Shikara's ability to "Sit" Inu will be explained later. Okay? I know you all are wondering, and i will explain it later. In fact it will be explained within the next three or four chapters.

I would've updated yesterday, but the network at school was down, so i had no hope of getting access. But it's up now!

The branch lay on the ground below, melted from the trunk. And in place of the body, an acidic stain that still ate at the tree.

"Oh shit."

The words came without being bid. Sesshomaru sniffed the air for the demon, found no trace.

"Shiriu!" He called for the fox.

"What's wrong, Sessh?" Shiriu asked, suddenly standing near the youkai lord.

"Go wake my brother. Do it so that you don't attract any attention from the others. They don't need to know yet." Sesshomaru said, leaning heavily against a post.

When Inuyasha emerged, Sesshomaru righted himself and turned toward his Hanyou brother. "He's gone."

"What? What are you talking about?" Inuyasha's tired voice asked.

"Naraku's body is gone. And it looks like the bastard wasn't dead after all." Sesshomaru said, pointing toward the tree where the acid still smoked.

When i saw the still melting tree, my heart skipped a beat. My brother looked scared, and that was never a good sign.

Somehow, that bastard always comes back. Sniffing the air, i caught no scent of Naraku. Which meant he must have escaped while it was still raining.

Slamming my fist into the post Sesshomaru had been leaning against moments before, i felt the pole reverberate with the force. Pulling my hand out of the splintered wood, i watched blood trickle over my fingers from busted knuckles.

Licking at the blood, i surveyed the surrounding woods. Naraku wouldn't be stupid enough to dwell in a village of demon slayers, or anywhere nearby.

He could be anywhere.

"We can't do anything but protect who we can for now. At least until he shows his ugly head again. Let's go back inside." I told my brother, walking back into the inn. Rei was still inside of Kaouru's room, he had been since as they let him in.

I listened at the door, heard nothing but Kaouru's soft breathing.

Opening the door, i saw Kaouru on a full sized futon, lying perfetly still. Beside her, against the wall, Rei slept sitting up, a small sword propping up his head.

The sunlight from the papered window was soft, and the glow lit my daughter's face with a warm light, flushing her lips a deep red, and her cheeks a dark pink.

Closing my eyes, i sat down against the door, they needed protection, and Kaouru needed me.

Sleep was quick in coming, and i allowed myself the luxury. These people, my friends and family, would give their lives to keep Kaouru safe. As would i.

Fifty miles away, near the top of Mount Fuji, Kagome and Shikara sat at the mouth of the main cave of the wolf demon tribe. Ayame lay some feet in, her flushed face partially obscured by the ice pack on her forehead.

Kagome was dozing while Shikara whittled at a peice of wood. Carving a horse out of the dark wood.

Little curled shavings fell onto the demon preistess's lap as the silver knife cut easily through the hard wood.

Shippou appeared, huffing, at the cave entrance, casting shadow across Kagome's sleeping form. Shikara stood, embraced the kitsune, and showed him her progress.

"How's Ayame?" Shippou asked, glancing at the sleeping wolf maiden.

"Kagome says she's bad. We got her fever down, but it keeps shooting up. There's a strange smell in the air, like rotting bodies. I think that's the reason for the sickness. The rest of the clan is sick as well. It appears Ayame went in search of the origin of the smell. A wolf and a mountain lion brought her back as she is now. She only got worse. Kagome's looking sick as well, but I don't think it's the smell." Shikara said, sitting with him at the edge of one of the paths leading to another cave.

They sat together in silence for a while before Shikara spoke again. "How's everyone back in the village?"

Shippou looked at her with woried eyes.

"That bad, huh? I think i should go back and check on them." She said, and before Shippou could stop her, she shimmered out of existance.

Standing, Shippou walked back to the cave where Kagome was replacing the ice pack on Ayame's forehead. "Oh! Hi Shippou. What are you doing here?"

Yup, Shippou's got all kinds of problems.

I reject your reality and substitute my own! -Myth Busters.