he drawled, "who would've thought it? The great Inuyasha, beaten by a little kitsune brat—the very same that he has traveled with! If only your dear father could see you now." He laughed again, lightly, and then waved a palm dismissively at them. "All right, my little puppet, that's enough. Let's give him a chance to agonize over his shattered pride before you take him down."
Inuyasha panted a little, backing a few steps from Shippo's tense form. It had settled in a kneeling position, head half raised, smoky eyes watching them impassively. He didn't have long to formulate a plan. It would have to be fast.
There were not, by any means, many things to use to his advantage. Sango, Kagome, and Miroku were not helping; Kirara was still missing; and Shippo had been turned into a formidable little red bullet. The odds were not in his favor. If only Kirara would come back, Inuyasha thought, gritting his teeth in frustration. We might stand a chance then.
It was then that the bushes rustled, and Inuyasha's wish was granted. For a second, he almost thought that—for once—fate was being kind, doing him a favor, but the moment quickly passed. The look in Kirara's giant red eyes was the only assurance that he might need to prove what he had already knowm: fate has a cruel sense of humor.
The fire cat walked confidently over to Naraku and stood before him, her teeth bared menachingly.
Not you too, Kirara!
Now, I hope you'll forgive Inuyasha if at that moment he realized that the situation had gone from bad to infinitely worse, and for a second he considered turning tail and running for it. But, as you and I both know, it is not at all in Inuyasha's nature to turn tail and run from anything. So he didn't. But that's not to say he was stupid—far from it. All the chances he had hoped for were dwindling with the moment.
"Well…what do you think, Inuyasha? Do you still have a chance of escaping alive?"
"Yes." The word escaped Inuyasha's mouth before he could think about it, and he took courage. "You've failed to kill me before, Naraku. This time's no different."
"No different?" Naraku's sneering voice remained calm, but malice radiated about him as well as the amusement and joy at the idea of his adversary's doom. "Very well. We'll see, won't we?"
"Then stop talking and get on with it. Why don't you stop hiding behind my friends and fight me yourself?" He smirked. "I thought you were the superior half-breed, Naraku."
"Fight you myself? Feh, Inuyasha, you can't even draw your sword! You're much too busy babysitting your pitiful human wench."
There could be no reply to that; it was true. Inuyasha glanced uneasily down at Kagome's still face. Dare he put her down to draw Tetsusaiga? Naraku would be bound to try something. Inuyasha swallowed, and he closed his eyes in quiet prayer.
Forgive me, Kagome, but this is our only chance.
You'll be safe. I promise.
If anything happens to you…Slowly, quietly, Inuyasha moved a few feet away from Naraku and set Kagome's still body gently upon the ground. Tetsusaiga would only transform when he was protecting a human, and this time, as he drew it with every curse he'd ever known upon his lips, the sword seemed to explode into its huge size.
Don't fail me, Tetsusaiga.
If you and I are defeated, Naraku will not hesitate to destroy the others.
Inuyasha leapt forward with a cry that rang throughout the forest.
"DIE, NARAKU!"
